Childish Nonsense

About the Event

Childish Nonsense is a multi-distance trail event scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Deer Grove Forest Preserve West in Palatine, Illinois. Managed by the Curious Ultrarunner’s Secret Society (CUSS Running), the race is designed to inject whimsy and humor into the endurance experience, featuring various "shenanigans" throughout the day. The course consists of a 5.5-mile loop on wide, non-technical paths, with the number of laps determined by the race distance. A single central aid station is located at the start/finish area, which runners pass every lap, and this serves as the only location where crews are permitted to set up.

Race Distance	Start Time	Course Format	Top Performance ('25)
50 Miler	7:00 AM	9 Laps	6:28:01 (Jj Shield)
50K Ultra	7:00 AM	6 Laps	N/A
25K	7:00 AM	3 Laps	N/A
10K	8:00 AM	1 Lap + extra	N/A

Palatine is a village in Cook County, Illinois, a northwestern suburb of Chicago. Geographically, the Deer Grove Forest Preserve West contains nearly 2,000 acres of oak forest, rolling upland prairies, and wetlands. In late April, the local climate typically sees average daytime highs of 17°C (63°F) and lows of 6°C (43°F). The preserve features a mix of paved and unpaved trails that remain relatively flat compared to mountain races, though the repetitive nature of the loops and spring moisture can create soft sections on the unpaved portions. All distances share a common cutoff time of 8:00 PM, providing a generous window for finishers across all categories.

The event is noted for its progressive inclusion policies, offering free entries to BIPOC and LGBTQ+ athletes through earmarked community funds. CUSS Running also maintains an entrance policy that accepts an entrant's declared gender identity at face value and provides specific accommodations for non-binary athletes. For the 50-mile distance, participants are permitted to have a pacer join them after the completion of four loops. Registration for the 2026 event closes on April 12, or until the participant capacity is reached. By focusing on "laughter and pain," the organizers aim to build an approachable environment that welcomes both veteran ultrarunners and those new to the sport.

Races Offered

50 Miler

Apr 25, 2026

straighten

Distance — 80.5K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

07:00

sell

$145.00

50K

Apr 25, 2026

straighten

Distance — 50K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

07:00

sell

$90.00

10K

Apr 25, 2026

straighten

Distance — 10K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:00

sell

$25.00

25K

Apr 25, 2026

straighten

Distance — 25K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:00

sell

$50.00

Weather Overview

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for April in Palatine.

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

thermostat 4.8° / 15.4°

wb_sunny 0.4° / 11.6°

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

air 14.7 /

water_drop 67.1%

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

thermostat 4.8° / 15.4°

wb_sunny 0.4° / 11.6°

air 14.7 km/h

water_drop 67.1%

About Palatine

Learn more about the host city, Palatine.

Palatine is a village in Cook and Lake counties, Illinois, United States. It is a northwestern residential suburb of Chicago. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 67,908. As of the 2010 Census, it was the seventh-largest community in Cook County and the 18th-largest in Illinois.