Hellbender 100
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Hellbender 100 (May 8, 2026) : Old Fort, NC
The Hellbender 100 is a 100-mile trail race held near Old Fort, North Carolina, presented by the RUN828 Foundation, a nonprofit organization. The course travels through the Black Mountains and reaches the summit of Mt. Mitchell. Organizers note substantial cumulative elevation change on the route and that an alternative combination course may be used in 2026; a course map will be published when conditions are clear.
Entry is limited by qualification requirements. Acceptable qualifiers include a 100k with 10,000 feet of vertical gain or any 100-mile event between May 1, 2024 and May 1, 2026, or the Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker 50. Qualifying efforts may be non-competitive routes with verifiable evidence. A waitlist is used if registration fills; entrants are charged only if moved off the waitlist.
Race policies include a 39-hour overall cutoff and multiple aid-station cutoffs; required mandatory gear checks will occur before the race and during the course. Required items include lighting and backup power, a flashing red light for nighttime road sections, a seam-sealed weatherproof jacket, an emergency bivy, insulating base layer, warm hat and gloves, whistle, calories, a 40+ oz hydration carrier, water purification, a cellphone or satellite device, and the race-provided GPS unit. The event is cupless; participants receive a reusable cup in their swag bag.
The organizer requires completion of eight volunteer hours between May 11, 2025 and May 1, 2026 to meet volunteer obligations. Refund and deferral policies vary by date and circumstance. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
