The Berryman trail is a very rural but scenic and peaceful 25.4 mile single track course that winds its way through some of Central Missouri's most rugged terrain. It is filled with beautiful foliage and copious wildlife but don't be surprised by the 5000 feet of elevation change and the surprisingly muddy patches that seem to be a fixture even in the driest of conditions. If rain is anyway in the forecast then be ready for MUD and multiple small stream crossings.
This year's conditions were dry but the heat was a major issue. It was 91 degrees and humid.

I think it was a mistake to move the marathon start to 8 AM when temps were already in the upper 70's (it used to start at 6:30- the same time that the 50 mile race gets going and things are noticeably cooler according to veterans.) I hope the race directors changes it back to the earlier time for future runnings.

Other than sustaining a not so trivial case of heat exhaustion, the race was great. The SLUGS (St. Louis Ultra Group) are friendly hosts and the support on the trail was good considering some of their isolated locales (AId Stations every 4 miles or so.) There is an optional bag drop for the Mile 16 Aid Station that for me was well worth the extra effort to pack and pick up after the race. I was in desperate need of fresh supplies at that point in the race and it was a God send to have my things waiting for me. There was also surprisingly good swag for a race of this size (a nice finishers medal and a decent tech shirt.)

To sum it up, Berryman is a great race held on a beautiful and tranquil trail and hosted by a great group of folks. It is not an easy race with its mud, heat, hills, insects, and stretches of moderately technical trail. An earlier start is MUCH needed. Still, it is a worthwhile race filled with both beauty and enough challenge for anyone with a healthy sense of adventure. It is easy to see why this race fills in a single day year after year.

This was my third marathon, but first full on a trail. This race was so much fun!! The rain the night before made for crazy wet, sloppy, muddy conditions. There were tons of stream crossings and even a fairly deep creek to wade across. At times the trail had turned to stream and made for lots of quick stepping, and paying attention was of utmost importance. The scenery in the Mark Twain National Forest couldn't be topped! There were lots of downed trees to go over, under, and even around. I loved every minute of this race.

The St. Louis Ultrarunner's Group race directors are the nicest people you will ever find and the post-race food was delicious. It was a great atmosphere to race in and felt like a family race. Runners here finish and stay around to cheer for everyone who makes it out of the woods.

The aid stations are well stocked with food and drink, and run by experienced ultra-runners who cheer you on and make sure you are well taken care of.

I will definitely be running this one again next year!

This one is for trail runners. It is nearly all single track and features hills, rocks, roots and creek crossings. It is a splendid course through the woods. With all of the spring rain, the course wasn't in perfect condition, but most of it was good. A few very muddy stretches presented runners with the choice of squishing through in ankle-deep mud or hopping off the trail and into poison ivy. (I opted for the latter and suffered the consequences.) It is an awesome run, and if one lap isn't enough, a 50-mile ultra is also on offer.

Organization and volunteers were fabulous on the day of the run. (Still waiting for results to be posted online.) Thanks for putting together a great race!

In my opinion, this race has the coolest finisher medal ever!

Great trail that can be run as a marathon or 50-miler. Mostly single-track loop course with a short out-and-back at the beginning on a gravel road that helps to thin the field out. The hills were rolling but not too steep. The aid stations are about 4 miles apart and fully stocked in the ultra-way with what seems like a full buffet. The race directors are organized and extremely nice people! The only reason I didn't give a full 5 stars was because the rating system asks for a rating for spectators. Obviously, if you are looking for a bunch of spectators, then you wouldn't be doing a trail run. If you are looking for a fun marathon (or 50-miler!) in the Ozark woods, then give this one a try. You won't be disappointed!

My first time running this marathon but I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to try a trail marathon and beyond!

Very runnable, scenic course!