Hell Creek Half & 50K
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Hell Creek Half & 50K
The event takes place on the single-track Switchgrass Mountain Bike Trail at Wilson State Park. The trail is hilly and generally not very rugged, runs beside Wilson Lake, and is mostly exposed with little heavy tree cover.
- Half marathon: one 13(ish) mile loop with an initial 1/3 mile on pavement.
- 50K: 19-mile loop, then the half marathon loop; total distance about 32 miles.
The 50K consists of an initial 19-mile loop on the Hell Creek route, followed by the half marathon loop to complete the distance. The half marathon follows a single loop that includes a short paved section at the start. Both courses use sections of the Hell Creek 100 course with specified cutoffs and minor route changes.
There are two staffed aid stations at the start/finish and at Hell Hill. An unmanned water and Proxima C station is located at mile 5, and an additional water point is placed around mile 13 on the Hell Creek loop for 50K runners. Aid stations provide standard ultra food options, water, soda, and Proxima C Endurance Fuel.
The course will be heavily marked with ribbons and wrong-way signs, and volunteers will be positioned at Hell Hill. Cutoffs allow about 9 hours for the 50K and about 8 hours 45 minutes for the half marathon.
Restrooms are available at the start/finish, porta-potties will be near the other full aid station, and hot showers are available year-round at Big Bluestem campground about 3/4 mile from the start/finish.
Awards are given to the top three male and female finishers in each distance. All entrants receive a tank top; finishers receive a medal for the half marathon and a 50K belt buckle for the 50K. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
