I ran the 50K and if you are wavering between the marathon and the 50K figure that you have generous time and lets face it, you are going to be hiking much of that last part anyway so go 50K! Now the first third of the race is tough; uphill on a sloppy (muddy) jeep trail followed by rolling single track. The 2nd third is tougher; single track turns muddier with more dashes across creeks and more climbs over deadfall. The last third is 'are you#@$!! kidding?' and the 'trail' diverts a couple times randomly uphill through the woods; climbing up and under deadfalls, hand-to-hand muddy slope climbing and where there is 'trail' it's generally a shoe sucking muddy gully with little traction. Then the fun begins with a plummet down a ski slope into several waist-deep river crossings. You finish by a beer garden, redeem your beer tickets and cheer the other crazy people home. It was a blast!

The organizers are thoughtful, nice, and caring, but don't put enough effort in marking the parts of the marathon and 50K when the course departs from a trail. Several times this year I was met by runners coming back to the wrong way, and that has been the case the two previous times I have ran it too. I would estimate >10% of the marathon/50K runners get lost each year. They need to take more time and put up actual signs or boards every time the course takes a new trail or goes off path. It will pay off in return runners.

Great course if you can follow it though. The small crowd is supportive and friendly, and Nashville Indiana is worth a weekend.

My first trail marathon, and it was not what I expected. I expected nice groomed trails, gentle rolling hills, etc. What I got was more mud than a mudder will ever have. Shock and awe is what I got. But it's off my bucket list and I won a bucket besides as my age group award. This marathon is absolutely insane. Add it to your bucket list.