HURT 100 2027 Guide: Course, Cutoffs, Water Rule and Pacers
Quick answer: The HURT 100 starts at 6:00 AM on Saturday, January 16, 2027, at the Hawaiʻi Nature Center in Makiki, above Honolulu, and closes at 6:00 PM Sunday, for a 36-hour limit. The course is five identical 20-mile laps of rainforest single-track, with about 24,500 ft of gain and the same again in loss. Each lap passes three aid stations, at Makiki, Mānoa and Nuʻuanu. You must leave every aid station carrying at least 32 oz of water, and the race highly recommends 64 oz. The 2027 lottery was drawn on August 8, 2026, so this guide is for entrants and their crews.
HURT 100 2027 at a glance
| Date and start | Saturday, January 16, 2027, 6:00 AM |
|---|---|
| Start and finish | Hawaiʻi Nature Center, 2131 Makiki Heights Drive, Honolulu |
| Format | 5 × 20-mile laps, with partial out-and-backs |
| Gain and loss | About 24,500 ft each way, between 300 and 1,900 ft elevation |
| Time limit | 36 hours (finish by 6:00 PM Sunday) |
| Aid | 3 per lap (Makiki, Mānoa at Paradise Park, Nuʻuanu at the Judd Trail trailhead), 5.2 to 7.4 miles apart. Cupless except hot drinks |
| Water rule | Leave each aid station with at least 32 oz; 64 oz highly recommended |
| Pacers | After mile 60 or from 5:00 PM Saturday, whichever comes first; only at Mānoa or Makiki |
| Poles and headphones | Poles allowed (yield to other runners); headphones discouraged |
Source: HURT 100 site and the 2027 Book of HURT, read October 28, 2026.
The lap, leg by leg
- Leg 1, Makiki to Mānoa (white tape): From the Hawai'i Nature Center in Makiki to the Mānoa aid station at Paradise Park.
- Leg 2, Mānoa to Nuʻuanu (green tape): Climbs out of Mānoa and crosses to the Judd Trail trailhead in Nuʻuanu.
- Leg 3, Nuʻuanu to Makiki (orange tape): The return to the Nature Center to close the lap.
About 99% of the course is single-track, over roots, rocks and mud. Some stretches run along exposed ridges or beside cliffs. Every lap has four stream crossings: Mānoa and Nuʻuanu streams twice each, for 20 crossings in all. The Nuʻuanu crossing is on scattered, slippery rocks. Some climbs run close to two miles. The race warns that GPS error in these mountains is often larger than the distance to a cliff edge, so follow the tape, not your watch. For a feel of the terrain, see our Makiki Valley and Tantalus trail guide and how to run in rain and mud.
Cutoffs
HURT only has cutoffs on the last lap (miles 80 to 100), and they apply to every runner regardless of how far along they are. You must check out of each aid station by the listed time.
| Mile | Location | Elapsed | Clock (Sunday) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | Makiki, cutoff #1 | 29:00 | 11:00 AM |
| 87 | Mānoa, cutoff #2 (station closes 1:45 PM) | 31:30 | 1:30 PM |
| 92.5 | Nuʻuanu, cutoff #3 (station closes 3:45 PM) | 33:30 | 3:30 PM |
| 100 | Finish, Makiki | 36:00 | 6:00 PM |
The elapsed times are our arithmetic from the 6:00 AM start. To make the first cutoff, you need to start lap 5 within 29 hours. That means averaging under 7:15 per lap for the first four laps, before fatigue, rain or a second night slows you down.
Water, aid and what to carry
HURT is one of the few US 100s with a hard water minimum. Every time you leave an aid station, you must carry at least 32 oz (about 950ml), and the race highly recommends 64 oz. Aid stations are 5.2 to 7.4 miles apart on technical single-track with mud and steep climbs, so plan water by how long a leg takes you, not by its distance. Aid stations don't stock gels, bars, electrolyte supplements, medication, blister care or batteries, so carry your own or pack them in drop bags. Muling is not allowed.
- The LECAMO ROOT5 ships with two 500ml soft flasks. That's 1 liter, or about 34 oz, which just clears the 32 oz minimum. Two bungee cords across the lower back hold folded poles.
- To get to the recommended 64 oz, carry more flasks. The ROOT8 also ships with two 500ml flasks and has room for extra layers, food, a light and extra 500ml soft flasks.
- Do not drink from the streams. The race warns that bacteria, including leptospirosis, are common in Hawaiʻi's streams, and that leptospirosis can enter through any open wound. Our stream water guide explains the risk.
Plan water by the time it takes to reach the next refill, not by mileage. Our trail water guide walks through the math. Compare packs on the trail packs page.
Daylight, rain and a light
The Book of HURT lists sunrise at 7:11 AM and sunset at 6:11 PM on January 16, with dawn at 6:47 AM and dusk at 6:35 PM. That means the 6:00 AM start is in the dark. From dusk at 6:35 PM to dawn at 6:47 AM is about 12 hours, and even a runner on course-record pace (19:22:44) finishes after dusk. The race notes that under the forest canopy it gets dark earlier than these times suggest, and that only the aid stations are lit. Carry a light and spare batteries. See headlamp storage in a running vest.
The Book gives Honolulu's January averages as about 80°F for the high and 66°F for the low, with an average of 3.34 inches of rain for the month and a one-day record of 6.40 inches. The forest is cooler, wetter and very humid. Temperatures can drop below 60°F at night after rain, and the race flags hypothermia as a risk on exposed ridges. Pack a shell. Our guide on keeping electronics dry in a running vest helps with the phone and spare batteries.
Crew, pacers and rules
- Crew: Only within 100 yards of an aid station. Crews can't use aid station food or supplies. No crews at Mānoa before 10:00 AM Saturday, and no crews, family or spectators at Nuʻuanu at any time.
- Parking: No vehicles above the green gate at Makiki. Crews walk in on the Arboretum Trail, not the road.
- Pacers: One at a time, joining after 60 miles or from 5:00 PM Saturday, whichever comes first, at Mānoa or Makiki only (never at Nuʻuanu). Pacers wear the provided bib and sign a waiver.
- Drop bags: Maximum 12 × 12 × 18 inches, with three pre-printed labels from your runner bag. Bring them to the start at Makiki from 4:45 AM Saturday; the collection point is at the Arboretum Trail trailhead. Collect by 6:15 PM Sunday.
- Tracker and bib: Wear the tracker high, ideally on your shoulder, not buried in your pack. Wear your bib on the front, unfolded. For where to pin a bib when you wear a vest, see our guide to wearing a race bib with a running vest.
- Also recommended: A whistle (see our whistle check) and a printed course map. Maps are not handed out at the start.
Check-in, briefing and the banquet
- Runner bag pickup and mandatory briefing: Friday, January 15, 2027, 10:00 AM, at Keʻehi Lagoon Memorial Park.
- Mandatory race-morning check-in: 4:45 to 5:45 AM at Makiki, where you get your bib and tracker.
- Post-race banquet: Monday, January 18, 2027, 5:00 to 9:00 PM, at Keʻehi Lagoon Memorial Park. Trophies are only handed out in person.
Flying in? See our guide to flying with a hydration vest.
Awards and records
Every finisher gets a belt buckle. The top three men, women and non-binary runners receive trophies, and the "We Wouldn't Want It To Be Easy" award goes to a finisher who overcame major challenges. The course records listed in the 2027 Book are 19:22:44 for men and 23:26:32 for women, and a new record earns $500 per division. Entry requires a 50-mile qualifier and 8 hours of volunteer trail work.
FAQ
When is HURT 100 2027?
It starts at 6:00 AM on January 16, 2027, and the course closes at 6:00 PM on January 17.
How much water do I have to carry at HURT?
At least 32 oz every time you leave an aid station. The race highly recommends 64 oz.
Is HURT cupless?
Yes, except for hot drinks.
When can pacers join?
A pacer may start after mile 60 or from 5:00 PM (17:00) Saturday, whichever comes first, and only at the Mānoa or Makiki aid stations.
Can my crew meet me at Nuʻuanu?
No. Crews, family and spectators are not allowed at Nuʻuanu at any time.
Are trekking poles allowed?
Yes, as long as you yield to other runners.
LECAMO is not affiliated with the HURT 100. Sources: hurt100.com, its course map page and the 2027 Book of HURT (race facts, cutoffs, rules, weather and daylight figures). Read October 28, 2026.