Georgia Death Race.
The Georgia Death Race in Blairsville is a 74-mile point-to-point ultra trail with very little flat ground on it. Nearly 4,900 metres up and slightly more back down turn the descents into a second opponent, and the longest climb of the day waits beyond kilometre 90. Preparing for it means preparing for the late race, not the start.
Georgia Death Race 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The quiet lasts briefly: after a gentle drop the first climb starts at kilometre 4.5, and from kilometre 6.5 come four kilometres at around 13 percent. At just over 500 metres of gain this is the biggest block of the day, and it lifts you above 1,000 metres into the highest part of the course. You stay mostly at that level until about kilometre 40, broken by notches such as the steep climb back out at kilometre 20.
The course then loses more than 200 metres, and two short, hard rises at kilometres 44 and 51 lead back up to the next high stretch. It rolls on without a real break as far as kilometre 71. There the long descent begins: some 450 metres down to the lowest point of the day around kilometre 80, below 500 metres.
The finale is the real core of the race. From kilometre 93 the course climbs for almost six kilometres without a break, back to around 900 metres. A high stretch and another big descent follow before one last steep climb of just over 200 metres stands in the way close to the end. The finish is somewhere else entirely, about 100 metres lower than the start. The field is mid-sized but strong at the front, and course records are kept for the current 74-mile course.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 4.5 | 2 km | 8.8 % | 22.4 % | +172 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 6.6 | 4 km | 13.2 % | 24.2 % | +524 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 19.9 | 1.4 km | 15.1 % | 32.6 % | +204 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 33.6 | 2.6 km | 10 % | 19.9 % | +260 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 43.9 | 1.5 km | 12 % | 26.8 % | +181 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 51.4 | 1.4 km | 13.7 % | 38.7 % | +185 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 92.7 | 5.8 km | 7.2 % | 22.9 % | +417 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 111.7 | 1.5 km | 14.7 % | 43.5 % | +217 m | Cat. 3 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Georgia Death Race.
Start under control
With just eight percent of the course flat, there is no ground here on which to recover at a run; nearly half the distance is steep, up or down. Race it by effort rather than by pace, and hike the steep sections from the very start.
Hold your rhythm
The main trap appears twice, and both times it feels easy. The big block up to kilometre 10 meets fresh legs that give more there than is good for the rest of the day. The long descent from kilometre 71 then rolls along comfortably, while taking exactly the quads you need for the final quarter.
Spend what is left
The race is decided between kilometre 93 and the finish. The longest climb comes straight after the lowest point, with every earlier descent already in your legs, and beyond it a big descent and a steep ramp are still to come. If you get up it in a steady rhythm, you can still run afterwards. Convert the cut-off times and aid-station breakdown the organiser publishes to your target time in advance, so you know how much margin you carry there.
Training plan for Georgia Death Race: 12-week build
Build the base
As an age-group athlete, expect roughly 18 to 28 hours out here. It is an aerobic effort from start to finish, but one where the legs reach their limit before the lungs do: with constant switching between steep climbing and steep descending, muscle rather than breathing sets the ceiling.
Train race pace
The decisive phase sits far back in the race, so your training belongs there too. Put the vertical at the end of your longest sessions and practise hiking a long climb in a steady rhythm after several hours on your feet. Back-to-back mountain days over a weekend mirror the second half better than one monster outing.
Rehearse the course
Descending deserves the same standing as climbing. The day ends with more metres down than up, and almost a quarter of the course drops steeply. Practise steep downhill running on tired legs regularly and build it early, alongside strength work for the quads, so that the long descent from kilometre 71 and the final ramp do not hit you all at once.
Arrive fresh
A date in late March puts your biggest weeks in January and February, so plan them deliberately, with alternatives for the dark months. At this duration you will also run part of the race in darkness: practise with a headlamp, tired and downhill too. Test your fuelling over more than a full day, built around the aid-station breakdown the organiser provides for the race.
Courses
Download the Georgia Death Race course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Georgia Death Race dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Georgia Death Race.
How long is Georgia Death Race?
Georgia Death Race is 119.09 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Georgia Death Race have?
Georgia Death Race has around 4,858 m of elevation gain over 119.09 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Georgia Death Race?
Georgia Death Race is classified as Mountainous, averaging 42.2 vertical metres per kilometre. 8% of the route is flat, 25% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 21% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Georgia Death Race have?
The hardest climb of Georgia Death Race starts at kilometre 6.6, runs for 4 km at an average of 13.2% and gains 524 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Georgia Death Race a loop course?
No, Georgia Death Race is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Georgia Death Race course?
Yes. The Georgia Death Race course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Georgia Death Race?
Preparation for Georgia Death Race should account for 119.09 km, 4,858 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Georgia Death Race?
The pacing strategy for Georgia Death Race should reflect 119.09 km, 4,858 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Georgia Death Race 2027 take place?
Georgia Death Race 2027 takes place on March 27, 2027.
Where does Georgia Death Race 2027 take place?
Georgia Death Race 2027 takes place in Blairsville, United States.
How do I register for Georgia Death Race?
Registration runs through the organiser: runbumtours.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
