IRELAND’S TOUGHEST ENDURANCE event is launching its 2015 edition today and is calling on adventurers from near, far and wide to get involved.
The Race will, for its second year, take place in northwest Donegal and promises all those signing up a tough time. Devised by Maghnus Collins and David Burns, the two Irishmen that recently trekked from Istanbul to Asia on an epic fundraising adventure, the route is designed to test the endurance, fitness and will of 100 brave competitors.
In the space of 24 hours competitors will be required to complete 15km kayaking, 5km of fell (mountain) running and scrambling, 166km cycling and a marathon and a half. In total 250 km will stand between competitors and the finish line.
Burns believes Ireland has all the required elements to provide a challenge on par with the toughest endurance events worldwide. He declared, “It was a challenge designed to break competitors down. One in which finishing wasn’t guaranteed, even for the most seasoned of athletes.”
So it proved on 28 February of this year as 54 competitors from nine countries lined up at the start line just before 6am. Some 24 hours after The Race got underway, only 35 had crossed the finish line. The winning time of 15 hours and 22 minutes came courtesy of Canada’s Bill Wells, who finished ahead of Irishmen Sean McFadden and Michael McCarron.
The Race, however, was not just about the battle for top spot. Indeed many of the gustiest performances were by those who finished at the back of the field. Heather Bamford was the final competitor to complete the whole course. Her time of 23:53:17 made all the more impressive by the fact that she had completed over the half the course in darkness.
Bamford commented, “I never wanted The Race to be easy. I thought the wild Donegal landscape and the unpredictability of the Irish weather could break me but I didn’t appreciate that it would be the competitors and marshals that would make me. It was the most challenging event I have done but also one of the most enjoyable.”
The top female competitor was sixth place Christina McKenzie [18:13:17] while Bamford’s daughter, Emma Bamford, was 28th [23:20:25].
The Race will take place on 7-8 March 2015. Registration for next years’ event is open from today.
All proceeds of event will to support the work of Irish based NGO Self Help Africa. To apply for a spot in The Race or for further information visit www.therace.ie.
Ahhh…I could do that no problem,only thing is iv sore leg & bad back on that of race :)
The challenge is getting ready for it,I did it last year,to be honest the event is an absolute highlight of your quest to get prepared,best thing I’ve ever done!!
How would you even train for something like that? You’d want to be some sort of manimal (or womanimal) …
*Day