The Waco 70.3 Run: 21 Rolling Kilometers Along the Brazos with a Suspension Bridge Finish

The Course

21.1 km along the Brazos River, run over two laps according to the official course page. Heads up, though: an earlier official article described a single-loop course. The format has changed in the past, so check the 2027 map in the Athlete Guide before race day. Don't build your pacing plan around a layout that might be different.

The official page labels the run as "Rolling": undulating, not flat. The exact elevation gain for the run leg isn't stated in the available sources, so we can't give you a number. What we do know: crossings over historic bridges, stretches on the river trail, and shaded sections along the Brazos.

The finish is on the Waco Suspension Bridge, the oldest suspension bridge in the Southwest. It's one of the most photogenic finishes on the circuit: keep it as a mental carrot for the final kilometers.

The Weather: November's Wild Card

The mid-November date should bring milder conditions than the October editions: seasonal averages of 26°C highs and 12°C lows. But Texas is Texas. October editions have seen temps as high as 32-38°C, and the weather can swing from very cool mornings to hot afternoons within a few hours.

Practical translation: by the time you start running, the temperature is probably climbing toward the day's peak. Athletes starting in the later waves run through the hottest hours.

What to do:

• Hydrate early: start managing fluids and sodium on the bike—don't wait until you're thirsty on the run. It's also the official advice for Texas heat: more sodium without adding calories.
• Ice and water at the aid stations: use them on your neck and head if it's a hot day. Cap or visor.
• Use the shade: the sections along the Brazos offer cover. Memorize them on lap one and use them on lap two.

Pacing a Rolling Course

A rolling half marathon after 90 km of windy riding demands discipline, not heroics.

1. First 3 km: slower than your target pace. Your legs need to transition from bike to run, and a course with ups and downs amplifies the mistake of going out too hard. 2. Km 3-15: target pace, with one rule for the rollers: constant effort, not constant pace. Slow down on the climbs, recover on the descents. 3. Final 6 km: this is where the race is decided. If you managed the bike and the first part of the run, this is where you pass people. If not, this is where you survive.

If the two-lap format is confirmed, use the first lap to learn the course: where the aid stations are, where the ramps are, where there's shade. You run the second lap with the intel.

Ballpark Estimates

The reference times floating around for the run leg range from 1:28 (top age-group) to 2:30 (relaxed finisher), with an average target around 2:05. These are estimates, not official data: on a rolling course with possible heat, add some margin.

What to Do Now

• Specific training: add brick workouts (bike + run) with the run on rolling terrain. The transition from aero position to rollers is where many athletes fall apart.
• Heat testing: if you're coming off a cool European fall, consider a few sessions with extra layers to simulate the heat. Don't overdo it.
• Decision to make: pace by effort (RPE or heart rate), not by pace per km. On a rolling course, pace lies. Effort doesn't.
• Plan B: if it's a hot day (above 28-30°C), back off your target by 10-15 seconds per km from the start and walk the aid stations. Finishing strong on a hot day beats blowing up at km 14.