Fancy Nonsense 25k/50k

Race Update Due to major trail renovations and closures at Palos Forest Preserves from August to December we will be moving this race to Deer Grove Forest Preserve for the 2026 event! 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. 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 Red Gate Wods in the Palos Trail System just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago. The course

will wind you on mostly single track.Aid stations will be stocked with your typical ultra fare. Cut off time for both races is 5pm. Register by Sept. 15th for a guaranteed shirt. Race Details Packet Pick-Up7:00am-7:45am for the 50k runners& 8:05am-8:45am for the 25k runners at Deer Grove West this yearDay Of8:00am start for the 50k runners9:00am start for the 25k runnersThere will be a short pre-race briefing to review course markings. Major intersections will be marked. However, each runner will be given a fully marked course map at packet pickup. There are lots of random, unmarked trails. You won't be running any of them, so don't turn down them.There will be other people out on the course that day, be friendly and kind!CourseThe course is a 5.5 mile loop. You'll run a loop, come back by the aid station and then run another loop until you hit your distance. It's a mostly single track and entirely runnable. .Aid Stations2 aid stations for the 25k runners5 aid stations for the 50k

runnersAid stations will be stocked with water, soda, snacks, doughnuts, and more. Please let me know if you have food allergies or specific requests!CrewsCrews can touch base with their runner at the aid station only. No pacers allowed. CUSS Running Curious Ultrarunner's Secret Society was established to inject a sense of whimsy into training calendars, split times, and fartleks. Our goal is to build a community that creates a space for the individual to fall in love with the magic of running.MissionTo help others fall in love with ultrarunning.VisionTo make you & the world slightly better through laughter & pain. BIPOC & LGBTQ+ Entries One of the things we strive for is to create inclusion and equality in the runningcommunity. As much as we want to say that all you need to run is a pair ofshoes, we know the reality is much more complex.To create intentional space for people, we have a number of free entries for ourraces that we would like to extend to BIPOC and LGBTQ+athletes. We would

like to emphasize that these are not need based orscholarships. These entries are an affirmation of belonging in our community. Weare not in any way publicly advertising who accepts an entry, and you do nothave to be an out member of the LGBTQ+ community to receive one. We are notquestioning or asking for additional information from anyone who asks for a code,they will be handed out as long as we have funding to do so.If you would like a code, please email us at [email protected] . Wehave earmarked funds for both BIPOC and LGBTQ+. Please feel free to share this offer with friends. Entrance Policy for Transgender Athletes We will accept each entrant’s declared gender at face value, and no additional supportingevidence is required. Athletes may register as the gender they identify with. Entrance Policy for Non-Binary Athletes People whose gender is not male or female; including but not limited to: genderqueer, agender, bigender. We want to acknowledge, respect, and provide opportunity in

the registration process to express their desired pronouns. Please email [email protected] after registration and we will amend our records as Ultrasignup does not currently have that option. Event's current local time: 3:55 AM CT