The 48-hour and 24-Hour at the Texas Endurance Runs are definitely not for the faint of heart, that's for sure! Runners need to be heat acclimated to make headway during the day, and need to have a good race plan to maximize the cooler nights. But in some ways the crazy heat is kind of the point - the runners form friendships in the face of adversity that they otherwise wouldn't or couldn't. For someone new to the sport, those kinds of connections to veterans, and the tips and stories they share, could be invaluable.

For the first 8 years of the race, it was 'by invitation' only - you had to know the RD or one of their friends to get an invitation to run, so we had an idea whether you could handle the race. The original race was a Fat-Ass event with no permits and no shirts. Runners camped in the yard, and ran through the neighborhood and local park. John & Kay donated ice, water, and a location, and any snacks or sodas they had lying around the house. Runners brought food and gear to share. Many new friendships were made. (Read more about the history of WRATH on our blog: https://runsignup.com/Race/WRATHRacing/Page-14 )

Now the race has a course that's easier to monitor, so we've opened it to the public - but we're still growing it slowly so we get to know everyone that races. We've added participant medals and some swag but we'll keep that friendly "Running Party" atmosphere. Runners are still encouraged to bring stuff to share, and the bulk of your fee still benefits charity. And we'll continue the tradition of a hand-painted brick for 100 miles instead of a buckle, because bricks are hardened by heat, just like our runners.

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