Distance
Start Time
Terrain
Fancy Nonsense is a trail race day in the Chicagoland area with three distances on offer: 5 mile, 25K and 50K. The 50K sets off at 8:00 am and the 25K follows at 9:00 am, with all runners sharing a well-marked course over local trails and pathways. The event is deliberately kept small so that every participant, whatever their pace, gets room to run, walk or shuffle as they please. C.U.S.S. Running organises the day with a light-hearted, community-first spirit, and runners can expect friendly marshals, a supportive field and a few playful touches along the way.
Well-marked Chicago-area trail and pathway course
Small field where every runner gets space to run their own race
Supportive, no-pressure atmosphere at every pace
Aid stations where runners get the chance to blow bubbles
Terrain
Route
Race Day
What you get
Course is well marked by the organiser and marshalled by volunteers
On the day
Merchandise
Marshals on course
Before you enter
Other questions
No qualifying standard is published for this event. The organiser describes its races as welcoming to every pace, so first-time ultra runners are welcome as long as they are comfortable covering the distance.
Yes. C.U.S.S. Running marks its courses clearly and marshals them with volunteers, so runners can follow the route without needing to navigate.
Yes. The organiser explicitly welcomes walking athletes and describes the races as supportive and low pressure, with no expectation that everyone runs the whole way.
The event page does not publish a mandatory kit list. As a trail ultra in October in Illinois, most runners will want to carry water, calories and a phone, and should check the race page for any equipment requirements announced closer to the event.
The event is part of the C.U.S.S. Running series of Chicago trail races, run on trails and pathways in the Chicagoland area. The precise start venue and address are published on the individual race page.
Entry fee
Registration isn't open yet. We'll show pricing when the organiser confirms.Chicago, USA
Expected October 2027
Provisional date, around Oct 23Are you the organiser of Fancy Nonsense 5 Mile / 25K / 50K?
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