This is my all-time favorite race! I'm a little biased as a Baylor alum, but the course is worth it for me every year. I've run 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and am signed up again for 2018. Something unique is that this race is completely organized by Baylor students and also a fundraiser for student scholarships. The finish is a glorious sprint across the stadium bridge over the Brazos River into a large cheering crowd.

The toughest half in Texas is not just the race moniker. The race breaks down into 5 miles along the Brazos River, 5 miles of hills in Cameron Park (you will feel like you are going uphill almost the whole time) and a flat 5K to the finish. You'll see surprisingly scenic views along the river, crossing two bridges and get a peak into the Cameron Park Zoo just before beginning the first ascent. Then it's rolling hills until the peak at Lovers Leap--the best view of all in Cameron Park. I'm always tempted to stop for photos, but instead use this opportunity for gels/nutrition since it falls about halfway through my race.

The crowd support is fantastic because Baylor organizations staff the water stops and compete to have the best cheering section. You'll never see so many water stops in any other race, along with a huge line of portable toilets around mile two (so don't fret if you can't make the line at the start in time). The community also really comes out to support, with the last couple miles taking you along the edge of downtown Waco toward campus. For a race of its size, the cheering crowds and after party are very large.

The race begins and ends outside McLane Stadium, and there is plenty of parking in the stadium lot. You'll get a mini tour of Baylor's campus. If you want to see more, run the 5K instead, which goes all through campus and starts a half hour later.

The one negative of this race is that the weather is always unpredictable--but that's spring in Texas! 2013 was absolutely perfect weather, 2015 was torrential downpours, 2016 was freezing cold, 2017 was warm with heavy winds. Registration typically opens in November each year.