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Hellgate 100K
Race Details:
- Location: Glasgow, VA, USA
- Race Date: 12/12/2026
- Race Distances: 100 Kilometer, Ultra Marathon
What This Race Counts Toward:
Western States 100: Yes
UTMB Index: No
Hellgate 100K Description
Held in the pitch-black cold of a Blue Ridge December, the Hellgate 100K starts at 12:01 a.m. and covers 66.6 miles: deliberately run long, a signature of race founder David Horton’s famously honest “Horton miles.” The point-to-point course drops from the Glenwood Horse Trail near Glasgow, Virginia through the Jefferson National Forest to Camp Bethel, crossing the Appalachian Trail and Blue Ridge Parkway four times along the way. With roughly 13,500 feet of climbing over icy, technical singletrack, this Western States 100 qualifier is widely considered as demanding as an actual hundred-miler.
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Hellgate 100K Additional Details:
Entry isn’t first-come-first-served: Hellgate is by written application only, typically capped near 150 starters selected from a larger applicant pool each fall. Because the race starts at midnight in December, mandatory gear includes serious cold-weather layers, and conditions have included snow, ice, and sub-freezing temperatures in past editions. Runners must clear two hard cutoffs, Floyd’s Field at roughly 22.5 miles by 6:40 a.m. and Bearwallow Gap at about 42.5 miles by 12:30 p.m., or they’re pulled from the course. Nine aid stations dot the route, several reachable only by forest service roads, and are staffed by Virginia Happy Trails Running Club volunteers. Founded in 2003 by ultrarunning legend David Horton, the race has built a reputation as one of the toughest sub-100-mile tests in the sport, with finishers earning bragging rights among a small, close-knit community of repeat entrants.
Course Information
Profile: Very Hilly
Type: Point to Point
Surface: Trails
Pace Groups: No
Time Limit: 18 hr
# of Finishers
100K: 124 finishers (2025)
Elevation Details
Elevation Gain: 13,500 ft
Elevation Loss: 13,500 ft
Average Temperature
- Low: 25°F
- High: 49°F
Train Smarter for Race Day
A great race starts long before the starting line. Whether you’re chasing your first finish or hunting a new PR, a structured training plan takes the guesswork out of race prep — building your fitness, your confidence, and your mileage at the right pace for you.
Explore plans for every distance and experience level, from your first 5K to your next ultra.
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Things to Do in Glasgow, VA, USA
Make the most of race weekend — here’s how to fill the time before and after you cross the finish line.
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