FKT: Erin Shaw - Driftless Round - Decorah (IA) - 2024-09-14

Athletes
Route variation
Standard route
Multi-sport
No
Gender category
Female
Style
Unsupported
Start date
Finish date
Total time
7h 53m 12s
GPS track(s)
Report

I'm not on Strava so I shared my race report posts from Facebook and set them to public. I designed the route to highlight all of the parks, trails, and natural tourist sites in my town of Decorah, Iowa. Then I ran it to create the .gpx file for the FKT route submission. The day got hotter than I anticipated and my electrolytes got off so it did not go as well as I hoped. However, the route itself was a blast. I loved all the steep climbs coupled with several fun descents and then flatter sections to make up time. I ran it in trail shoes and ran on the grass next to the paved trail sections. I'm sure faster runners will prefer road shoes. I ran it alone and carried all of my nutrition in my vest. I used the bathroom and refilled water at the public bathroom at the fish hatchery and at the Pulpit Rock Campground. (If you attempt this in the winter, these are closed so call Decorah Parks and Rec ahead of time to confirm availability.) I finished the loop by placing my hand back on the door to Pulpit Rock Brewing Co where I start almost 8 hours before. There were no cheerleaders or fanfare. Just the satisfaction of finishing and having successfully created the full .gpx file. I'm happy to help answer any questions for anyone wanting to attempt this in the future. Come play in the Driftless and discover the beautiful trails in the lovely town of Decorah!