7 Gates of Hell Half Marathon

Challenge your fears through the Seven Gates of Hell Half Marathon presented by Strictly Limitless. 

Experience the urban legend of the Seven Gates of Hell on this 13.1 mile course through the beautiful backroads of Madison County. Starting in Downtown Collinsville, you will run through all seven fabled gates and finish at Triad High School. Legend has it that these seven gates form a bridge between this world and the underworld and those who approach the 7th gate at midnight will be transported into Hell. Lucky for you, the race starts at 7:00am. Come conquer your fears and test your abilities through the experience of this local legend and run like the road is melting behind you.

***Update*** The city of Collinsville recently approved a construction plan to remove three of the historic gates in order to build a bridge. This event will be the first and last time to experience all seven of the original gates in this unique fashion. Future races will be on an alternative route so don't miss your chance to see them before they're gone!

 

 

Date

Sunday October 6, 2024

Race starts at 7:00AM

 

Venue

Main St. Collinsville, IL to Triad High School

 

 Pricing

3/1/24 - 6/30/24 __________ $60
7/1/24 - 9/30/24 __________ $70
10/1/24 - 10/06/24 ____________ $90

 

 

Athlete Benefits

  • 7 Gates of Hell Graphic T-shirt

  • Hell Raiser Finisher Medal 

  • Post-Race Finisher’s “Power” Pack with snacks, candy, water & beer (21 and over)

  • Cash prizes for top finishers

Parking and Shuttles

Race Day Parking 

All participants will be asked to use the parking lots at Triad High School. (703 US-40, Troy, IL 62294.) and take a shuttle to the start of the race in Downtown Collinsville area. There is parking all around Downtown Collinsville if you wish to park there as well, but the most efficient and guaranteed parking is at Triad High School. 

Shuttle service to and from the race site will be free for all participants and spectators. 

Triad High School is located at 703 US-40, Troy, IL 62294

Shuttle Service 

Shuttle service is not required for this event, feel free to use alternative transportation methods if need be. 

(continuous shuttle service will run during the morning to allow for spectators to use shuttles as well)

Shuttles begin: 5:15am 
Shuttles end: 11:00am 

(continuous shuttle service will run during the morning to allow for spectators to use shuttles as well) 

Shuttle pick up: Roundabout area in the front of Triad High School (will be marked with signage)

Drop off at race site: Corner of E Clay and N Chestnut Downtown Collinsville, a short walk from the start line.

 

Packet Pickup

Friday, October 04, 2024

  • Time: TBD

  • Location: TBD

Saturday, October 05, 2024

  • Time: TBD

  • Location: TBD

Sunday, October 06, 2024

  • Time: 5:30am - 7:00am

  • Location: Race Site, Start Line 

Awards

Prize money is awarded to the top 3 male and female finishers

  • 1st Place: $200

  • 2nd Place: $100

  • 3rd Place: $75

 

 

What are the Gates?

The gates, themselves, are railroad trestles built in the late 1800s on the back roads of Collinsville, IL. The bridges were built to help trains get around the small mining town and have since then been abandoned.

Urban Legend

The gates are plagued with rumors of hangings, KKK meetings, satanic rituals, and paranormal activity. Though the validity of these rumors have not been confirmed, one thing that is for sure is the undeniable atmosphere surrounding the gates. 

Two urban legends reign supreme above all. The first one claims that passing through each gate in chronological order, ending with the pass-through of gate seven at midnight will open a portal to Hell. Those who succeed will be dragged to the depths of despair with no way of escape. The second states that going through the gates in reverse order will reveal a tear in reality which provides a mere glimpse into the underworld. This is the preferred route for the casual thrill seeker who doesn't want to risk a life of fire. Choose wisely.   

Race Route 

 

Start Line

Start Line is at the intersection of E Main St. and N Chestnut in Downtown Collinsville, IL 

Gate 1

To find the first gate from the starting line, you have to follow E Main St. towards SS Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery. Once you make it to the intersection, take a left onto Lebanon Road. Lebanon Road will eventually run through Gate 1.

Gate 2

Roughly a half-mile from the first gate lies Gate 2. From Lebanon Road, you'll make a sharp left onto Lockman Road which passes through the second gate.

Gate 2 is plagued with stories of KKK hangings and suicide fatalities. One story has a young African American boy chased by the KKK and is caught and hung at Gate 2. Another story has two friends arguing over a girl; one hangs himself, and the other friend feels remorse and hangs himself as well. Supposedly you can see spirits of a man and child at this gate and hanging bodies at midnight.

Gates 3 & 4 "Twin Gates"

Go through Gate 2 and keep following Lockman Road. You'll notice that Lockman Road runs parallel to train tracks on the right. The road will eventually come to a point where part of it goes straight and the other turns right towards the tracks onto Longhi Road. Take the right turn and you will find Gates 3 & 4 commonly known as the "Twin Gates."

The Twin Gates are very close together and are known for stories of satanic rituals and animal sacrifices that have happened between them.

Gate 5

Keep going straight on Longhi Road and it will turn back into Lebanon Road. Continue following Lebanon Road past Heck Road, Bohnenstiehl Road, and Pense Acres. Shortly after Pense Acres turn left onto South Liberty Road. Follow this for a while and you’ll go through Gate 5.

Gate 6

Just after Gate 5, South Liberty Road will run into W. Mill Creek Road, take that to the right. Gate 6 will appear briefly afterward.

Gate 7

Keep following West Mill Creek Road over Scott-Troy/Troy-O’Fallon Road where it becomes East Mill Creek Road. Watch for Blackjack Road and take it to the left. Look next for E Kirsch Road and take it to the right. Follow E Kirsch Road until you reach Bauer Road which you'll take a left on. Then take Bauer Road to Gate 7. 

Finish Line

You made it through the last gate and you're headed towards the finish line. Bauer road comes out onto Hwy 40 which you'll take a left on. Follow Hwy 40 until you see a left turn entrance that leads down an asphalt path running through the Triad High School outdoor sports facilities (this is the turn right before the main entrance of the school on Bethany Drive.) Follow the path past the baseball fields, football fields and track stadium until you reach the very back of the school where the finish line will be. Congrats! Through Hell you prevailed!

News/Sources

 FAQ

Do you have any course time limit rules?

The time limit rules listed below will be strictly enforced and will begin when the last runner crosses the start line.  Anyone who falls behind the pace must get into the sag vehicle and be transported to the finish, or move safely to the side and obey all traffic signals and provide space for passing vehicles. 

Time limit

  • 3 hours and 15 minutes

Do you allow participants to walk in the races?

Yes, but we ask that you agree to the time limit rules above.

Can I run or walk with a baby jogger or stroller?

No - We currently do not allow baby joggers or strollers.

Are dogs allowed to run with?

No - For safety reasons pets are not allowed on the course at any time. Participants that compete with a pet will immediately be escorted off the course and disqualified.

Can I get a refund if I cannot participate?

Unfortunately we do not offer refunds for any of the events. Costs associated with the pre-planning and ordering of participant amenities well in advance of the race prohibit us from offering refunds. In addition, refunds are not issued if the event is cancelled due to severe weather, disaster or emergency occurrences that may affect the safety and health of the participants. Please take a moment to read the full waiver that is available at the time of registration.

Can I transfer my registration to another person if I cannot participate?

No, transfers are not permitted under any circumstances.  While this practice may seem harmless, it can result in serious consequences to both parties involved. It’s an issue of false identity and a liability issue. Why? The most important reason is that your race bib is attached to your identity, so if an emergency occurs that requires medical attention or a race official must identify a participant, we need to have accurate information. In addition, finisher awards may be impacted. If race organizers identify an individual who has given their race bib to another person, it will result in disqualification.

Can I participate if I do not have my race bib on race morning or decide to join the race without officially completing the registration process?

No, this is not allowed. This is frequently termed “race bandit” by race organizers and will be strictly enforced. Course monitors are trained to spot participants who are not displaying a race bib, and they will be escorted from the race course by officials and banned from future events.