Hellbender 100
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About the race
The Hellbender 100 is a 100 miler held May 7, 2027 in Old Fort, NC at 985 Camp Grier Rd, organized by the RUN828 Foundation. The route travels through the Black Mountains and reaches the summit of Mt. Mitchell, with an elevation change of about 48,000+ ft across the course. The event is a qualifier for Hardrock 100 and Western States 100.
Runners must meet a qualifying requirement: completion of a 100k with 10,000' of vertical gain or any 100 miler between May 1, 2025 and May 1, 2027, or the Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker 50 miler. Registration may occur before the qualifier is complete; proof may be requested. The race enforces a 39 hour overall cutoff and has multiple aid station cutoffs listed in the Runners Guide. Required gear must be carried by all runners and pacers at all times and will be checked before the start and at multiple points during the race.
Required items include a headlamp, backup light and batteries, a flashing red light for nighttime road sections, a seam sealed weather proof jacket, an emergency bivy, insulating long sleeve base layer, warm hat and gloves, emergency whistle, calories, a hydration carrier of 40 oz or more, water filter or purification, a cell phone or Garmin inReach, and the race GPS unit. The event is cupless; a reusable cup is included in the swag bag. Additional details include a waitlist policy, refund and deferral policies with specific dates, an 8 hour volunteer requirement between 5/1/2026 and 5/1/2027, and a Trail Mix Fund to waive entry fees for eligible applicants. Swag includes a swag bag with t shirt, a finishers buckle, a sub 24 hour award, a pre race meal, stocked aid stations and finish line food, and a reusable cup.
Lodging and camping information is provided for Camp Grier. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
