Endure
For
Cancer
Hell on Hogsback is a brutal endurance race in Cleveland, Ohio where athletes test their physical and mental limits by grinding up one of the area’s steepest hills - lap after lap, against the clock - to give forward in a big way and #EndureForCancer.
Sat, AUGUST 29, 2026
Cleveland, Ohio
1, 3, 6, or 12-Hour Max Distance Options
100% of registrations and donations go directly to those battling cancer.
Our WHY
Hell on Hogsback exists to turn suffering into purpose. It began after Cleveland native, Pete Nelson Sr., survived a 12-hour cancer surgery and a rare stroke, when his son returned to their favorite hill in Cleveland and ran for 12 hours to honor that fight - inviting a few friends, only to have 95 people show up back in 2023.
Today, hundreds of runners from around the U.S. endure together so others don’t have to, with every registration and donation going directly to cancer patients in need through the Nelson Family Foundation, where funds are personally delivered to families who need them most.
HOW THE EVENT WORKS
Hell on Hogsback is a max-distance endurance challenge held on one of the steepest hills in Cleveland. You choose your time limit. What you do with it is up to you.
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Start: 7:00 AM · Finish: 7:00 PM
Time Options: 1, 3, 6, or 12 hours
Goal: Complete as many laps & miles as possible before your time expires.
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1.1-mile loop (0.8 mile road & 0.3 mile trail)
140 ft of elevation gain & loss per lap
~12% average grade
Straight down. Sharp turn. Long grind back up. Repeat.
Every lap is earned.
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Fully stocked aid station
On-site medical & physical therapy
Nutrition and hydration support
Post-race recovery with SISU saunas and cold plunges
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Distance = total completed laps within your time window
In the event of a tie, tied athletes line up and complete one final lap — first across the line wins.
HOGSBACK RUN CLUB
ENDURE TOGETHER
Hogsback Run Club is our monthly community run on the hill from March through August, built to help people train together for race day. It’s open to all ability levels — walk, jog, run, or just show up for the community. If you want a low-pressure way to prepare, meet great people, and build momentum, this is where it starts.
All run clubs will be held at the race site, Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial Hill, and parking is available in the parking lot.
Saturday, April 18, 6:00am - 7:00am
Saturday, May 9, 8:00am - 9:30am
Saturday, June 20, 8:00am - 9:30am
Saturday, July 18, 8:00am - 9:30am
Saturday, August 15, 8:00am - 9:30am
Donate. Make It Count.
Hell on Hogsback turns effort into direct impact. Every dollar raised goes straight to cancer patients and families, covering medical costs, treatment gaps, and critical financial support through the Nelson Family Foundation. In 2025 alone, 300+ runners helped deliver $20,000 with 100% impact — and you don’t have to run to be part of it.
The nelson family foundation
The Nelson Family Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to directly support individuals and families facing cancer-related financial hardship. The Foundation exists to ensure the funds raised through Hell on Hogsback are handled with integrity and reach people who need help immediately.
All beneficiaries are carefully vetted, and funds are distributed with no overhead and no intermediaries and are hand-delivered to recipients. The Foundation’s sole role is stewardship: protecting the mission, the money, and the people it’s meant to serve.
Ready to Endure?
Whether you show up to run, donate, or train with others, there’s a place for you at Hell on Hogsback. Choose how you want to be part of it.