Location: Hell, MI (near Pinckney, MI)
Time of Year: August
Distance options: 4.8 Mile and 10 Mile
Year(s) completed: 1998, 1999 (4.8-mile), 2000, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2012, 2014 (10-mile)
The Run Thru Hell (summer version, not to be confused with a similarly-named race near Halloween), is a really fun summer road race. Temperatures and humidity are often high, but the race generally starts early enough to avoid the worst of it. The course is a blast–mainly back gravel roads with lots of large hills (much more so on the 10-mile course).
The post-race festivities aren’t that great, but this race generally goes fairly deep on the awards in the age categories, and also often has some interesting trophies to give away. For example, in 2011, 8th place in each age category got a trophy of the 2nd half of a horse with the words “better luck next year” engraved on the base.
The course itself with generally good competition makes this worth doing. It’s definitely challenging but fun.
The 2014 Run Thru Hell at Hell Creek Ranch in Hell, Mi (Hell, Hell, HELL!) was another well-run event. Yes, it was humid (100%) at the start, but at least it was cooler (around high 50’s at the start). Numbers seemed down this year by quite a bit, but I’m not certain. Either way, same, difficult course. The hills are still hard and fun.