Hellbender 100
Old Fort, United States • 8 May 2026
Event
The Hellbender 100 is a trail ultramarathon held in Old Fort, North Carolina, presented by the RUN828 Foundation, a nonprofit. The main distance is 100 miles and the event permits pacers. Registration closes on May 1, 2026. The race is a qualifier for Hardrock 100 and Western States 100.
Course and support
The course runs in the Black Mountains and reaches the summit of Mt. Mitchell. The route will likely use an alternative course in 2026 that combines parts of the 2025 course and the original course; organizers note there will still be substantial climbing and descending. Total elevation change is listed at approximately 48,000+ feet. Cutoffs are enforced and the overall time limit is 40 hours. Stocked aid stations and finish-line food are provided; more aid station details are published in the Runners Guide. The event is cupless; runners receive a reusable cup in their swag bag.
Entry requirements and policies
Entry requires a qualifier: a 100k with 10,000 feet of vertical gain, any 100-miler between May 1, 2024 and May 1, 2026, or the Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker 50. Qualifying efforts may be non-competitive with proof requested. If registration fills, entrants move to a waitlist and are charged only if invited; waitlist invitations alternate evenly between women and men. Refund and deferral policies include partial refunds before specified dates and full credit for certain unforeseen circumstances.
Mandatory gear and volunteer requirement
Runners and pacers must carry specified mandatory gear at all times, including emergency bivy, weatherproof jacket, warm layers, headlamp and backup light, hydration carrier (40 oz+), GPS device provided by the race, and other listed items. Eight hours of volunteer or trail work is required between May 11, 2025 and May 1, 2026. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.