Deep into the Texas country, over 80 km outside of San Antonio, a desert full of dude ranches and cacti was host to the 2012 USA Track & Field 100 km Trail National Championships and part of the Montrail Ultra Cup.

Bandera, Texas, with its nearby Hill Country State Natural area, was the site of the championship race and it has been attracting new racers from all over the United States.

Cassie Scallon, 29, from Waterdown, Wisconsin, posted a 9:40:20 time beating out Liza Howard, 37, from nearby San Antonio, and Pam Smith, 37, for Salem, Oregon for second and third respectively in the Open Female 100 km.

In the Open Male 100 km division, Timothy Olson, 28, of Ashland, Oregon ran a 8:28:40 race edging out Dave Mackey, 42, of Novato, California and third-place Joe Uhan, 34, of Eugene, Oregon, by nearly 10 minutes.

“The attendance of the race is continuing to grow about 15 to 20 percent each year,” said Joe Prusaitis, Bandera’s race director and founder along with his wife. “We had a phenomenal race this year and a very talented group of men and women came out to race 62 miles of rugged trail fighting the heat and the competition.”

The winners of the 100 km amongst the 215 racers won $1000 a piece. There were also prizes for the top racers in the 50 km and the 25 km.

The terrain of the race is usually a surprise for people who live outside the area, says Prusaitis.

“Bandera is unique in the state of Texas. Most people think Texas is flat, yet there is lot of elevation, lots of drops and climbs and a lot of rock. There’s plenty of cactus that causes a lot of cuts and scrapes. You start seeing blood on people’s legs going through this stuff,” added Prusaitis.

The 5000-acre park has 40 miles of trails and peaks up to 2000 feet, but it’s the rolling hills that demand attention.

“The terrain is very difficult and very tough on the racers,” continues Prusaitis.

Despite the sweltering heat and the tough conditions Prusaitis said it was a lot better than the year’s they’ve had rain.

“The rain brings out this shoe sucking mud,” he adds.

Prusaitis and his wife Joyce are happy with the increased turnout the race has attracted since they started it ten years ago.

“It used to be exclusively a Texas race,” he said. “But now groups from the Pacific Northwest, New Mexico and even up in Wisconsin come down.”

The couple organizes nine other races in the area, but the Bandera holds a special place because of the hospitality from the locals.

“Lots of other places you get a hotel, but here you stay in a dude ranch,” said Prusaitis.

“The racers really enjoy it.”