Fancy Nonsense 25k/50k

Fancy Nonsense 25k/50k takes place in Willow Springs, Illinois, on October 24, 2026. Three trail formats all start at 8:00 AM: a 50K (31 miles), a 25K (15.5 miles), and a 5-mile race (8 km). The shared start means the whole field heads out together before the distances diverge, which gives a lively feel to the first miles regardless of which race you picked.

Illinois trails are rarely steep, so the 50K here is a realistic first ultra if you are coming from road marathons: a 16-week plan with two or three long runs above 20 miles will prepare you for the extra distance. The 25K makes a good fall goal for runners who race halves and want something longer on softer ground, while the 5-mile is a nice fit for a first trail race or a hard tempo effort. Late October means fallen leaves on the path, so watch your footing on roots and keep an easy stride.