Races
Hellgate
Boones Mill, Virginia. December hundred k. Cold Blue Ridge. Hellgate lives up to the name.
- Start906 ft
- High3,531 ft
- Low906 ft
- Finish1,217 ft
- Virginia at mile 0.0
- Hellgate mile 12 at mile 12, cutoff 3.6 hours
- Hellgate mile 25 at mile 25, cutoff 7.2 hours
- Hellgate mile 37 at mile 37, cutoff 10.799999999999999 hours
- Hellgate mile 50 at mile 50, cutoff 14.4 hours
- Finish Virginia at mile 62, cutoff 18 hours
Geometrycourse math
The cruxBlue Ridge Parkway crossing in December cold (near mile 40)
Course DNA
The Course
Hellgate runs 100 km through Virginia. +24,793 ft gain and -24,482 ft loss. Surfaces skew 75% trail / 25% dirt road. Blue Ridge Parkway crossing in December cold. High point near 3,570 ft. Low near 896 ft. December temps run 25°F to 55°F. The course rewards patience early and punishes rushed descents after mile 31.
The Work
Train for 24,793 feet of climbing across 100 km. Back-to-back long runs on trail. Practice power-hiking grades above 15 percent. 18 hours total means limited margin: rehearse fueling every 45 to 60 minutes and downhill eccentric work weekly. Technicality 5/10. Build a block that simulates the crux near mile 40.
Kit
December in Virginia: plan for 25°F to 55°F. Mandatory shell if rain is in forecast. Headlamp with spare batteries if 18 hours pushes past dark. Poles help on sustained climbs above mile 16. Vest capacity for 2 liters minimum. Shoes matched to 75% trail: lugs for mud, rock plate if the course turns technical after mile 31.
Race Day
Hold effort through mile 16. The field often splits on the first big climb after mile 31. Blue Ridge Parkway crossing in December cold near mile 40 is where time is won or lost. Walk the steep pinches. Run the flats and gentle downhills. Crew at major aids: socks, calories, ice if hot. Transitions under 5 minutes when possible. Final third is 21 miles of fatigue management. Finish with reserve for the last descent.
Official siteBack to racesPredict your timeTrain for this raceCheck readinessFoot care plan