Sulphur Springs 20k

[Decker]

The weather was perfect. Cool but sunny. Not like the 2019 race where it just thundered and rained the whole time. This one had an early start. Got up at 4:30 am to leave the house by 5:45 to make the 1hr drive and pickup my race kit and hit the port a loo before the 7:30 start. Then we were off and running. A big downhill to begin, knowing we’d need to get back up it at the end. Then lots of twists and little hills. The backdrop was a beautiful deciduous forest valley with a stream running through it in spots. The first 5k was a little challenging as I realized I had left with a faster pack and needed to readjust or risk burning out later on. Once I settled back into my pace things got better. We passed some of the 100 milers finishing their last lap - they started yesterday morning and are still running till 8am today! - just massive respect for them. Around 8k someone from behind asked “ are these the three sisters?” I turned to see a young runner, maybe in his 20s. The sisters are a set of hills that get progressively harder towards the end of the race. I replied “ I dunno but I think they brought some brothers and a couple of cousins today.” My new buddy and I ran the next 5-7k chatting about races and life, before he spotted his girlfriend running the 10k and joined her further up front for a bit. I just pushed through the last 5 or so tailing him and run/walked/crawled back up that last massive hill to get to the finish. The pace we ran was faster than what I normally run for trail, especially hilly trail, so my quads were feeling it. I wound up squeaking in just under 2 hrs at 1:58. 56th out of 246, so I am good with that. The race was really well managed. All in all it was a fun morning. Nice to be racing again after a long break off.

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Amazing!!! 😍😍😍

[nowster Metric Marathon]

Sub two hours 20km with serious hills? (440m ascent) Great going!

PS. IUPAC have now mandated the US spelling of sulfur. 😠

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to nowster]

Thanks Nowster, this was much faster than my last rainy attempt in 2019 🙂.

Ha, oh dear the directors will have to update their logo and signage now. But I suspect they will leave it as is. 😅

[sparky66 Half Marathon]

Well done Decker, great race report 😃 Smashing time especially with that hill to end with 😅

Brilliant 🎉

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to sparky66]

Thanks Sparky. Oh that hill got most of us, and slowed me to a crawl

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

Wow! Great race report Decker . You smashed it 🏃‍♂️. That sounds like my kind of trail - hills, deciduous forest, a stream - heavenly 😻

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Allie you would have loved it! Such a pretty spot to run. And the group left it spotless when they were done. They gave prizes to anyone that picked up trash along the way.

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Nice! Trail races are great for that.

[Katnap Marathon]

I like the way you found someone to take photos of you! 😃👍Joking aside, what are your thoughts about wearing race / bib numbers on parts of your body other than your chest?

TailChaser and I have a 10k on Sunday 12th where their rule is it has to be on the front of your torso. Rules is rules but I don't recall seeing this at other events.

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Katnap]

Ha well I did not take any pics but the race photographer lets us download low res images for free, so that’s what these are.

As for the bib location I think our trail races are more casual than our bigger road events. This particular race had no rules and since the pins bother me rubbing against my chest, I used the shorts application. My last marathon I recall had a similar front torso rule and they seemed quite strict about it.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Katnap]

Although I have very little experience to go on Katnap I imagine trail races are more flexible about bib position because hydration packs etc aren't conducive to front torso bib-wearing, as evidenced by my profile pic!

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon in reply to Katnap]

I usually put the race number on my shorts so that I don’t catch it with my hands. I guess that higher up on my chest might also work.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Terrific time and placing Decker 👍 especially with that terrain 😱 Sounds a gorgeous location though.

Well done to you! I love those action photos 😍

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks IP. None of these are my own pics I should have mentioned. All from the gracious race photographer Sue Sitki who let us grab our pics for free. She does a lot of the local races. Also why my post is a few days behind. Was waiting for her to process the race pics.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Great photos 👍

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Woohoo Decker! What an epic run and a phenomenal time too. Hilly, long and quick. The recipe for a wonderful run, and it looks like you enjoyed it too judging by your smily photos! I’m in awe. 👏🏃‍♂️🏅👊💥

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks Cheeky, yeah this was just a fun race. And getting to run a little with the hundred miler folks was a rare privilege.

[RunWillie Marathon]

Well done Decker Amazing! 👍🏻

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to RunWillie]

Thanks RW 🙂

[Catho78 10 Miles]

Awesome achievement and great race report, very inspirational, well done Decker🏅

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Catho78]

Thanks Catho78. I would highly recommend the trail races

[Catho78 10 Miles in reply to Decker]

Thanks, I will look into them 🤗

[Frenc Half Marathon]

Well done @Decker! Especially with all those sisters, brothers, and cousins 😁. Great photos!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Frenc]

Thanks Frenc! Yes I think they flew in the extended family! 😅

[Frizzbomb67 10 Miles]

Wow! 20k Respect ✊ Looks like a lovely place to run, shame about the family of hills 😏

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Frizzbomb67]

Thanks Frizz, it’s one of my favourite spots to run, but I rarely get there as it is an hour from home by car

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Brilliant result Decker! Sounds like a great event ,well done 👌🏃‍♂️💪xxx

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks Ali, yeah piles of fun!

[Cmoi Marathon]

Fabulous run Decker , well done!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks Cmoi 🙂

[Tasha99 Marathon]

This sounds fantastic! Super well done!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Tasha99]

Thanks Tasha, yeah this one was good. Much better than the last go round 🙂

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

Sounds like a fun race that Decker. Great result too, congrats!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SkiMonday]

Thanks Ski. It was a fun one. Not too long not too short with good company and beautiful scenery