GUTS members get $5 discount

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Start/Finish Field:34°42'04.5"N 83°43'14.1"W

Enter Helen on Hwy 17/75/Main Street. You will turn on Brucken Strasse. (There is a Circle K Gas station at the corner.) The address of the Circle K gas station is 7934 S Main St, Helen, GA 30545, so if you put that into your GPS you will get to the intersection of Brucken Strasse and Hwy 17/75/Main Street.

Once at this intersection, drive down Brucken Strasse about 300 meters. You will cross the Chattahoochee River. IMMEDIATELY after the bridge, there is a private drive on your left. Turn left into the private drive (there will be a Helenback/GUTS sign to direct you). At the fork, keep left to continue along the river.

Drive about 200 meters to get to the start/finish field and the parking area. We will have parking for about 150 cars (so carpool if possible).

Parking contingency if field is full/very wet due to rain: If the start/finish field is full (this has never happenned), cars will need to park across the river in one of the commercial park lots (we will have signs/parking attendants directing you). If you park across the river, simply walk back to Brucken Strasse, cross the bridge over the river, and walk down the path to the start/finish field (it's about a .25 mile walk from the overflow parking to the start/finish field).

Marathon

Marathon Cutoffs: 

Cutoff #1. Need to be past 1st blood (Mile 9.35) by 9:40 am. The equates to an approx. 17 min/mile pace. At 1st blood, you begin a 6 mile trek up to Tray Mountain. There is no good way for you to drop at the top of Tray Mountain. It is about a 1 hr car ride in a 4x4 vehicle to get up there.  If you do not meet the 9:40 cutoff at 1st blood aid station, you will be directed down the mountain and run to the finish from that point. Those who do not make the cutoff will still run approx 15 miles for the day.

Cutoff #2. If you are really behind or hurting, you can drop at Bear Trap aid station (Mile 22.4). We will close down that aid station at 1:20 pm so you need to be through that aid station by that point in time (need to average 17 min/mile pace).

Marathon race description:The race begins at the staging area and heads north with 400 feet of vertical climb up a gravel service road into Unicoi State Park. Follow the rolling hills down into Unicoi. You will hit the first aid station (Field aid station) at mile 2.7. From here, you will climb up to GA HWY 356 at mile 3 and will turn left to cross over the Smith Creek Dam.

Get a nice view of the water as you run along the Lake Trail making your way to the Unicoi beach at mile 4 (water available). Refuel here b/c the next water station is at the 9.35 mile mark (First Blood aid station)

From the beach, you will split with the 1/2 marathon course and run up Anna Ruby Falls Road toward the the falls and the Anna Ruby Falls Visitor Center. The Visitor Center and this road section will be closed to cars due to park hours. Get a good view of the falls and drop back onto the trail system by taking the Smith Creek Trail to the next trail intersection and our very limited aid station (water only) at mile mark 9.35.

Push up the climb on FS 690 toward Tray Mountain Road and the Appalachian Trail. When you reach the top, you’re at mile 15 and you're done climbing (mostly)!

Make you way back to First Blood aid station and continue downhill to Bear Trap aid station. Continue into Unicoi State Park. Get your last water stop at the Field Aid Station and continue about 2.6 miles to the finish. At mile 25 there is a stream crossing (Smith Creek). From there, you're 1.8 miles from the finish! Enjoy a victory beer and soak your feet in the Chattahoochee River. You've earned it!

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Half-marathon

Half Marathon Cutoffs:  1. Field aid station: 12:30 pm (average pace of 26 min/mile). Runners not meeting this cutoff can ride back to the start or be directed to take an alternate/shorter route to the finish.

Start to Beach Aid Station:
The race begins at the staging area and heads north with 400 feet of vertical climb up a gravel service road and into Unicoi State Park. Take these rolling hills down into Unicoi. Reach the first aid station (Field aid station) at mile 2.7. From here you will climb up to GA HWY 356 at mile 3 and turn left to cross over the Smith Creek Dam. Get a nice view of the water as you run along the Lake Trail making your way to the Unicoi beach at mile 3.85 (some water available...if the marathoners did not drink it all).

Unicoi Beach to Bear trap Aid Station:
From here you will continue clockwise around the lake towards the visitors center. Once here you will turn left and head uphill towards the Bear Trap aid station (mile 4.9). Make sure you stock up here!! You will not have a full aid station until returning to this one after the next 3 miles.

Bear Trap to First Blood:
From Bear Trap aid station you will be following the Smith Creek Trail climbing to the top of Hickory Nut Ridge. Enjoy running beside the creek and taking in the rhododendron and hardwood forest. Having reached the upper terminus you will have climbed over 1,000 vertical feet. Some water may be available at First Blood (mile 6.9) if the marathoners did not drink it all. This is our most difficult aid station to access so it is limited to what our sweepers can hike in.  Don't worry, there is a full aid station in another 1.4 miles at Bear Trap.

First Blood to Bear Trap:
At this point you leave Smith Creek Trail and cross over to old Forest Service Road 690 and take this trail back downhill into Unicoi State Park and a fully stocked Bear Trap aid station (mile 7.52).

Bear Trap to Field Station to the Finish:
You will now run downhill back towards the visitor center. Friends and family can park at the visitor’s center and see the runners come through. The trail leads around the lake and crosses back over GA-356 and down to the large open field that contains parking for the trout stream and mountain bike trails. This is the best location for crew to set up and cheer on runners as they come through. From here runners have a 4.85 mile push to the end but the running will continue on a downward slope (mostly). Cross Smith Creek (wet feet!) at mile 12.2! You have 1.8 miles left to the finish! Enjoy a victory beer and soak your feet in the Chattahoochee River.

4 Miler

The race begins at the staging area and heads north with 400 feet of vertical climb up a gravel service road into Unicoi State Park. From the top you’ll see a panoramic views of Helen, the Sautee Valley and Yonah Mountain. Follow the Unicoi trail system as it winds its way through the pine, rhododendron and hardwood forest. Parallel the lower section of Smith Creek and get a glimpse of fishermen fly fishing for trout. Cross Smith Creek (wet feet!) and continue another 1.8 miles back down into the valley to the finish for a victory beer and cheer on the marathoners and half marathoners.

Typically High of 72 F and Low of 44 F

Runners can pickup their packet either Friday or on race day.

Packet pickup will be available on Friday from 3 - 5 pm at the start/finish area.

Race day packet pickup will be available starting at 6:15 am on race day- this will also be located at the start/finish area.

Marathon

Bryn Foster 2023) - 4:23:57

Evan Dare (2017) - 3:27:36

Half-marathon

Mary White (2019) - 2:10:08

James Thompson (2022) - 1:49:24

Our preferred lodging partner is Unicoi State Park. The have numerous lodging options available (rooms at the lodge, cabins, and campsites) and the park is only minutes from the start and finish of the race.

Unicoi State Park has offered Helenback Race Series participants a special promotional rate to stay at the park. Ask for the special rate when you call to book for the race weekend. Helenback runners get the following rates on their rooms:

Lodge: $129 (plus taxes and fees)

2 Room Barrel Cabin: $189 (plus taxes and fees)

3 Room Cabin: $219 (plus taxes and fees)

We appreciate your support of Unicoi State Park. Without the park's help, the race would not be possible. Book now!

Online: https://www.unicoilodge.com/

Call: 1-800-573-9659

PS Even if you book a campsite, please use the Helenback rate code.  While it does not give you a discount, it allows Unicoi to track how many runners use their facilities.  We WANT the race to be worthwhile/profitable for Unicoi as they allow us access to these great trails!