This was by far the most difficult marathon I have ever run (out of 17). But the main cause of its difficulty is not specifically mentioned in the warnings or on the website: rocks. That's right, the rocky trail. The uneven, unexpected, turn-your-ankles-to-rubber rocky surface of most of the trail. Even the sections that appeared smooth as I approached them usually had rocks hiding under the leaves.

The trail is not groomed, it is not maintained, it is not an ATV trail, it is an old hiking and/or horse trail through the woods, up and over Mountainette after Mountainette (not quite big enough to be called mountains). So you have to watch for the white slashes on the trees constantly or you will get lost. Yet you have to look down at the trail constantly or you will sprain an ankle.

Anyway, due to a few wrong turns, I ended up covering about 30 miles in 6:50. You might think it sounds like a lot of fun. If you decide to try it, here are a few tips:

1. If you aren't on a terribly rocky trail, you took a wrong turn.
2. If you aren't consistently turning your ankles, you took a wrong turn.
3. If you aren't bleeding from running through bushes and briars, you took a wrong turn.
4. If your shoes aren't wet from crossing stream after stream, you took a wrong turn.
5. And if you haven't taken a wrong turn yet, then you took a wrong turn.

That was my experience at the Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon. In short, I loved it. After crossing the finish line (there's no line, just three guys clapping), you simply write your name, town, time, and distance(!) in a spiral notebook, and then recuperate beside the warmth of the wood-burning stove. If you love a serious challenge, you'll love it. Otherwise, stay away.

This is run on a great course. It is especially great if you want to really test your ability to handle hills/mountains. Climbs are plentiful, steep, long, and rocky with occasional roots. Descents are the same. Actually the course is out-and-back, so each climb is also a descent. Views are spectacular, but if you try to take them in while moving, you will fall - and in some places, falling will mean rolling until you are stopped by a tree or large rock. There are essentially no spectators, but the folks at aid stations know what you are doing and work hard to help you do it. This should not be your first marathon or trail race. You need to know what you are doing and have a pretty good idea of what you can do. You could easily get lost or injured. You could find yourself reduced to walking even some of the few flat sections. You could have a blast. You could feel the satisfaction of doing something really hard that most runners won't try. It's tough. It's worth it. Plan to double your normal marathon time and then add another 20 minutes.