You are welcome to lay out a sleeping pad and bag to rest in the Star Band Hall during event, although we will ask you to pack up and head out by 9am Sunday morning. You will also have access to the Helvetia Public Library to sleep in a place that's a little quieter and more removed from the action through the night.

Most runners in the past years have chosen to sleep in the Hall. If you'd like to make a longer weekend of it, or want a little more privacy, you might try The Swiss Roots Inn or The Beekeeper Inn (both right in town) or a couple of local spots available on Airbnb (about 8 miles away, up on Turkeybone).

No. Dogs are great, but please do not bring dogs to this event. While the course is held entirely on public land and county routes, dogs are not allowed in the Star Band Hall and the weather can be quite severe overnight.

No. You must register before registration closes.

Yes: only full loops count, and you must finish your last loop by the time the sun rises.

Headphones and earbuds are strongly discouraged for this event, but not outright banned. With runners in the dark and on icy trails and roads, it's best to keep your wits about you and know who's in front and who's behind.

Yes. You must have a headlamp or other running-specific light source that has enough battery life to last for the time you'll want to run. A smartphone flashlight is not sufficient.

No. Helvetia does not have cell service. You should expect to be out of contact roughly from the time that you turn off WV20 in French Creek or US219 in Mill Creek.

No. Because of the shape of the land and the lack of cell service, GPS does not work. Often, the directions that it produces are technically shorter at the expense of being a little adventerous, or just outright wrong. You should cache a map and directions on your phone or on paper before you leave so that you'll be able to navigate once you leave cell service.

The directions below have successfully guided runners to the Helvetia 10k for at least 25 years:

Helvetia is approximately 1 hour from Buckhannon or Elkins, 2 1⁄4 hours from Charleston or Morgantown.

From Morgantown & North: I-79 to Weston Exit 99 take Rt 33 East to Buckhannon. Take Rt. 20 South 12 miles to WV Wildlife Center, turn left onto Alexander/Helvetia Road. Follow signs staying on main road, 20 miles to Helvetia.

From Elkins: Rt. 219 South 16 miles to Mill Creek, turn right onto Mill Street. Follow signs, 20 miles to Helvetia.

From Charleston & South: I-79N to Flatwoods exit 67. Take Rt. 19 North 20 miles to Ireland then Rt. 4 East (toward Rock Cave). Go 6 miles through Rock Cave to the WV Wildlife Center, turn right on the Alexander/Helvetia Road. Follow signs 20 miles to Helvetia.

The run is the Saturday-into-Sunday with the longest night during the year. On years when the Winter Solstice is either a Saturday or a Sunday, it'll be that weekend; on other years, it'll be closest to the Solstice, so long as it's not Christmas.

Registration opens at noon on Labor Day of the year, the unofficial last day of summer.

If you're sure you want to run, jump on the wait list if you haven't already, then wait. We cannot make any promises, but in the past every runner who has put their name on the wait list has at least gotten a chance to sign up before the registration period closed.

"Hel-vee-sha" or "hel-vish-ah."