SARR Prickly Pear 50K 2027: Course, Cupless Aid and Race Day Guide
Quick answer: The 24th SARR Prickly Pear is on Saturday, March 6, 2027, at McAllister Park in San Antonio, Texas. The 50K is three 10.34-mile loops starting at 6:00 AM, the 15K is one 9.36-mile loop at 8:00 AM and the 5K is one 3.38-mile loop at 8:30 AM. It is a cupless race with no paper cups, capped at 600 runners, and the San Antonio RoadRunners say it will sell out. 50K runners must start their third loop before 12:45 PM. LECAMO is a sponsor and is supplying ROOT8 vests for the first place finishers in the 50K and 15K.
Prickly Pear 2027 at a glance
| Distance | Course | Start | Cutoff | Entry to Jan 31 | From Feb 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50K | Three 10.34-mile loops | 6:00 AM | Start loop 3 before 12:45 PM, course closes 4:00 PM | $99 | $109 |
| 15K | One 9.36-mile loop | 8:00 AM | Course closes 4:00 PM | $69 | $79 |
| 5K | One 3.38-mile loop | 8:30 AM | Event window ends 10:00 AM | $49 | $59 |
From the race's race page, events page and 50K page, read October 9, 2026. Prices are before RunSignup fees and rise after January 31, 2027, at 11:59 PM CST. SARR members get 25% off online through January 31. Refunds are not allowed. All 50K runners start at 6:00 AM, with no exceptions. Virtual 50K, 15K and 5K entries cost the same as in-person entries and are not eligible for awards.
The course
Every distance starts and finishes at Optimist Pavilion #3, next to the playground in the center of McAllister Park, with the 50K and 15K starts staggered. The race describes natural dirt trails with rocks and tree roots, mostly flat and fast single track, and recommends trail shoes. The loops use the Blue Loop, Mud Creek Loop and Mosquito Lake trails, through dry creek beds and prickly pear cactus. The race's Plot-A-Route map of the 50K loop shows 334 feet of ascent per loop, so about 1,000 feet over the full 50K. The race itself does not publish an elevation figure.
Cupless aid stations
The race is explicit: you must carry your own hydration device or a collapsible cup, and there will be no paper cups. The 50K and 15K loop has three water stations and the 5K has one, stocked only with Crazy Water and Gatorade. 50K runners also get their own aid station just past the start and finish, with drop bags, drinks, hot and cold snacks, sandwiches, sausages, Wildway granola and Crazy Water, and you can bring a camp chair to it.
Organizing a cupless race? A soft flask with the race logo in every runner packet is one way to make sure nobody reaches the aid table without a container. Our race director's guide to custom soft flasks covers quantities, timing and delivery.
What to carry
Because the loop water stations only serve water and Gatorade, 50K runners should carry the food they need for each 10.34-mile loop and restock at the 50K station between loops. A vest with soft flasks takes care of the cupless rule. The ROOT5 is a 5L vest that comes with two 500ml flasks and suits carrying water, a phone, keys, fuel and a light layer, and the ROOT8 is the vest going to this year's first place finishers.
Race day logistics
- Packet pickup: Friday, March 5, 4:00 to 7:00 PM at REI, 11745 I-10, Suite 110, San Antonio. Race-morning pickup starts at 5:15 AM near Optimist Pavilion #3.
- Parking: near the pavilion or a short walk away. The park opens at 5:00 AM.
- Restrooms: by the pavilion, plus port-a-potties with hand sanitizer near the start and finish.
- Rules: no dogs and no strollers on the course. The city does not allow alcohol in the park.
- Timing: chip timed, with the bib on the front. Results go up on race day and photos within 4 to 5 days.
Awards and finisher gear
Awards go to the top 3 overall and the top 3 masters (40 and over) in the female, male and non-binary categories at every distance, and there are no age group awards. Top 3 finishers receive a hand-sewn cactus award by Texas artist Elaine Bradford. Every finisher gets a medal, and 50K finishers also get a finisher hat and a car sticker.
How competitive is it?
Prickly Pear was the RRCA Ultra National Championship in 2024 and 2025 and the RRCA Southern Region Ultra Championship in 2026. UltraRunning Magazine lists 124 50K finishers in 2026 and 138 in 2025, with 2026 winning times of 3:52:03 for men and 4:26:21 for women.
March weather in San Antonio
National Weather Service normals for San Antonio give a high of 71°F and a low of 50°F on March 6, and an average of 2.31 inches of rain for the month. With a 6:00 AM start, 50K runners will start in the cool and finish in the warmest part of the day.
Why LECAMO is backing Prickly Pear
LECAMO is supplying four ROOT8 vests as first place prizes in the 50K and 15K. You can see every race we support on our race partners page.
FAQ
Is Prickly Pear cupless?
Yes. Carry a bottle, flasks, a hydration vest or a collapsible cup. There are no paper cups on the course.
Will Prickly Pear sell out?
The race is capped at 600 runners and says it will sell out. Prices also rise after January 31, 2027.
Can I leave a drop bag?
Yes, at the 50K aid station close to the start and finish.
Are there age group awards?
No. Awards go to the top 3 overall and top 3 masters in each category and distance.
Sources: SARR Prickly Pear on RunSignup and its events and 50K pages, 50K loop map, City of San Antonio, McAllister Park, UltraRunning Magazine, NWS San Antonio March normals. Read October 9, 2026. Register at RunSignup.