Sam's Last Stand
A Trek on the Lone Star Hiking Trail
Ultramarathon #132
I have always had the thought of running the Lone Star full trail since I have moved to the Houston area and learned of the trail. I have done a few runs in the area, scouted and done recce on most portions of the actual trail itself. The idea has been in my head for a few years - Wish Upon a Lone Star.
Regina Massingill, a fellow HATR (Houston Area Trail Runner), had ambitions of putting on this fat ass style, loosely organized race/run on the Lone Star Hiking Trail. She was on top of it, made it legit and even had a website full of information and created the event into Ultrasignup - perhaps it was not so fat ass after all - more of a minimal supported run.
Section 01 - Wilderness | 0.0 - 8.7 | TH#1 (West terminus), TH#2
About one third of us runners opted to park at the finish line (i.e. TH#15 just outside of Clevland, TX) and took the shuttle van ride to the start line - which was so thoughtfully & logistically lined up by Regina. I hopped in with Andrew Marvin who was tagging along the shuttle van in his truck, so I decided to keep him company on the early morning ride. We chatted and caught up as I had not seen him for a couple months.
Arriving at Trailhead #01 just outside Richards, TX on Forest Service Road 219, seemingly in the middle of the woods it was a perfect clear morning. The air was crisp with a tiny chill (for South Texas) in the pre-sunrise air. I checked in with Regina and ensured I was accounted for and acquired my bib for the day.
The pre-race babble was yelled out by Regina from the tailgate of her truck, about 6 minutes before the hour. The group of 25 LSHT runners then lined up behind the Trailhead sign, and we were sent off in the last remaining darkness of the morning.
I was near the front chasing my fellow runner Nick Petterson, who is much faster than me. I knew he'd be out on a 15-16 hour pace most likely so I did not even toy with the idea of trying to keep pace with him even early on. I ran my own comfortable pace which put me at least in sight of Nick and one other runner. Soon the 2 of them in front of me disappeared into the woods and only a brief dot glimpse from their headlights was visible through the wooded forest.
Soon the sunrise started peaking through the trees as I found myself loosing complete touch with the 2 runners in front. Then I emerged to a parking lot and was greeted by Andrew Marvin, whom was there by the first water drop point and cheering people on as he recorded some IG stories to post. As I was refilling my water bottles and taking off my wind jacket, I was caught, and subsequently passed, by the lead female (Kelly Swanson) who did not stop barely at all.
Section 02 - Kelly | 8.7 - 15.8 | TH#3
Now running in fourth overall, I took off across the FTM-219 road and back into the woods. I was running comfortably at my pace now in my sleeveless rabbit shirt as the warmth of the day was sneaking up on us. Somewhere between here and Stubblefield there was the second water drop where I was supposed to grab my sticker for my bib. I literally never recall seeing the water jugs or cooler but apparently it was there somewhere. I did run past a couple of hikers and a few fisherman as I came near the lake approaching the Stubblefield campground.
 |
Stubblefield Campground bridge Mile 19.5
Photo: Andrew Marvin |
I arrived and passed through the campground still in the early morning hours as some campers were up and roaming around. I was looking for the next water as I knew it was going to be here somewhere and then as I turned the corner to cross the bridge and there was Regina and her mom along with Andrew there at her truck handing out ice and assisting to fill up my water. A brief chat and some fresh hydration and I was back heading across the bridge and on my way.
Section 03 - Stubblefield | 15.8 - 28.7 | TH#6 Bath Rd, Ball Rd, Cotton Creek Cem Rd
Section 04 - Huntsville | 28.7 - 35.0 | TH#7
The next 2 sections went by fairly quickly and relatively uneventful from how I recall. A boring run up (or down) Ball Lane for 1.5 Miles was the first real road section of many to come on this adventure today. The sun was slowly heating up the air but lucky the large trees kept everything shaded still as this time of day. Passing by Huntsville Park and emerging near the spillway of Camelia Lake at Mile 32. A couple more miles and I found myself coming out of the woods back into the busyness of Texas traffic at Trailhead #07 which is right by I-45 (& just down from the Sam Houston statue). Another cooler and water drop was here and I for sure had my fill again as the temperature kept rising along with my thirst. Another runner came up from behind and met me as I was getting my fill of drink. He left slightly before me but I took off not long after and started chasing his down the frontage road of I-45.
Section 05 - Phelps | 35.0 - 45.0 | I-45, Park Rd 40, Evelyn Lane, FM2296, Four Notch Rd, TH#8
 |
| Leaving Trailhead#07 adjacent to I-45 |
This was a large section of road now and the "busy" section of traffic as the LSHT went from the woods of TH#7 and crossed under the freeway which equated to about 2 full road miles before finding the next entrance back into the woods for a few smooth shaded miles in the trees. The LSHT came back out to the road and it was 3 more Miles from here down to Trailhead #08, Four Notch Camp.
Section 06 - Four Notch | 45.0 - 51.7 | FS200, FS207
 |
| Mile 48.25 a marker indicating the halfway point. |
It was now the peak hours of the afternoon and my quench for liquids was confirming this fact. In this section I had a runner (bib #05, I think) come up from behind me and pass me. Not long after I passed him back. We traded positions a couple times. After the long straight stretch down the Forest Service 207 I arrived at the cooler and next water break. This one was extra special as I read a taped message on a secondary cooler, saying "frozen pops for the runners". What a nice treat! By the time I was on my 2nd freezie the other runner came up and sat down in the dirt on the trial next where I was sitting at this intersection.I told him about the special freezie pops, but he was not interested. I could tell he was not having the best of times either, much like me in the heat of the day at the time, but then a car pulled up on the Forest Service road. He said "have a good rest of your run" and proceeded to get into the car, which he clearly had prearranged for a pickup. I guess his day was over there around Mile 54.
I sat and enjoyed my freezies for a good while here and drank an enormous amount of water to rehydrate myself again. I had been conserving my 2 soft flasks on the water down the last section but it left me a little dehydrated in the meantime. This was my longest break of the run for sure, as I sat here in the dirt by the cooler for a good 15 minutes, maybe slightly more - but it was worth it and needed at the time.
Section 07 - Big Woods | 54.2 - 65.0 | TH#9, John Warren Rd, TX 150, FM945
Section 08 - Magnolia | 65.0 - 73.8 | FM945, East Fork San Jacinto crossing, TH#10
Refreshed, rehydrated, and still a little in disbelief of witnessing of what could only be termed an elusive DNF extract operation, I continued on my run as I knew the sunset was now getting closer. A few more trail Miles and I emerged from the Big Woods section at Trailhead #09 Mile 62.5. What lie ahead of me now was a long road section (even though it was only like 5.5 Miles - seemed like forever).
Back into the woods at Trailhead #10, Mile 67.5, I knew the San Jacinto river crossing was not far ahead of me now. Darkness was now a full reality of my ultramarathon and I had both my headamp and waistlamp out working my way towards the river anticipating what might await me. I had no intel on whether it was going to be super low, wait deep, or somewhere in between...I could only use my imagination at this point.
I recognized the sign and crossing as I came upon it even in the dark (plus the mileage gave it away, since I remembered where it was). I got to the edge of the river bank and starred across the 40-50 foot gap with my lights peering and searching for a crossing point or an obvious narrow point to wade across. To my left there was a point between the trees where there was a rope tied to the trees to aid in lower yourself down the river bank. This was the spot...and there was a semi-submerged large tree there that appeared to be the crossing. I carefully lowered myself down and slowly took the large step over to the log and steadied myself as my feet were booth ankle deep in the water, but solidly on the tree trunk just below the surface. I slowly walked across the tree and made my way to the eastside bank of the river and scrambled my way up the steep bank and back onto the main trail once again following the LSHT blazes on the trees.
Section 09 - Big Creek | 73.8 - 82.5 | TH#11, TH#12
Section 10 - Tarkington | 82.5 - 90.9 | TH#13
Section 11 - Winters Bayou | 90.9 - 96.5 | TH#14, TH#15 (East terminus)
With only about a marathon to go it was only a matter of time now. The remainder of the run was all through the woods as the road sections were behind me now. The long hours of the night behind me and the wee morning hours were my enemy now. I kept pushing trying to keep moving at a decent run/walk interval pace to keep my momentum. The trailheads are all a little closer on the east side of the Lone Star Trail so ticking by them one-by-one was a nice physical countdown as I worked my way towards the final Trailhead #15 and the east terminus. I emerged out of the woods as I saw a couple lights shimmering through the trees. It was some of the parked vehicles in the lot. Regina was there awaiting me at the finish [napping?] in her chair wrapped up in a blanket staying warm, but sprung up as soon as she heard me running in. She congratulated me and presented me with my new buckle. This is where I had learned that people had dropped out in front of me and I was actually the second finisher. This was a pleasant surprise to me.
I sat down on the parking lot wooden fence and chatted with Regina and her mom for a bit as I recollected my run and shared some stories about the day. I thanked her for the organization and putting on this event as I had always eyed being able to run the LSHT at one go, and this was the push I needed to get it done. I'll be back someday for sure.
 |
Regina Massingill (Ava's Trails RD) presenting me at the Trailhead#15 finish with my buckle.
Photo: Regina's mom. |
Thank you Regina for a great "race" and supporting us runners across the LSHT through the woods.
Results & Stats
 |
| the numbered stickers were our "checkpoints" |
Gear Used
- Lighting setup - kogalla RA Adventure Light (waistlamp) & Black Diamond Storm-R (headlamp)
- Shirt - sleeveless rabbit trail (Sensman edition)
- Shorts - rabbit 3" FKT 2.0
- Headwear - rabbit (rnnr) rabbitELITEtrail team kit
- Eyewear - goodr
- Shoes - The North Face Altamesa
- Socks - rabbit trail
- Hydration - NATHAN VaporKrar 2.0 12L race vest with x2 20oz soft flasks.
- Jacket- rabbit swish jacket (Hawks edition)
- Watch - Garmin fēnix® 6X - Pro Solar Edition
- Cell Phone - apple iPhone 16e (also with Gaia GPS app)
- Post Race- rabbit toaster jacket & rabbit EZ slides
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Thanks for reading.
Next up as of now: High Lonesome 100 (2026-Jul-17)
Note: I still have ambitions of doing the LSHT "Yo-Yo" one day and set that FKT.
.jpg)
