Overall Rating
Overall Rating (2 Reviews)
5
(2 Ratings)  (2 Reviews)
DIFFICULTY
5
SCENERY
4.5
PRODUCTION
5
SWAG
5
A mind-bending, heart-pounding, leg-crushing race to the top of Southwest Virginia. Climb to the highest point in the Cumberland Mountains! The High Knob Hellbender is a challenging 6.2-mile road race that climbs more than 2,000 feet in elevation from its starting point in Norton, Va., the smallest incorporated city in … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Oct 07):
  2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
 
H (°F)  60  68  70  72  70
L (°F)  51  46  61  55  54
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Recent reviews

    diverdude0075 FIRST-TIMER '23

    This was a super fun race and my first time doing it. Competition was fierce! I also met several nice folks. The climb requires me to do run/walk intervals which … MORE

    This was a super fun race and my first time doing it. Competition was fierce! I also met several nice folks.

    The climb requires me to do run/walk intervals which uses different muscles and allowed me to have enough gas in the tank to finish strong.

    I may have to do this one again! Oh, and the race was smoothly managed with quite a few EMS on standby so that I felt really safe.

    Norton is a cool little town and there’sa great coffee shop across the street from the start that was open.

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5

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    M-Hall FIRST-TIMER '20

    I loved this 10k. The idea of all uphill (most of the +2,000 ft is in the last 4 miles). The setting, the way the production fit the race (no … MORE

    I loved this 10k. The idea of all uphill (most of the +2,000 ft is in the last 4 miles). The setting, the way the production fit the race (no chip time, no need – no pr’s here), and of course the challenge of pretty much up hill all the way. Perfect weather in 2020 to top it off.
    The point to point course starts next to the main street of Norton, VA and climbs to the scenic lookup above the town. A significant portion has the classic switchbacks of a road that only leads to an overlook – where you slow the vehicle down to make the sharp turn. Woods provided pleasant scenery and shade. The last 50 yards are flat but otherwise it is uphill.
    The production was smooth, the swag terrific – the hellbender on the tshirt has a facemask for 2020, and the age group award mugs were locally made. It was smart to go with gun time and presumably lower the cost so more money goes toward the charitable cause. The race start was late enough in the morning to allow easy driving to Norton from where ever you spent the night.
    I loved seeing what I could do, and there is the added benefit of all the hills in the races following the Hellbender seeming insignificant.

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5
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