RacesSoutheast

Regional100K

Georgia Death Race

Demand

4 out of 5

How much it asks

Worth

3 out of 5

Worth the flight + fee

Blairsville to Amicalola Falls, Georgia, United States

Amicalola Falls from the base, North Georgia Thomsonmg2000 / Wikimedia Commons · CC0

Scorecard · is it worth it?

Strong weekend if you already live nearby.

The card

Georgia Death Race is a name that does marketing work, and the course still has to earn the demand score. Public description: roughly 74 miles from Byron Herbert Reece Farm in Blairsville to Amicalola Falls, about 16,000 feet of climbing, 25 hours, no pacers, a one-pound railroad spike carried the whole way and thrown in a coffin if you finish. Demand is 4 because that combination of distance, vert, humidity-adjacent March, and no-pacer rule is a mountain-trail beating. It is not 5 because it is not a 100 and because altitude is Appalachian. The spike is a gimmick that is also weight. We scored the day, not the coffin photo.

Worth is 3, regional. If you live in the South, this is a cult spring. If you are choosing a plane ticket, a spike is not a reason to skip HURT or Ouray. Finish rates around 60 percent are part of the folklore; folklore is not a destination. Regional means worth it if you are nearby, not a default plane ticket. Organization confidence is medium. Run Bum Tours and the public handbook culture are the public record.

The next edition is March 27, 2027. Cruel Jewel is the 104-mile sibling energy in the same mountains, also regional. GDR is the shorter, louder one. Neither is a skip. Neither is a default intercontinental. If you wanted the East Coast's hardest 100, look at Cruel Jewel and Massanutten and then stay honest about the drive. If you wanted a destination, keep moving through this catalog. The spike stays in Georgia. A 4/3 regional is a savage you drive to, not a name you fly for.

Who it is for

Southeastern trail runners who want a no-pacer 74-ish with a gimmick that is also a weight, and who already live within a day's drive.

Who should skip

Anyone flying for a railroad spike. If you need a plane, HURT is the destination savage. If you want the 100, Cruel Jewel is the longer Georgia card.

Elevation

Tap or hover for miles, clock, and aidft

Bottom ticks are aid. Longest gap 8.5 mi.

Shape from public terrain data along the RD's course line. Gain per the RD: 16,001 ft (4,877 m).

Course line from official GPX. Dots are aid. Tap or hover for mile, elevation, and clock.

Official course map ↗ · RD-linked interactive CalTopo course map

Start: 2,131 ft650 m
Finish: 1,812 ft552 m
Net: −319 ft−97 m
Longest climb: 2,269 ft692 m

Start and finish are within 400 ft. Treat net as a loop.

Weekend

Official handbook facts

Start: 05:00
Crew: 21, 27.25, 43.75, 51, 69.25 mi
Drop bags: 27.25, 51 mi
Poles: Allowed
Kit: Required · Headlamp + spare batteries, windbreaker, hat/buff, 22 oz water, collapsible cup, gloves, space blanket, whistle, railroad spike.
Course file: Open

Georgia Death Race Runners Handbook · retrieved 2026-09-06 (repo record)

Field

Last editions · 100K scored distance

Field evidence: who showed up, who finished, how long. DNF is that evidence, not a difficulty score. Public results, scored distance only.

2026

Starters: 279
Finishers: 184
DNF: 34%
Win: 14:07:49
Median: 21:08:37

2025

Starters: 254
Finishers: 155
DNF: 39%
Win: 12:45:27
Median: 21:07:11

2024

Starters: 256
Finishers: 141
DNF: 45%
Win: 13:25:33
Median: 21:33:58

Field evidence: who showed up, who finished, how long. DNF is that evidence, not a difficulty score. Public results, scored distance only.
Year	Starters	Finishers	DNF	Win	Median
2026retrieved 2026-09-06 (repo record)	279	184	34%	14:07:49	21:08:37
2025retrieved 2026-09-06 (repo record)	254	155	39%	12:45:27	21:07:11
2024retrieved 2026-09-06 (repo record)	256	141	45%	13:25:33	21:33:58

Latest median 21:08:37 (2026) vs the 25-hour cutoff already listed in Gate. Not a hardness score.

Overall field only. Not a pro or sponsored subset.

Climate

Typical March at the start area · historical race-week weather

Typical high: 61°F (16°C)
Typical low: 43°F (6°C)
Typical precip: 5.2 in (132 mm) / March
Days with rain: 40% of days
High point: 4,593 ft (1,400 m)

BewareMeasurable precip on about 40% of March days.

2015–2024 March means at the start / massif. · Open-Meteo ERA5 / climate · retrieved 2026-09-06 (repo record)

Dimensions

Ten 1–5 scores with a one-line why. Organization has a separate confidence tag.

Supporting dimensions · organization confidence medium

Distance & format

How much does the advertised distance and format actually ask?

About 74 miles, spike in hand, no pacers, 25 hours. Longer than a 100K, meaner than the name.

Vertical

How serious is the climbing, not just the mile marker?

Published about 16,000 ft of climb. Relentless North Georgia.

Technicality

Hands, poles, route-finding, or just a long dirt road?

Trail, steepness, the spike as a gimmick that is also weight. Technical enough.

Climate

Heat, monsoon, ice, or a friendly summer afternoon?

Late March in the North Georgia mountains: cold start, heat possible, storms.

Altitude

Does the air change the race, or is it a talking point?

Appalachian high country, not a 14er.

Logistics

How hard is the weekend around the race: travel, crew, lodging, rules?

Blairsville to Amicalola. A shuttle, a spike, a Friday meeting. Regional logistics.

Prestige & field

Does the start list and history change what the weekend feels like?

East Coast cult. Finish rate is part of the myth. Not an icon.

Organization

From public evidence, does the event look competently run?

Public handbook culture, no-pacer rule. Medium from the public record.

Value

Entry fee, travel tax, and lottery friction versus what you get on course.

A savage if you already live nearby. Not a default plane ticket.

Adventure & scenery

Would you fly for the place even if nobody kept score?

Amicalola, North Georgia woods. Handsome. The spike is not scenery.

Supporting dimensions · organization confidence medium
Dimension	Score	Why
Distance & format How much does the advertised distance and format actually ask?	4 out of 5	About 74 miles, spike in hand, no pacers, 25 hours. Longer than a 100K, meaner than the name.
Vertical How serious is the climbing, not just the mile marker?	4 out of 5	Published about 16,000 ft of climb. Relentless North Georgia.
Technicality Hands, poles, route-finding, or just a long dirt road?	4 out of 5	Trail, steepness, the spike as a gimmick that is also weight. Technical enough.
Climate Heat, monsoon, ice, or a friendly summer afternoon?	3 out of 5	Late March in the North Georgia mountains: cold start, heat possible, storms.
Altitude Does the air change the race, or is it a talking point?	1 out of 5	Appalachian high country, not a 14er.
Logistics How hard is the weekend around the race: travel, crew, lodging, rules?	3 out of 5	Blairsville to Amicalola. A shuttle, a spike, a Friday meeting. Regional logistics.
Prestige & field Does the start list and history change what the weekend feels like?	3 out of 5	East Coast cult. Finish rate is part of the myth. Not an icon.
Organization From public evidence, does the event look competently run?	3 out of 5	Public handbook culture, no-pacer rule. Medium from the public record.
Value Entry fee, travel tax, and lottery friction versus what you get on course.	3 out of 5	A savage if you already live nearby. Not a default plane ticket.
Adventure & scenery Would you fly for the place even if nobody kept score?	3 out of 5	Amicalola, North Georgia woods. Handsome. The spike is not scenery.