Trail Racing Over Texas

What Trail Racing Over Texas does

Trail Racing Over Texas (TROT) is a family-owned trail and ultra running event company based in Richmond, Texas, founded in 2014 and revitalized in 2022. The company organizes 100+ events per year across Texas state parks and private venues including Brazos Bend, Bastrop, Stephen F. Austin, Mission Tejas, and the 7IL Ranch, with a portfolio spanning 25+ named race products from one-mile kids runs and 5K community events to 100-mile and 200-mile ultras, backyard-style last-runner-standing formats, and timed events up to 100 hours. Signature products include the Brazos Bend 50/100 (a Western States 100 lottery qualifier and 2026 RRCA Texas State Championship), the Habanero Hundred, Jackalope Jam, Wildflower, Night Moves, Road Kill XC, Big Tex Backyard Ultra, and newcomers Galveston Ultra Trail and Houston Ultra Trail.

The company's core technology is a proprietary chip timing and results tracking system (TROT Event Timing System), layered on top of RunSignup for registration, packet pickup, results, and merchandise add-ons, with Strava integration for route and GPX data. There is no public API, no mobile app, and the marketing site is built on Wix. Revenue is generated from three streams: (1) one-time participant registration fees that vary by event and distance, (2) merchandise sales via the Cara Cara Sports storefront (race shirts, soft flasks, hats, ice bandanas, ruck patches), and (3) sponsorships with brands such as Altra Running, Recover Brands, Pickle Juice, Wildsense Goods, NeverSecond, Base Performance, and Skratch Labs. A volunteer credit program ($10/hr daytime, $15/hr overnight) and the affiliated Hardloop Endurance coaching business extend participant engagement beyond race day.

TROT is led by owner/race director Cal Neff, an Altra-sponsored elite athlete with three Guinness World Records, and co-owner Rachel Neff, supported by a small core team (1–10 employees) including a photography, marketing, and operations coordinator. The company is a bootstrapped Texas LLC with no external institutional investment, no parent company, and no subsidiaries, operating exclusively in Texas with sanctioning relationships with USATF, RRCA, HARRA, and Western States Endurance Run.

Name

Trail Racing Over Texas

Legal name

Trail Racing Over Texas LLC

Website

https://trailracingovertexas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Trail Racing Over Texas is a family-owned Texas trail and ultra running event company that organizes 100+ races per year across state parks and private venues, ranging from kids runs to 100+ mile ultras, serving thousands of individual participants and generating revenue from registration fees, merchandise, and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Endurance Race Events

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Trail Running & Ultra-Endurance Events (Trail Races, Ultras) (MPAKAIAD)

Keywords

• Trail running events
• Ultra marathon races
• Endurance race organization
• Backyard ultra events
• Ruck running events

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Registration Fees: Primary revenue stream from participant registration fees for trail running events ranging from 5K to 100+ mile ultra distances. Fees vary by event and distance.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sales of TROT merchandise including race shirts, hoodies, soft flasks, hats, ice bandanas, and ruck patches through Cara Cara Sports online store.
3. Sponsorships: Partnership revenue from sponsors including Altra Running, Recover Brands, Pickle Juice, Wildsense Goods, and others providing product support, cash, or both.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Trail Racing Over Texas (TROT) organizes and hosts trail and ultra running events across Texas, ranging from one-mile kids runs and 5Ks to 100+ mile USATF-sanctioned ultras, 200-mile mountain adventures, 100-hour timed events, backyard-style "last runner standing" formats, and relay and rucking divisions. The company sells registration access to its races through the RunSignup platform, operates an official merchandise store through Cara Cara Sports, and earns sponsorship revenue from brands such as Altra Running and Recover Brands.

Product overview

Trail Racing Over Texas (TROT) is Texas's premier trail and ultra running event company operating as a single unified platform hosting over 100 events annually. The portfolio centers on a diverse range of named race products spanning ultramarathons (Brazos Bend 50/100, Habanero Hundred, Jackalope Jam), trail runs (Wildflower, Mission Tejas, Night Moves), specialty formats (Big Tex Backyard Ultra, San Felipe Shootout, Road Kill XC), and new events (Galveston Ultra Trail). The platform also extends to a merchandise store (via Cara Cara Sports), volunteer programs offering race credits, and coaching services through Hardloop Endurance. Events range from kids runs and 5ks to 100+ mile ultras, with various format innovations including timed events, relays, rucking divisions, and backyard-style competitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Jackalope Jam Timed ultrarunning event with formats of 6hr, 12hr, 24hr, 48hr, 72hr, and 100hr where participants record the greatest distance possible during their chosen duration. Includes solo and ruck divisions, plus a 24hr 2-6 person relay option. Targeted at endurance athletes seeking structured timed distance events.
• Brazos Bend 50 Trail running event at Brazos Bend State Park featuring 5k, 10k, 25k, 50k, and 50-mile distances. The April edition hosts the RRCA Texas State Championships for the 50K. The Brazos Bend course is recognized as the fastest trail in Texas.
• Brazos Bend 100 The December edition of the Brazos Bend races featuring 100M, 100km, marathon, and half marathon. Serves as an official Western States Endurance Run qualifying race for sub-32 hour 100-mile finishers. Typically hosts 300+ ultra runners.
• Habanero Hundred Texas's hottest trail race held in August at 7IL Ranch featuring distances including 135M, 100M, 100K, 50K, marathon, half marathon, 10K, and relay options. Known for extreme heat conditions with a noon start. Between 2015 and 2023, 137 people finished the 100-mile distance.
• Wildflower Trail Run Two-day trail running event at Bastrop State Park featuring 5k, 5M, 12M, 50k, half marathon, marathon, 5M ruck, family walk, kids run, and challenge options including 50/50 Challenge and Double 5's. Family-friendly format.
• Night Moves Nighttime trail running event at Stephen F. Austin State Park featuring 5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon, and free kids race with staggered evening start times.
• Road Kill XC HARRA Fall Series cross-country team relay event at Bear Creek Park. Four-person, eight-mile relay (two-mile legs) open to all runners and clubs, following USATF rules.
• Big Tex Backyard Ultra Last runner standing format at Stephen F. Austin State Park with 4.17-mile yards starting every hour until one runner remains. Includes Last Rucker Standing division for weighted-vest participants.
• Mission Tejas Trail Run Trail running event at Mission Tejas State Park featuring 5k, 10k, 25k, and 50k distances on trails including pine single track and CCC-built rock stairs.
• San Felipe Shootout Multi-distance trail running event at Stephen F. Austin State Park where participants can complete 5k, 10k, and half marathon back-to-back for The Triple Challenge (22.4 miles total).
• Galveston Ultra Trail Beach race event featuring run, walk, relay, and ruck options from 1 mile to ultra marathon distances, plus kids run and family activities. New for 2026 launch.
• ZZ TROT New trail running event added to the 2026 TROT race schedule, launching February 7, 2026. Details of distances and format are part of the broader TROT portfolio of trail running events for all skill levels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Brazos Bend is the fastest trail in Texas with course records: Patrick Reagan 100mi 12:21:43 (2019), Cal Neff 50K fastest on trail in the year 2:59:00 (2019)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Altra RunningcoreOthersAltra Running is a key sponsor providing footwear support. Cal Neff is a sponsored athlete with Altra Running and competes at elite level at mountain, ultra, and trail World Championships.
• Recover BrandscoreOthersOfficial apparel partner for race shirts and merchandise. Recover Brands produces sustainable, recycled-content shirts and apparel for TROT events.
• Pickle JuiceminorOthersSponsor providing pickle juice products for cramp prevention and electrolyte support at aid stations for ultra events.
• Wildsense GoodsminorOthersSponsor providing antichafe and foot care products at aid stations for TROT events.
• Hardloop EndurancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCal Neff's coaching company providing individual private coaching, training plans, group training sessions for all disciplines. Partners with TROT for coaching & training information on event pages.
• 7IL RanchcoreOthersPrivate ranch venue outside Cat Spring, Texas hosting Habanero Hundred and Jackalope Jam events. Over 1,150 acres with facilities for camping, RV hookups, and trail running courses.
• Brazos Bend Powersports & RVminorOthersRV park and primitive camping across from Brazos Bend State Park providing additional camping and overflow parking for TROT events.
• Good Times Running Co.minorOthersLocal running store in Katy, TX serving as packet pickup location for multiple TROT events.
• NeverSecondminorOthersNutrition and fuel sponsor providing gels, bars, and hydration products at aid stations.
• Base PerformanceminorOthersNutrition sponsor providing electrolytes and fuel products at aid stations for select events.
• Skratch LabsminorOthersHydration and electrolyte sponsor providing products at aid stations for Night Moves and other events.
• Houston Area Road Runners Association (HARRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHARRA is a key partner for Road Kill XC event, part of the HARRA Fall Series cross-country race series. TROT hosts the HARRA Cross Country Relay as a USATF sanctioned event.
• USATF (USA Track & Field)coreOthersNational governing body for athletics. TROT follows USATF rules for sanctioned events and hosts USATF championship events.
• RRCA (Road Runners Club of America)coreOthersNational running organization. TROT follows RRCA community guidelines and hosts RRCA Texas State Championships events.
• Texas State ParkscoreOthersPartnership with Texas State Parks including Brazos Bend, Stephen F. Austin, Mission Tejas, and Bastrop State Parks for event venues.
• Friends of the ParkminorOthersFriends groups for Stephen F. Austin and other parks receive donations from TROT. Trail Racing Over Texas donates a portion of proceeds to park friends groups.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ragnar Relay Series: National overnight relay race series with Texas legs, offering team-based endurance running events. Comparable to TROT as a mass-participation endurance event operator running multi-format races including relays and long-distance formats.
• Big's Backyard Ultra: Last-runner-standing backyard ultra format originating in Tennessee and replicated globally. Directly comparable to TROT's Big Tex Backyard Ultra offering the same backyard-format racing with hourly yard loops until one runner remains.
• Aravaipa Running: Arizona-based trail and ultra running event organizer hosting flagship races like the Javelina Jundred and Black Canyon 100K. Directly comparable to TROT as a regional trail/ultra race series operator targeting similar participant segments with similar distance and format offerings.
• Pacific Crest Trail Runs: Oregon-based trail and ultra event organizer producing trail races, ultras, and destination trail events. Comparable to TROT in business model (regional event series operator with multi-format offerings) and target customer base (trail and ultra runners).

Others

• Strava: Endurance athlete social and activity-tracking platform with an integrated TROT Strava Club for course sharing and route tracking. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor, but central to TROT's community-building and participant engagement.
• RunSignup: Race registration and event management platform used by TROT as its primary registration, timing, and results infrastructure. Enabler/ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor; relevant as the platform layer that TROT and most peers rely on for distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Spartan Race: Global obstacle course racing (OCR) brand operating mass-participation endurance events across the U.S. and internationally. Broadly comparable to TROT as a large-scale endurance event operator, but with OCR format rather than trail running specialization.
• UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc): Global ultra-trail running circuit operating UTMB World Series events and the flagship UTMB Mont-Blanc 171K. Comparable to TROT as the international benchmark for ultra-trail events with qualifier structures similar to Brazos Bend 100's Western States tie-in.
• Tough Mudder: Mass-participation obstacle and endurance event company with Texas events. Overlaps with TROT's mass-participation endurance positioning but competes in the OCR/team challenge format rather than traditional trail/ultra running.
• Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series: Large-scale road running event series with multiple U.S. locations including Texas. Comparable to TROT as a multi-event endurance series operator, though focused on road marathons and music-themed races rather than trail/ultra.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TrailRacingTX
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@trailracingovertexas
• Facebookfacebook.com/trailracingovertexas
• Instagraminstagram.com/trailracingovertexas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trail Racing Over Texas