May 24, 2025, Sulphur Springs Trail Race, this race is a 20km looped course, the race itself offers distances from 10km to 100miles, and 100 mile relays. The trails are described as a mixture of both groomed trails and some single track, it includes rolling hills, as well as steeper climbs and descents. Sulphur Springs takes place in the Niagara Escarpment with beautiful scenery that includes springs, streams, as well as plentiful wildlife.
I signed up for the 100km race at Sulphur Springs back in November of 2024, after running a few 50 km races, I wanted to complete a 100km. I looked for a race that was well supported, as well as mostly runnable so I would have a better chance of completing the race on my first try at this distance. Sulphur Springs has been in existence since 1992, and is possibly the oldest ultra marathon trail race in Canada. I loved the history of the race, and to top it off, it is a Western States qualifying race. https://sulphursprings.burlingtonrunners.com/
The week before race day it rained almost the entire week, and I was worried for the conditions of the trails come race day. However, on May 24, 2025 the temperatures were a breezy 8 degrees celsius but zero rain forecasted. I arrived, and picked up my race kit, there were hundreds of individual tents also set up, the smell of fresh coffee, bumping vibes, and tension in the air. There was a huge covered area for all runners to set their stuff down right by the finish line. It was easily accessible each lap for runners to come through and grab whatever else was needed for the next loop.
The first racers to start were the 50 milers at 5:45am, a this point the sun was just rising, and looking out into the trails was a beautiful sight to see.
Race start time for the 100km was 6:00am. I stood on the start line with 2 minutes to go, nerves were high but I felt mentally strong. My goal was to finish the race under 18 hours, and no matter what to just keep moving. I finally heard the countdown 3-2-1, and away we went. The first lap I knew I was just going to settle in and stay relaxed and get a feel for the course and just keep it nice and easy because I had 5 laps to complete to finish 100km.
The trails were wide and well groomed, there were lots of rolling hills, but everything was relatively runnable and non technical. The first aid station came up quickly at just about 4.8km into the race. I loved how each aid station was marked with the mileage that had been completed and how far to go to complete the 20km loop. This first lap I had everything I needed with me to keep going, and I didn’t need to stop at the aid station. Coming close to the second aid station at around 8.8km in was the most technical part of the race. It was a steep decline that was both rocky and muddy. It was only about 50 metres long. After that it was slightly muddy for 200 metres, and then a few more kilometres into the next aid station. I loved that you could hear the music pumping as you approached the aid station, and there were so many volunteers with cow bells and cheering their hearts out.
The third aid station was at about 13km, from this section it was only 7km to the finish of the loop. I found this next section really runnable, it was wide open, and had a lot of flat sections that you could open up and run faster. At this point you run out about 6km around and back to the same aid station, so you could see a lot of the front runners. As I made my way out, I could see some of the runners flying and making their way back from the loop. It was cool to see some of the fastest runners and eventual winners of the race out there, and I cheered for them as they flew by me. I made my way through this section and back, then as you come back it’s about 1km to the finish of the loop. The only thing is the 1km is up the steepest part of the whole loop, so steep you can’t even see the top! There were crowds of individuals and kids giving out high 5’s all the way up which was such a vibe. So away I went, up and up to the finish of the first loop.
I did a quick trip through to refill my bottles and reload up on some food, and and quick washroom break, and was good to start the second lap. Only 4 laps to go at this point, 20km in. The second lap went by pretty quickly, I focused on drinking electrolytes. I found I wasn’t as thirsty because the weather was cooler, but knew it was important to keep my hydration up. I didn’t stop at the aid stations as I had mostly packed everything I needed with me, and continued my way to the finish of the 2nd lap. 40km done, and only 60km to go.
The third lap was relatively okay, I was feeling a bit fatigue at this time. I stopped at a couple of the aid stations this lap and grabbed salted potatoes, and a couple pb and j sandwiches. The volunteers were amazing and helped open and fill my bottles. My fingers started to swell at this time and it was difficult to open and close my bottles. I knew I had to focus on my electrolytes at this point as it could catch up with me if I got too far behind. I got to catch a deer crossing in front of my during this lap which kind of made my day!
My calf had been a tight ball from the beginning of the race, and I really felt like despite it being uncomfortable I was just glad it was holding up. However, at about 58km into the race I felt my calf pop, and I had to come to an immediate stop. I took a deep breath, and knowing it was only about 2km to the finish of the 3rd lap I continued to make my way to the finish area. It was really uncomfortable at that point and I limped most of the way there straight to the first aid station.
The volunteers at the first aid station were great. They checked my calf and said it didn’t look very good, however they said they could tape it, and I could see if that helped. One of the girls told me it would be extremely painful to continue and recovery from a calf tear could be longer, but she wouldn’t stop me from continuing. They taped the calf and I was able to get a compression sock to place over the calf. It hurt a lot, but at that point everything was hurting. I felt I had come so far completing 3 of the 5 laps, and could continue (slowly even if I had to walk), and I could finish. At this time I was at about 7 hours of running, and I knew I had almost 11 hours to complete the 100km under 18 hours which I felt I could definitely do even if I had to walk the rest of it.
I didn’t overthink it too much and just started the 4th lap which starts off downhill and into the trail. It was uncomfortable and I was limping a lot, but I was moving. At about 10km into the 4th lap my calf kind of went numb and I started moving a little better. Run, breathe, run, move, just keep moving forward, one step at a time. I grabbed pickles and potatoes at the aid stations and kept moving. At this point coming through the 4th lap to the finish I realized I was absolutely famished, and crossing the line for the 4th time I knew that I would finish this 100km, one lap to go.
As I started the last lap, I grabbed my headlamp, I figured I may be running some of it in the dark as it was coming up on 6:00pm. The 50 mile night relays were starting at the same time, so it was kind of fun to have a lot of company on the trails. I knew once I started the lap, I would finish, just take it from aid station to aid station. The aid stations were close enough to each other, it was an easy way to break it down. I made it to the 13km aid station, and they were serving hot soup, and quesadillas. This warm, salty soup and warm food brought my soul back to life. 7km to go to the finish.
This last 7km was tough, the sun started to go down, and my body really started to shut down, the bottom of my feet became so painful to put pressure on them. My calf was screaming, I was back to hobbling but each step was one step closer to the finish. The last 2km back to the aid station felt like I was moving in slow motion. I could see all the runners passing me some returning from the loop and some just starting out of the aid station, bright headlamps illuminating the trail.
Finally I saw the arrow pointing right and up to the finish, 1km to go. I had a bit of a second wind, and I powered as much as I could up the hill, up and up just searching for the sign at the top to the finish line. As soon as I hit the flat part right before the finish chute, I started running with everything I had left in me. I have never been so happy to see the finish line, and I crossed well under the 18 hour mark. I DID IT. 100km. What a feeling, what an accomplishment.
Crowds cheered with me and my accomplishment, smiling faces, and cameras flashing. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE. Sulphur Springs made this so possible! They set up everything for all athletes to succeed, it was a team effort. The volunteers that give so freely of themselves, the race directors, the photographers, the crowds of people cheering, the runners, the music, the food, the whole collective made this possible.
Even though I still can’t walk properly after this race 3 days later as I write this, and my run streak of 1567 days ended on March 24, 2025 after the 100km, it was worth it!
