After running white clay trails for three years, I saw this race online and one month before the race date I decided to give it a try. After running the CR Half 13-Miler, I thought the trails would be better for me going farther out in miles. I made it only to find out it was really 27.3. Wow, what a burn - 6:20.

I ran this course for the second time in 2004. There were 30 runners. This is a wonderful course: stream crossings, hills, woods, corn fields. Water stops ever 4 miles or so. This is what distance running is all about and makes this run a favorite of mine. A nice solitary run in the woods!

I did not actually run this course on race day, but have run every foot of it many times. It is the best trail Delaware has to offer. The course is fair, challenging, well marked, and superbly sequenced. Trail markings are clear, intuitive, 100% biodegradable, and understandable to anyone who's IQ exceeds their shoe size. Of course, this could be a problem after 20 miles of trails when you have run yourself stupid. The aid stations are 100% volunteer, with goodies provided at personal expense. There is NO FEE for this race and anything you get beyond the joy of running with friends is pure profit. Fans? What fans? The fans are all running! This is a celebration of Stumpy's birthday and small gifts of nominal value are always appreciated, especially club hats, club shirts (new or washed), Lucent stock, doo-dads, and cash.

Stumpy's is a great example of a running event that exists just for the sake of running. It has excellent organization with no frills and 'no whining' (per Stumpy). The course is almost totally trails. The first 8 miles are pleasant and not particularly challenging, but wait, after that the course turns a bit ugly. Nothing breathtakingly steep or rocky but lots of gradual hills and a couple of calf-deep stream crossings (only one if you have the balance to cross on a log). A 'signature' feature of Stumpy's is trails running along the side of a steep hill such that with every step forward you slide partly down hill. Different and attention getting. There are good aid stations with a nice touch, no cups, to prevent littering. Bring your own drinking device! Finish was great with a steep uphill and Stumpy himself shouting encouragement as you pop out of the woods to the grassy finish. Stumpy's is for the athlete who likes his/her run pared down to the essence of runner and trails. I recommend this event especially for the trail lovers and also for those who want to try out the unpaved route.

This is an excellent small (50 runners) informal trail marathon. The course alternated between woods and fields, with a few road crossings and stream crossings. My first true trail marathon and certainly a much different experience from typical road or rail-to-trail marathons. Had a little bit of everything - hopping over felled trees, hopping from stone to stone to cross small brooks and slogging through shin deep water to cross two streams and scurrying up out of small ravines. Lots of little changes in elevations with a couple of decent hills along with lots of tight little turns. Much of the race is run in the woods, so you run much of the race in the shade, which was a help even though it turned out to be a cool day. Since the race is a trail race, water stops were about every 4-5 miles. No spectators, just volunteers at the water stops - some with Gatorade. The volunteers were great! Expect to come in at anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour above your typical road marathon time. So, mentally prepare for the extra time, to be able to pick up your feet so as to not trip over the tree roots and picking your spots to pass other runners, as much of the race is on single track. Consider it a nice change-of-pace training run. I'd definitely run it again. Thanks Stumpy!

This is not a course to race, but it makes for a great training run. Totally informal, no fees, not for wimps who want to blame the organizers if anything goes wrong. If you've got of pile of finisher's medals gathering dust, you'll love the laminated rock proclaiming you finished!

This beautiful trail run kept us interested the entire time. It could have been marked a bit better (we got lost and ran an extra mile or two). If you like trial running, you will love this race.

Stumpy's #51 was my favorite marathon of all.

This is not only a Delaware race but it is my favorite of all. Just down right AWESOME!!!! I'll be back every year or until we get caught...........This was the first invisible, transparent, incognito race I have or probably will ever run. The trail is just the best. The creek is cool (literally) and waist deep too. This is a must do!!!!!!
-Billy