The Ultimate Suck
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Event overview
The Ultimate SUCK is a multi-hour endurance event held at Decker Farm in Cuba, Illinois. The 2026 running marks the event's 15th anniversary and offers three timed formats:
- 36-hour
- 12-hour
- 4-hour (mini-SUCK)
The event mixes trail running with farm-style and military-style tasks. Possible activities listed by the organizer include shooting a shotgun, carrying hay or logs, lifting and chopping wood, carrying heavy items, and possible exposure to pepper spray. Specific tasks are not revealed before the event.
Logistics and rules
The event takes place on private farm property at 22721 North Polecat Road, Cuba, IL 61427. Base camp is in a hay field; RVs and buses are not allowed. Participants are not permitted to sleep once the event begins. Check-in opens on Friday, September 4, and there is a mandatory pre-race briefing that day. Registration is non-refundable and non-transferable. The event is open to ages 18 to 80.
Required gear (subject to change) includes a ruck sack or backpack, hydration pack, two 5-gallon buckets, gender-specific sandbags, headlamp with spare batteries, safety glasses, emergency blanket, reflective vest, and a life jacket; a splitting axe and a military duffle bag are required for some formats. Crews or pacers are not allowed on course until the final 12 hours; during that period one pacer may accompany a participant but may only assist at the participant's campsite. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.