Fancy Nonsense 25K/50K
Willow Springs, United States • 25 Oct 2025
Event details
Fancy Nonsense is an autumn trail event in the Palos Trail System near Willow Springs, Illinois, about 20 minutes from downtown Chicago. The event offers three distances:
- 50K
- 25K
- 5 Miler
Organizers state the start and finish are at Red Gate Woods. Crews may meet runners at Red Gate Woods. Pacers are not allowed. The event includes intentional playful elements and aims to create a lighthearted race atmosphere.
Course and support
The course is built from a 5.5 mile loop on mostly single-track trails. Runners repeat the loop and pass the aid station between loops until they reach their race distance. The organizers describe the loop as entirely runnable. Aid stations are placed along the course: two for the 25K and five for the 50K. Stations will be stocked with water, soda, snacks, doughnuts, and other items.
The event has entry provisions to increase inclusion: a limited number of free entries are available for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ athletes, and the organizer accepts each entrant’s declared gender without requiring additional evidence. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.