This year's Phunt run was a lot of fun. The course was fun - lots of off-trail bits and steep bits not to mention a lot of mud, which had not been ordered. ;-) The aid was great - one aid station even had smoked sausage. There were no cheering spectators along the course, but the runners turned spectators at the finish rocked. I actually ran the 50K - not the marathon.

The first time I ran this, it was a life-changing event. My life can now be divided into two periods: before I Phunted... and after I Phunted....

I have done it the last 6 years and each year is better than the last.

Well, if you want to start the New Year in a very untraditional way, this race is the one. It was the hardest - and yet the most fun - race I have participated in to date. I had run one 50-miler previously, but this 50K presented much more of a challenge due to the terrain and bitter cold weather conditions. While I don't recommend this course to the first-time marathoner; I would recommend it to anyone looking for a change of pace from the typical "road" marathon. I will definitely try to make it again!

There are three loops to choose from (20K, marathon, and 50K). I did my first 50K here. It helps to join Phil and Hunt for a pre-run of parts of the course as, it is just marked by colored bits of tape. I cut off some of the course and also missed a turn and had to backtrack a little. Plenty of hills and challenging trails, but also many miles of nice, smooth, winding, single track. There are two aid stations around 10 and 20 miles. You bring nutrition/drinks to the start and the organizer takes it to the aid stations. A no-frills race with minimal race support, but I'm doing it again this year!

Beautiful course: rocky, rooty, single track, grassy fields, forests, uphill, downhill, a couple of water crossings (low level)... and amenities/aid stations worthy of Dean & Deluca. Ah, and no spectators, so you'll have to cheer for yourself. All of that excitement for a donation of $5... it's difficult to do better!!