Fancy Nonsense 25K & 50K

A Nonsensical Running Experience

My mind is always looking for a good trick to pull or some shenanigans to get into. I’ve been voted the prankster of the office. My imagination runs wild on most of my runs. During the age of Corona, I’ve mostly been pretending that I’m running through a dystopian future. When I’m in the woods, I pretend I’m a hobbit running through the woods on an especially important quest.

It’s this combination of mischief and imagination that the Fancy Nonsense 25k/50k was born.

The course is designed to allow the runner a space to return to the joy of running. Yes, you will accomplish your goal distance. More importantly, you will smile, you will laugh, you may even be a little confused. You will test your mental and physical limits while I tickle your funny bone.

The race starts and finishes at the Red Gate Woods in the Palos Trail System just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago. The course will wind you on mostly single track through the woods, over the buried remains of Chicago Pile-1, the world’s first nuclear reactor. If you’re running the 25k you’ll get about 1400 feet of elevation gain, the 50k will get about 2800 feet of gain.

Aid stations will be stocked with your typical ultra fare, plus my super special homemade chocolate chip cookies. Pastries from my favorite bakery in Chicago, Roeser’s, will be featured as well.

Cut off time for both races is 5pm.