Hillbilly Hustle.
On its longest course the Hillbilly Hustle in Nanaimo saves the hardest climb for late: the route first tops out at about 1,000 metres, and after km 35 the second big mountain is still to come. Preparation therefore centres on steep hiking on tired legs and on quads that can still run downhill afterwards.
Hillbilly Hustle 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The loop starts at just under 170 metres and is gentle at first. A climb from km 2 lifts you onto a rolling level around 300 metres, after which the course falls away again. At km 11 comes the first serious ramp, which reaches beyond 400 metres and then gives it all back. Only about one metre in ten is flat across the whole loop, and more than half of it is steep, up or down.
The real work starts at km 18. Four steps take you from just over 300 metres to about 1,000, and they get steeper: the last holds an average of 16 percent for a kilometre and a half. Shortly before the high point the route parts from the 35 km loop, which it has shadowed almost exactly until now. The long course then spends seven kilometres losing nearly everything you gained, and at km 32 it is back at just over 200 metres.
That is where the second half of the day begins. A steady approach leads into the steep ground, and from km 35 there are a good 600 metres of ascent in under four kilometres. Single pitches go beyond 30 percent. It is the biggest single climb of the loop. The descent that follows is the most abrupt, and it doubles as the closing section of all three Hillbilly Hustle courses. From km 42 the loop only drifts gently down to where it began.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 2 | 1.7 km | 7.8 % | 15.4 % | +134 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 11.3 | 1.9 km | 8.9 % | 20.1 % | +167 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 17.9 | 1.8 km | 11.5 % | 23.8 % | +201 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 19.8 | 1.8 km | 11.5 % | 21.8 % | +201 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 21.8 | 0.4 km | 23.1 % | 36.6 % | +92 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 22.7 | 1.6 km | 16.1 % | 32.3 % | +253 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 31.9 | 2.9 km | 6.6 % | 19 % | +188 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 34.9 | 3.8 km | 16.4 % | 39.6 % | +624 m | Cat. 2 |
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 Hillbilly Hustle.
Start under control
The ascent here is not evenly spread, and that sets the plan. The first 17 kilometres are a run-up: they feel easy, and this is exactly where you take on the debt you repay late in the race. Stay at conversation pace on this section, even where the ground invites running.
Hold your rhythm
Hike the steps to the first high point as soon as the gradient reaches double figures, and do it so that your heart rate settles between them. At the top the job is not half done but about two thirds done, with roughly 800 metres of climbing still ahead.
Spend what is left
The trap is the long descent in between. Seven kilometres downhill tempt you to bank time, but burning your quads here leaves you powerless on the hardest ground of the race from km 35. Run it loose rather than fast, use the valley at km 32 to eat, and take the last mountain at a rhythm you can hold for four kilometres. That climb decides the race: get over it under control and you can still run the closing section, otherwise you will be walking it.
Training plan for Hillbilly Hustle: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect seven to eleven hours as an age-group runner. This is a long aerobic effort in which uphill hiking takes up much of the time. The intensity comes not from speed but from steep steps that push your heart rate up for many minutes at a stretch, followed by descents that tax the muscles far more than the lungs.
Train race pace
The race turns on the stepped climb to the first high point and above all on the mountain after km 35, which hits at full steepness many hours in. Your key session is therefore the long run with its vertical placed late: put the main climb in the final third and practise hiking it strongly rather than spending fresh legs early. Pitches beyond 15 percent should be a regular feature, because gentler hills do not reproduce this work.
Rehearse the course
The second priority is downhill running. About a quarter of the course falls steeply, and the longest descent sits between the two big climbs. Build extended downhill stretches into your runs and back them up with strength work for the quads, such as lunges and slow step-downs, so that you do not reach the second mountain with the muscles already spent.
Arrive fresh
The late-May date puts your longest sessions in March and April. Schedule two or three days of 30 to 35 kilometres there and test what you can eat and drink over many hours. Your stomach still has to work at km 35, or the best fitness counts for little.
Courses
Download the Hillbilly Hustle course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Hillbilly Hustle 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 Hillbilly Hustle.
How long is Hillbilly Hustle?
Hillbilly Hustle is 50 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 Hillbilly Hustle have?
Hillbilly Hustle has around 2,385 m of elevation gain over 50 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Hillbilly Hustle?
Hillbilly Hustle is classified as Mountainous, averaging 49.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 10% of the route is flat, 20% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 27% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Hillbilly Hustle have?
The hardest climb of Hillbilly Hustle starts at kilometre 34.9, runs for 3.8 km at an average of 16.4% and gains 624 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Hillbilly Hustle a loop course?
Yes, Hillbilly Hustle is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Hillbilly Hustle course?
Yes. The Hillbilly Hustle 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 Hillbilly Hustle?
Preparation for Hillbilly Hustle should account for 50 km, 2,385 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 Hillbilly Hustle?
The pacing strategy for Hillbilly Hustle should reflect 50 km, 2,385 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 Hillbilly Hustle take place?
Hillbilly Hustle takes place on May 23, 2027.
Where does Hillbilly Hustle take place?
Hillbilly Hustle takes place in Nanaimo, Canada.
Which distances does Hillbilly Hustle offer?
Hillbilly Hustle offers 3 distances — 50 km: 50 km; 35 km: 35 km; 17 km: 17 km.
How do I register for Hillbilly Hustle?
Registration runs through the organiser: hillbillyhustle50.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
