2026 PHUNT 25K/50K TRAIL RACE

PHUNT 25K & 50K TRAIL RACE

DISTANCE: 25K & 50K (two loops)

DATE: Saturday, January 17th, 2026

WHEN: 50K starts at 8 a.m., 25K starts at 9 a.m.  End time is 5 p.m.

CUT-OFF: AS3 at 4 p.m., which gives participants an hour to travel 4 miles to the finish.

WHERE: Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area

START/FINISH: Edward L. Walls Activity Hall.
The hall is at the intersection of Ranger Skinner Drive & Kennel Road., Elkton, MD 21921.  Use 4640 Telegraph Road for navigation apps.

FEE: Online: $40 + processing fee

FIELD: Maximum 600 runners, no exceptions.

AMENITIES:
All finishers will receive a medal and swag item(buff, beanie, pint glass). The activity hall(start/finish) is heated, w/ full kitchen and restrooms. Capacity is 400, so there will be room to leave your gear, or change of clothes. In addition, alcohol (byob), will be permitted at the activity hall. While ample parking will be available, please consider car-pooling. After all, you’re going to be running around in the woods for at least 4 hours. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a fellow runner to commiserate with on the drive back home?

There will be a major aid station at mile 4.3, 7.5, and 11.5 over the 15.6 mile course. The start/finish area will also act as an aid station for 50K runners. Aid stations are stocked with a variety of items, such as gels, electrolyte drink, water, soda, beer, candy, cookies, chips, bananas, oranges, broth, bacon, grilled cheese sandwiches, and Uncrustables.  Each aid station will have a wood or propane fire pit.  

COURSE: In comparison to other parks in the mid-Atlantic region, Fair Hill is fairly tame. The park has gentle rolling hills, intermingled with moderately steep climbs that will not exceed 150 feet. The 15.6 mile course will start/finish on about 0.5 mile of asphalt/gravel road, which makes it 1.0 miles total. There's about 1.0 miles of pasture/open field running. The remainder is beautiful, single-track trails. 

https://www.trailrunproject.com/trail/7013781/phunt-trail-race-course

WEATHER: It’s the wintertime in the mid-Atlantic; expect anything mother nature has to offer. In fact, in 2014, PHUNT started at a bone chilling 6 degrees before topping out at a blistering 30 degrees. Oh, and runners had to contend w/ 5 inches of fresh snow.
Having said that, the average low is 24, & the average high is 42.

REFUNDS, BIB TRANSFERS, & DEFERMENT: Sorry, but we do not offer refunds, bib transfers, or deferment.  If you can not make the event, the RD considers your entry fee a donation and the funds will be used as he deems necessary.