The PHUNT Trail Race 25K was extremely challenging for me, as I live in a flat area, but I loved it! I went into it with the mindset of enjoying my day on the trails and not caring if I had to walk. I took some photos along the way and talked to people.

The race is held in the beautiful Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area. It was crowded for about the first 2.5 miles, at least where I was in the pack, but that kind of kept me moving. The elevation corrections for Strava and Garmin estimated about 1,700-1,800 feet of elevation gain, which is a ton for me — but not for some people. A guy I talked to along the way described the course as "runnable," but I found it very tough and my average pace was in the 15s.

One thing that made the race so great was how organized it was and the amazing aid stations. It was in the 20s, and the volunteers were friendly and helpful. There were also themed aid stations, which was a lot of fun, and there was plenty of food and water. The course was well-marked, and I received info ahead of the race.

The course is held along scenic, mostly singletrack trails, and it is a fun place to run.

I like the swag - a PHUNT Buff (a different brand, but I'm not sure what else to call it) and reusable cup, plus a "Phuckle" — a medal/belt buckle. The race is just $40 and I think it's an incredible value.

I arrived about an hour before the start and people were directing parking. It was easy to park not far from the activity hall. I picked up my bib that morning.

After the race, there was plenty of food — grilled cheese, Phries (fries), hot dogs, soup and cake. People can hang out in the activity hall before or after the race, so you can stay warm.

I signed up for 2021 on my way back to the place I was staying (when I'd stopped for coffee, not while driving). It was sold out by the next day, but there is a wait list.

Read my blog post here: https://sherunsbytheseashore.com/2020/01/24/phunt-trail-race-highway-to-hills/