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Joe Decker, a self-described "local farm boy," a Western Illinois University alumnus and the Guinness Book of World Records holder for the "World's Fittest Man," will host what the Live Strong organization calls "one of the most extreme fitness tests in America" in Cuba, IL, Labor Day Weekend. Decker is pictured here, carrying logs in five-gallon buckets, during last year's event on his family's farm in Cuba.
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A 2012 participant in WIU alum Decker's event, The Ultimate Suck, an extreme fitness test he will host on his family's farm near Cuba, IL, Labor Day Weekend. This is the second year that Decker will put on the event in his hometown region. Decker is the owner and founder of the San Diego, CA-based Gut Check Fitness.
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Alum to Host Extreme Fitness Test Labor Day Weekend: WIU Student Competitors Get a 50 Percent Discount

August 22, 2013

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MACOMB/CUBA, IL – Joe Decker, a self-described "local farm boy," a Western Illinois University alumnus and the Guinness Book of World Records holder for the "World's Fittest Man," will host what the Livestrong organization calls "one of the most extreme fitness tests in America" in Cuba, IL, Labor Day Weekend.

Decker's fitness event in his hometown area, which he named "The Ultimate Suck," will consist of a 36-hour race and a 12-hour "mini" option (starting Friday, Aug. 30) on his family's farm in Cuba.

Decker, a trainer and former military service member, owns and founded the San Diego-based boot camp Gut Check Fitness, which was voted "Best Boot Camp of San Diego," by a local magazine there. The Coca-Cola Company has also featured Decker's Gut Check Fitness and physical training methods on its website, in the April 2013 piece, "Boot Camp Workouts for Everyone." In 2011, Decker became the annual Spartan Death Race's first-ever two-time winner.

Decker is encouraging his fellow Leathernecks to participate in this year's local Labor Day Weekend fitness test. As an incentive for Western student competitors, he is providing a discount for WIU students who sign up for either the 36- or 12-hour option.

"With The Suck, I want to bring awareness about this type of event to the Midwest, which traditionally does not offer anything like this. Generally, fitness tests like The Suck are offered on the coasts or in the Rockies," Decker said. "The 12-hour race will start the same time as the 36-hour race, but will only be roughly one-third of the events. My goal is to combine Midwestern farm chores with military boot camp, trail running, strongman training, basic survival skills and whatever else somewhat punishing, but enjoyable, activities I can come up with. I would strongly suggest competitors get proficient at all the military physical training tests and standards."

The entry fee for the 36-hour race is $250 ($125 for students with valid WIU ID), and to enter the 12-hour option, the fee is $100 ($50 for students with valid WIU ID).

Individuals interested in competing can register online at gutcheckfitness.com/the-suck/the-ultimate-suck-36-hour/. More information about the event is also available at that website. WIU students who register will get the discount by entering the following promo codes upon checkout: WIU12 (50 percent off the 12-hour race) and WIU36 (50 percent off the 36-hour race). Students who compete will be asked to bring a current student ID when they check in the weekend of Aug. 30.

Follow The Suck on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/The-SUCK/118764908252636.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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