Prickly Pear 50K

Prickly Pear 50K is a 50K trail race held in San Antonio, US, in March. It takes place in McAllister Park and uses the park's natural trails rather than pavement. The 50K is run as three laps of roughly 10.3 miles each, and shorter 15K and 5K events share the same trails.

The surface is dirt, rock and exposed tree root, with dry creek beds to cross and plenty of prickly pear cactus beside the path. Most of it is narrow single-track that stays largely flat and quick. The loops combine the Mosquito Lake trails with the Blue and Mud Creek loops.

There is little climbing, but the footing is technical throughout. Racing here rewards steady attention to the ground more than hill strength.