Fancy Nonsense 25k/50k

Join us for a scenic race through beautiful trails offering lakeside views and opportunities to spot local wildlife. This fun, family-friendly event welcomes runners and walkers of all levels to enjoy nature while staying active. Proceeds from the race directly support Lake Katherine’s conservation efforts, environmental education programs, and habitat restoration projects, ensuring the preservation of Lake Katherine for future generations.

Presented by

Explore the Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve - the largest tract of undeveloped land in Cook County, IL. This race will cover every inch of maintained trail within the Nature Preserve. With over 1000 ft of elevation, this marathon is mountainous by Chicago standards!

The course uses the Sag Valley Trail system, covering the Yellow, Green, Blue & Tan trails. The whole course is wide horsetrail, allowing for 2-way traffic and encouragement from fellow participants.

Results here: https://www.athlinks.com/event/353493/results/Event/1082897/Results

Photos here: https://www.highfivebb.com/Running/F3-Cap-Sauers-Trail-Marathon-10-Mile-May-10-2025

Race and Course Information

The Forge Trail Run Festival will embrace the adventure and challenge of late-fall, mid-west trail running with 10K, 20K, 30K, and 60K events. The races will be run on single/double-track trails in The Forge and adjoining trails, within the woods and on some gravel around the historic Lemont Quarries and I&M Canal.

The courses will start and finish within the Forge. The courses wind through the single and double track trails within the woods and some gravel trails around the historic Lemont Quarries and I&M Canal throughout the Forge and adjoining trails.

The 10K will be one lap, the 20K (Half Marathon) will be two laps and the 30K will be a three lap course. Our newest offering - the 60K - will be six laps. Total mileage may not be precise, but will be close to the promoted distances. This is a trail race and we want the natural terrain and flow to guide the course and distance.

The gravel trails are flat. The single-track sections have variable terrain and surfaces ranging from dirt, grass, rocks, mud, more rocks, roots, mulch, stumps, critters, etc. A few sections are technical with several short but steep inclines and downhills. The defining character and primary challenge of the course is the variable surface. There are not any significant elevation changes. We would rate this course as moderately challenging for experienced trail runners and more difficult for runners with less experience on trail.

2025 Muddy Shamrock Results

Woods, dirt, mud, roots, and maybe some other adventurous trail stuff will be experienced at the 5th annual Muddy Shamrock Trail Races @ The Forge. And now that we've earned the 4th leaf in our clover, the race is now named the MUDDY SHAMROCK!

This early-season trail race will be run on wooded single & double-track trails with awesome scenery around the historic Lemont Quarries. Both races will traverse the single-track MTB trails within the woods and some gravel trails throughout the Forge and adjoining trail systems.