Hellbender 100
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About the race
The Hellbender 100 is a 100 mile trail race in Old Fort, North Carolina, scheduled for May 7, 2027 and organized by the RUN828 Foundation. The course runs through the Black Mountains, into the valleys below, and to the summit of Mount Mitchell. The route includes approximately 48,000+ feet of elevation change and uses mountain trails in Western North Carolina.
Runners have a 39 hour overall time limit. Cutoffs will be enforced at multiple aid stations; specific cutoff times and aid station details are published in the Runners Guide. The event is a qualifier for both Hardrock 100 and Western States 100.
The race requires runners and pacers to carry mandatory safety gear at all times, including a headlamp and backup light with batteries, a flashing red light for night road sections, a seam-sealed weatherproof jacket, an emergency bivy, insulating long sleeve base layer, warm hat and gloves, whistle, calories, a hydration carrier of 40 oz or more, water filtration or purification, a cell phone or satellite communicator, and the race GPS unit. The event is cupless; each entrant receives a reusable cup in the swag bag.
Qualification to enter requires completion of a 100k with 10,000 feet of vertical gain or any 100 mile event between May 1, 2025 and May 1, 2027, or the Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker 50. Proof may be requested. A waitlist is used if registration fills; waitlist entries are not charged until invited.
The RUN828 Foundation directs the event and allocates a portion of proceeds to aligned nonprofit efforts. Volunteer service of eight hours between 05/01/2026 and 05/01/2027 is required. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
