THE GRIT INDEX
The Hollis Hills Farm mission is a celebration of the land and the trail running community. This experience takes you across private trails and working farm acreage, offering a rare glimpse into the sustainability of local agriculture through the lens of an endurance athlete.
We have designed these metrics to reflect a race that prioritizes the enjoyment of the run and the support of our local farming heritage. While the terrain is technical, the reward is a deeper connection to the environment that sustains us. This is where grit meets the harvest.
Pristine private trails through working orchards and hidden forest single-track.
A zero-waste mission directly supporting local farming and land conservation.
Designed for the trail running community to find rhythm and flow in the heart of the farm.
QUEST LOG
The technical specifications of the quest. Use these metrics to calibrate your training and strategy for the terrain ahead. This is the raw data of the journey
PRIVATE TRAILS
SUSTAINABLE MISSION
HALF MARATHON
LOOP DISTANCE
ORCHARD PATHS
50K
PRIVATE TRAILS
SUSTAINABLE MISSION
100K
PRIVATE TRAIL
TOTAL GAIN PER LAP
50 MILES
PRIVATE TRAILS
SUSTAINABLE MISSION
100 MILEs
THE MISSION:
ELLENBORO, NC
The Hollis Hills Farm mission is a rare convergence of elite technical trail racing and agricultural stewardship. Built entirely on private single-track, this course winds through working orchards and pristine forest canopy that are strictly closed to the public. This is a mission designed for the endurance athlete who values the enjoyment of the run as much as the protection of the land. By navigating the 1.5-mile loops, you are directly participating in a sustainability-focused event where every step supports the local farming heritage of the region.
This experience is defined by the “Harvest Rhythm“—a tactical flow that allows you to find your pace while contributing to a zero-waste ecosystem. Whether you are chasing the 50-mile harvest in the 12-hour tier or enjoying the orchard sprint in the 3-hour mission, your presence serves a larger purpose. We have curated this race to ensure that the trail running community leaves the land better than they found it, turning grit and sweat into the very resources that sustain the farm’s future.
The Stone Mountain Massacre is a vertical confrontation against the silent, towering presence of Stone Mountain State Park, NC. This quest demands total psychological and physical commitment. The course is anchored by relentless granite ascents that strip away everything but a runner’s core grit before plunging back into the technical roots and rock of the forest floor.
Central to this mission is the Stone Collection—a strict ritual where finishers must earn their place. Runners are required to collect a specific stone at every designated aid station. Missing even one signifies a failure in the mission and results in an automatic DNF. To hold the complete set at the finish is the only way to prove you conquered the mountain’s judgment.
HOLLIS HILLS FARM TERRAIN SURVEY
Witness the synergy between the trail running community and the local agricultural heritage of this unique ultra marathon. This gallery captures the grit and flow of athletes navigating private trails designed for both endurance and environmental stewardship.”
