About This Race
The Fiesta Night Run transforms San Antonio's summer heat into an advantage, offering runners a nocturnal adventure through the Texas landscape at the Land Heritage Institute. This multi-distance event captures the spirit of San Antonio's famous Fiesta celebrations while providing relief from the August temperatures through its 8 PM start time. The race attracts runners seeking a different kind of challenge—navigating trails under starlight while experiencing the unique atmosphere of a nighttime ultra. With distances ranging from 5K fun runs to a full 50K ultra, the event caters to the entire running community. The relatively flat terrain, indicated by zero elevation gain, suggests courses that wind through the Texas Hill Country's gentler sections, allowing runners to focus on pacing and endurance rather than technical climbing. This makes it particularly appealing for runners new to night running or those seeking fast times on forgiving terrain. The race's community-focused approach, with multiple distance options spread across the weekend, creates a festival-like atmosphere that extends beyond the typical race experience. Runners can participate in Friday and Saturday 5K events before tackling longer distances, making it a destination event for trail running groups and families.
The courses at Fiesta Night Run wind through the grounds of San Antonio's Land Heritage Institute, utilizing 100% path terrain according to race specifications. The flat profile with zero elevation gain suggests well-maintained trails that may include crushed limestone paths common to the Texas Hill Country region. Night running conditions add the primary technical challenge, requiring headlamps and careful footing on potentially unfamiliar terrain.
The variety of distances—from 5K to 50K—likely utilizes a loop system or out-and-back configurations to accommodate different race lengths on the available trail network. The relatively small field size of 100 participants for the 50K creates an intimate racing environment where runners can expect less congestion on the trails.
Practical Info
Hot and humid August conditions in South Texas, with temperatures typically in the 80s-90s°F during evening start times and cooling overnight.
SAT - San Antonio International Airport
San Antonio offers numerous hotel options downtown and near the airport, with the race location requiring additional travel time to the Land Heritage Institute.
Best For
Notable Features
The Fiesta Night Run stands out for its celebration of both San Antonio's cultural heritage and the unique challenge of night trail running. The 8 PM start time allows runners to experience the transition from dusk to full darkness, creating a memorable sensory experience. The multi-day format with various distances makes it a community gathering that extends beyond typical racing, while the flat Texas terrain provides an accessible entry point for runners new to night ultras or seeking personal records on forgiving courses.