Hallucination 100 Race Guide
Race Name
Hallucination 100 presents a groovy, trail-running experience set against a fun, Woodstock-inspired backdrop. This hundred-mile event is part of the Run Woodstock festival, offering runners a unique blend of endurance challenge and communal celebration. Participants immerse themselves in tie-dye vibes, live music, and a forested course that calls back to the spirit of the 1960s. Despite the playful theme, organizers maintain strict safety and course standards to ensure a well-run event for all entrants.
When it is run
Hallucination 100 is held annually on the first Friday of September, with the 2025 edition starting on Friday, September 5th. Runners gather in the late afternoon for a 4:00 p.m. start, allowing daylight miles before tackling the cooler evening hours. The race spans two full days, giving participants a continuous window of 30 hours to complete the distance. Temperatures in early September in Pinckney, Michigan typically range from the 50s at night to the low 80s by afternoon, offering moderately warm running conditions.
How to qualify or register
There are no formal qualifications required to enter Hallucination 100 beyond sensible self-assessment of fitness for a one-hundred-mile event. Interested runners register online through the Run Woodstock website or via UltraSignup by late October to guarantee swag and amenities. Early registration offers a reduced entry fee, while late registration incurs a higher cost but remains available until spots are filled. Packet pickup and on-site registration take place the morning of the race at Woodstock Camp, ensuring all runners are prepared before the afternoon start.
Particular challenges
The course’s looped format can test both physical endurance and mental resilience, as runners repeatedly pass through the same terrain. Mosquitoes often greet participants at dusk and dawn, so insect repellent is essential to maintain comfort and focus. Night running on forested single track can be slippery if rain arrives, with past editions seeing deluges that transformed trails into mud and added an extra “hallucinatory” element to the overnight miles. Additionally, the combination of festival activities and music can be both motivating and distracting, requiring runners to balance community fun with steady pacing to meet cutoffs.
Course format
Racers complete six loops of a roughly 16.6-mile circuit that winds through mature woodlands, gravel sections, and converted rail trails. Each loop begins and ends at the campground, where a well-equipped drop bag and support area await. The figure-eight design includes two shorter connector segments that allow 100K participants to finish after four loops by taking shortcuts. Excellent course marking and enthusiastic volunteers guide runners through each section, ensuring clarity even in the dark or during inclement weather.
Elevation profile
Each 16.6-mile loop features approximately 400 meters (1,312 feet) of elevation gain, resulting in a total climb of around 2,400 meters (7,872 feet) over the full hundred miles. The terrain undulates through gentle rollers rather than steep pitches, with the highest and lowest points separated by just a few dozen meters in this Michigan forest. Major climbs are spread evenly across the loop, preventing a single, punishing ascent but still demanding consistent effort. Runners encounter wooded hills that challenge both leg strength and pacing strategy throughout the event.
Terrain breakdown
Trails comprise a mix of surfaces, with single-track forest paths making up roughly sixty percent of the course. Gravel roads account for about ten percent, providing brief respite for quicker running when conditions allow. The remaining thirty percent consists of horse trails and repurposed rail trails that offer firmer footing but can become slick in rain. Occasional open field crossings and beach segments add variety to the route, but runners should expect mostly wooded, narrow pathways where footing can vary from hardpack to loose leaf litter.
Time limit & cutoffs
The overall time limit for Hallucination 100 is thirty hours, mandating that all runners cross the finish line by 10:00 p.m. on Saturday. To ensure safety and maintain event pacing, checkpoints enforce intermediate cutoffs. Runners must begin their final loop no later than 3:00 p.m. on Saturday or they will be switched to the 100K distance. A sequence of cutoffs at the Bethel Woods station (mile 90), Food for Love station (mile 94), and Rosemary Forest station (mile 97) guard against slow progress; missing any of these leads to removal from the course for runner safety.
Aid Stations
The Hallucination 100 features four strategically placed aid stations spread approximately every 3-6 miles across the 16.6-mile loop course. The main aid station is located at the Hog Farm at Woodstock Camp, which serves as the start-finish area and offers comprehensive support including drop bag access, changing areas, and hot food throughout the race. Food for Love sits halfway around the loop and provides hot meals, soups, sandwiches, and even pizzas for evening runners. Bethel Woods and Rosemary Forest aid stations are positioned at approximately 6 and 13 miles into each loop, offering standard race fuel including water, Gatorade, Coke, ginger ale, fresh fruit, M&Ms, gummy bears, Oreos, Pringles, pickles, PB&J sandwiches, potatoes, Vaseline, salt, gels, and Tums. The race operates as a cupless event, requiring all runners to carry their own drinking vessels for all fluid consumption.
Mandatory Gear
Headlamps and waist lights are required equipment for all 100-mile runners during dark hours, with race directors announcing when lights must be activated for safety. Runners must bring spare batteries, backup lights, and charging packs as part of their mandatory gear, with the strict rule that anyone without functioning lights during dark periods will not be allowed to continue. Personal drinking cups, bottles, or bladders are essential since the race maintains a cupless policy at all aid stations except for hot beverages. Additional recommended gear includes insect repellent due to significant mosquito presence during dawn and dusk hours. The race emphasizes self-sufficiency between aid stations, so runners should carry appropriate nutrition and hydration for the 3-6 mile segments between support points.
Crew & Pacing
Pacing support is permitted after completion of the second loop, meaning pacers can join 100-mile runners once they have covered approximately 33.4 miles of the course. Only one pacer may accompany a runner at any given time, and pacers must wear designated “Pacer/Runner Number” bibs provided at check-in. Pacers function strictly as companions rather than support crew, prohibited from running ahead to fill bottles, retrieve food, or access drop bags for their runners. All pacers require a $25 weekend pass to Run Woodstock, with one complimentary pass included in each 100K and 100-mile registration. Crew access is available at the main Hog Farm aid station at Woodstock Camp, where runners can set up personal aid stations and access drop bags throughout the race.
Navigation
The course features excellent marking and signage systems that keep runners on track despite multiple race distances sharing trail sections. Pink ribbons, pin flags, and reflective strips provide consistent navigation support, with markings placed approximately every 0.2 miles during straightaway sections and more frequently before and after turns. The race utilizes a figure-eight loop design with clearly marked shortcuts that allow 100K runners to finish after four loops while 100-milers continue for six complete circuits. GPS navigation is not required due to the comprehensive marking system, though many runners carry devices as backup. Course maps and downloadable GPS data are available through interactive online mapping systems provided by race organizers.
Finish Rates
Historical completion rates for Hallucination 100 show significant variation based on weather conditions, with typical years seeing finish rates around 60-70 percent of starters. The 2016 edition experienced particularly challenging conditions with heavy rain throughout the night, resulting in only about one-third of the starting field successfully completing the full hundred miles. Over the race’s 16-year history from 2009 to 2025, a total of 1,118 finishers have crossed the line, comprised of 848 men and 270 women. Recent editions have seen steady participation with field sizes ranging from 60-105 starters, demonstrating the event’s growing popularity within the ultrarunning community. Weather conditions, particularly overnight rain that can make trails slippery and challenging, significantly impact completion rates year to year.
Special Features
Hallucination 100 stands out with its unique Friday 2:00 PM start time, allowing runners to tackle the first night section while feeling fresh before facing a full day of running afterward. All 100-mile finishers receive a distinctive belt buckle featuring a peace sign design along with a finisher medal commemorating their achievement. The race serves as the fourth leg of the prestigious Midwest Grand Slam of Ultrarunning and qualifies as a Western States 100 entry lottery ticket. Theme awards highlight the weekend festivities, including recognition for “Hippest Hippies,” best campsites, and most groovy retro vehicles like VW buses and Pintos. The event combines serious ultrarunning with a vibrant 1960s festival atmosphere featuring live music, yoga sessions, tie-dye clothing, and communal camping experiences.
Previous Winners
Christopher Veska has dominated the men’s field in recent years, winning three consecutive titles from 2022-2024 with times of 18:15:37, 17:00:34, and 15:53:02 respectively. Brenda Johnson claimed back-to-back women’s victories in 2024 (19:57:17) and 2025 (19:05:27), establishing herself as a formidable competitor on this course. Other notable champions include Matthew Masserant who won in both 2018 and 2019, Johan Steene who set a fast time of 16:13:59 in 2015, and Marc Melville who claimed victories in both 2010 and 2014. The women’s course has seen strong performances from Stephanie Bland who won twice (2019 and 2022), and Ashley Truan, Jessica Southers, and Sarah Kondo who each claimed titles during the race’s competitive years.
Official Contact Info
Race inquiries should be directed to RF Events at info@rfevents.com or by calling (734) 929-9027 during business hours. The race director Dawn McConnachie oversees event operations and can be reached through the main RF Events contact system. RF Events maintains offices at 5700 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, serving as headquarters for all Run Woodstock festival coordination. Additional support for registration transfers, race distance changes, and general questions can be handled through the same contact channels, with organizers recommending email communication for fastest response times. The official race website at www.runwoodstock.com provides comprehensive information, interactive course maps, and registration links for all festival events.