The Reek is back! That's right Croagh Patrick is back after a 4 year hiatus! It was off and then it was on, then it was off but finally it's been confirmed, with huge thanks to all the wonderful work carried out by the Croagh Patrick stakeholders. Major renovations have/are been carried out on reducing [...]
Ask and you shall receive! We often are asked about adventure racing abroad and creative alternatives to the standard triathlon. So, we have been scouring the internet, Youtube and every other means at our disposals and have come back with an awesome event happening in Scotland on June 17th & 24th. It's called "The Celtman! [...]
After a 3 year hiatus...it's back! Quest Killarney. 2500 signed up. A full house. New routes. New Challenges. All the same fun. With only a handful of sleeps left, you should be starting to get your game plan together. Your strategy. Familiarizing yourself with the new lay outs is key. Brand Spanking New Routes [...]
The 18th Adventure Racing World Championship begins in Paraguay on Saturday, September 17th, and teams from around the world will be arriving in the capital city of Asunción in the coming days. The race will be hosted by Expedición Guaraní, which has been a member of the Adventure Racing World Series since 2016 and is [...]
And finally after a 3 year wait, we finally get to take on Dingle. This has been a particularly hard one to predict, but sure here we go. Expert In the mens, Sebastian will be hard bet. Garry Carroll, after a race up Carrauntoohil during the week, will hopefully turn his running form [...]
The Why? How did the idea of forming a team come around? Is Team West the brain child of one person or like a lot of the best ideas, created on the back of beer mat between friends? Team West was formed in the main in 2021 by a group of athletes in the Mayo [...]
Quest Glendalough. For many, it will be their first exposure to adventure racing, it was mine. And looking back now at photographs and remember some of the rookie errors I made, I can only laugh. It was all part of the fun. Part of the learning curve. Football socks, the shorts, and carrying enough kit [...]
Quest Kenmare last weekend, for many, marked the start of new beginnings. A new dawn. Closing of a tiresome chapter that spluttered on and off for too long. It was 2 years and 1 week to the day, that the last Quest Kenmare was one before the country shut down due to the pandemic. Although [...]
Are you looking for something unique and challenging in 2022? Quest 12 Beara might just be the event to get you to push your limits! Quest 12 is a one-day individual unsupported adventure race across the uncharted territory of the Beara Peninsula in West Cork. You will run across the Caha Mountains and the Beara [...]
We are only a couple of sleeps away from the kick off of the solo adventure race season in Kenmare. It also marks the start of the Adventure Racing Ireland Solo Race Series And as has been the form for the last few years, the weather gods look like they will be stirring it up [...]
What better way to kick off the season than a pair of entries to one of Irelands longest running Adventure Races, the Gaelforce Connemara and also a pair of entries to Gaelforce Kippure 10km trail race, a part of the Gaelforce 10km Trilogy. To enter, Head over to our Facebook page, and simply Like and [...]
Getting into Team Adventure Races - All you need to know! So have you ever wondered what is needed to compete in a Team Adventure Race. We spoke to seasoned race Lorraine Horan of the Crafty Divils and she gave us the low down on what you need to get started as well as [...]
And so we head to West Cork for SCAR21, the penultimate event in the 2021 Continental Tyres National Adventure Race Series . 3 out of the 4 titles still have several people in contention of winning the series and plenty are still in with a chance of a top 3 overall result. We expect a [...]
Last weekend, was a busy one. Padraig headed to Fearmanagh Adventure Race and I to The Worlds End Triathlon in Castleconnell Rowing Club, Limerick. Why Castleconnell you may ask? Well after months of coaxing from the brother, an exiled Dub rower, now living in Killaloe, I'd never hear the end of it if I didn't [...]
5 am, the alarm was off! I had a reasonable night’s sleep, so was feeling ok for the mammoth task ahead. Makeshift breakfast followed by stretching and last minute packing of the hydration vest for the day ahead. Final check at the car (I must be forgetting something!) and off to the race start. There [...]
At Kayathlon, we are lucky enough to get invited to some of the most beautiful, scenic parts of the country, to take part and savor these great events that take place. In a full, no Covid year, you can imagine there is barely a spare weekend over the season. Pre 2020, there was up to [...]
Back in the day, my younger days, my football days, I used to relish the hard slog in training. Muck up to my ears, in the cold dark winter nights, the boring repetitive laps and routines to build up the baseline strength and fitness. I used to love the regimental aspect of it. I believed it [...]
Kayathlon Virtual Race Series Points Tables Well folks that's a wrap for the Virtual Race Series. We have gathered all the latest times and points and dropped them into overall tables. As the series points are calculated by adding your best 6 results, we have added an extra column (pink) at the end of [...]
What a journey it has been! The final week has arrived - Week 8 - The Duathlon! The Breakdown 5km Run 15km Cycle 3km Run Your Options You have 2 options to complete the Duathlon Option 1: Do all 3 activities as separate activities and upload/email times as normal. Option 2 [...]
4 weeks gone and we have seen some brilliant results week after week, pbs every weekend...we have 3 hard final weeks with an 8k, a 6k and a final duathlon...so for week 5 (this week) we are doing a mystery event as promised....it’s a bit more light hearted but still have a nice competitive edge...and [...]
Finally, the week a lot of you have been waiting for is upon us. Week 4 - The Duathlon! The Breakdown 4km Run 14km Cycle 2km Run Your Options You have 2 options to complete the Duathlon Option 1: Do all 3 activities as separate activities and upload/email times as normal. [...]
Week 2/8 Results What a great weekend of running! The snow and the storms certainly didn't deter, with participants matching previous weeks numbers. So a huge well done to everyone, you earned your Valentines chocolates there ;) On a competitive end of things, more PB's set. Ryan Mulroy, keeping up form in the men's [...]
So maybe you are a triathlete and wondered what was all this adventure racing malarkey about. Is it the same as triathlon and what do I need to make the transition, even just to try it out. Main Differences In no particular order, the disciplines. On the surface of it, they are quite similar, you [...]
Week 1/8 Results What a weekend! The numbers of participants far surpassed our expectations when we originally came up with the concept. We want to thank each and everyone one of you for making it such a success. The general vibe and feedback was great, even if a few are feeling the effects of [...]
About the Series It's time to dust off the cobwebs of your favorite onesy, oil that bike chain and get racing once more! We are delighted to announce the Kayathlon Virtual Race Series. With actual races still a few months off, we have created a racing series to help keep you fit and ready [...]
2020 Year in Review By now, we would have had our review long written and posted but trying to sum up 2020 has been quite the task. It has been a year full of turmoil, change and upheaval. A year of self discovery and resourcefulness. A year truly like no other. Usually our end [...]
There are only weeks to go till you try and knock lumps out of your time from last year. You are training away, hard, trying to prep yourself as best you can for it. But what if there was a way you could actually do the course or chunks of it without actually having to [...]
Last Sunday evening marked the start of an exciting chapter for sport in Ireland as Adventure Racing Ireland (ARI) was officially formed! ARI was conceived over the past 6 months by a group of outdoor enthusiasts and avid adventure racers who felt passionate about AR and want to grow, promote and develop the sport on the [...]
A topic which will surely cause more ripples than the lakes of Killarney in the first week of October. We opened our extensive race jersey collection and after much debate have ranked our top 10 in order of preference...hold on tight...this is going to get messy... 10. Killarney Adventure Race '15 [...]
Stone walls and the grass is green!!! We all have rituals of some shape or another. For me, it's car packed, Spotify on, Gaelforce West awaits, that can only mean one thing...the Saw Doctors and the "N17" will be the first song of choice as I leave home. Stupid I know, but it is what [...]
With everything that's going on at the moment and with not much racewise to look forward to we thought we would use this opportunity to remember the great days out we had in the past. First up, Quest 12/24. Why this race? Well this weekend marks exactly one year from its last running. For those [...]
It's a couple of sleeps before race day. Usually by now, I would have game plan or something that resembles a game plan in place. The route would be checked, the vert calculated, the tough sections noted. But not this weekend. This weekend something new is on the horizon. Quest Geo. The Killarney crew, Elite [...]
We are days away from Gaelforce Connemara. The good folk at Gaelforce have been working hard trying to keep the event alive and within the parameters of the ever changing Covid 19 Government restrictions. So, we have put together a quick list of important points that every competitor needs to adhere by. Each of the [...]
dsa It’s good news Friday!!!! We are delighted to announce the recommencement of the 2020 Continental National Adventure Race Series!!! Little did we think when we crossed the finish line at Quest Kenmare on 7th March that 118 days later we still would not have toed the start line at another race!!! It’s been [...]
Well all good things... For the avid Strava fans out there, you will probably have seen an email land in your inbox over the last 24 hours or so. There are changes afoot with what features those on the free subscription can use. You will no longer be able to use the compare segments section [...]
We recently ran a poll on our Facebook page to see how many of you were on Zwift. Results indicated that about 30% who replied were using it. A lower figure that actually surprised us due to the sudden hype around it and growth in global numbers. There has been a massive spike in numbers [...]
As we have all seen, a lot of our staple adventure races are getting cancelled or postponed to a later date due to the Corona virus. Are you left with that empty feeling? The longing for the challenge. The trails. The bike. The craic. The comradery. Even with the latest guidelines Leo & co have [...]
As a show of solidarity for our frontline workers and our commitment to #stayathome direction we are getting behind The Green Wave and the great work they are doing. They are providing social and emotional support to those fighting this battle in the trenches and working with small coffee shops and local businesses to bring [...]
With everything going on with this fun spoiling Covid-19, events are dropping faster than me with mid race cramp. But it's a necessary precaution as the health and safety of competitors, friends and family nationwide will always take precedence over the events. We will be working along with event organizers nationwide to keep you abreast [...]
With all that is going on and races being cancelled/postponed left, right and center, all our best laid plans, training schedules have been thrown out the window...right? Well not necessarily... It's a strange title for a blog but it's something that may be a foreign concept to a lot of people out there. Like every [...]
We have all seen/heard of the recent rise in bike theft from homes, workplaces and more scarily out on your favorite routes. This has been largely put down to the bad guys becoming tech savvy and using the tools we use everyday training to follow our movements. Technology like Strava. Did you know, if you [...]
We headed to Dublin Castle to take on the Art O'Neill Challenge in aid of Dublin-Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team. The AON is a 53km(ish) self-navigated foot race from Dublin Castle through the Dublin/Wicklow mountains to Baravore Car Park in Glenmalure, Co. Wicklow, Ireland that starts at midnight. Dave & Greg and 198 other nutters took [...]
If you follow us on Instagram, you’ll no doubt have seen our mountain bike escapades at some point. If you haven’t, go check it out, our pics are awesome Mountain biking takes you to some pretty epic places and the views can be breathtaking. Now before anyone else says it, I’m the first to admit that [...]
So maybe you are a triathlete and wondered what was all this adventure racing malarkey about. Is it the same as triathlon and what do I need to make the transition, even just to try it out. Main Differences In no particular order, the disciplines. On the surface of it, they are quite similar, you [...]
EIR - Exercise Induced Rhinitis Do you suffer from a continuous runny nose every time you go out for a run or spin on the bike. No matter how much Vitamin C you pump into yourself, it just won't stop. In 2019, I was in the middle of the second cycle of Quest Killarney (Expert route). [...]
Our next people to go under the spotlight are a husband & wife team. They show that having a can do attitude, nothing is beyond the realms of possibility. Oh and they have some awesome kids too! We got chatting to Shane and Caroline at Quest Killarney, and already knowing most of their backstory, [...]
Our Christmas Bumper Issue is now available. In an action packed edition, we have another wedged issue with articles including The Continental National Adventure Race Series 2019 in review… Competitor Spotlight: Shane Hurlihy & Caroline O’Rourke Ollie Kirwan: An insight from the Race Directors chair Gadgets, Gear & more: We checked out the latest gear to [...]
There aren’t too many people out there who look at Irelands toughest Adventure Race (The Race in Donegal – 250km of running, cycling and kayaking in 24hrs) and think “I wonder if I ask nicely will they let me do 2 back to back loops of the course”…It takes a certain type of athlete/gobshite to [...]
Continental National Adventure Race Series 2019 The 2019 Continental National Adventure Race Series winners were officially presented with their trophies by Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland at a presentation hosted by Series sponsors Continental Tyres Ireland, MultiSport Adventure Ireland and Kayathlon. Huge congratulations to the winners, it was a brilliant year of racing, the [...]
Unfortunately, suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in Ireland and the UK. In the UK alone, 100 men take their lives every week with young males three times more likely than women to commit suicide. And it’s a growing problem to men in their 40s. But thankfully now, what [...]
With the day light hours getting shorter and the night’s drawing in, we shift our attention towards training and more importantly training safety. If, like us here at Kayathlon, you like to head off into the trails to catch some miles, some peace and some quiet, then you are more than likely going to be [...]
In a previous issue, we examined Tree Pose and all its magical benefits-one of these being that of enhanced focus and balance, using what is referred to in yoga as, ‘drishti’ or point of focus. This is where we fix our gaze on a stationary point, be it an object, an extended finger tip, our [...]
Back now for another year, we see the 12 hour/ 132km Donegal race taking competitors again to the edge of their physical and mental abilities. This is what experienced adventure racer, Andrew Wallace told us before the his first outing last year... Quest Killarney would be my biggest race any year so this will be [...]
We are off to Killaloe and Ballina for Quest Lough Derg, the newest event in the Quest Calendar and a new challenge for 1,500 adventure racers! Sport The sport route in Lough Derg will provide some unique challenges for our regular Sport contenders, at 57km is one of the longest sport courses but [...]
Can I have a show of hands please. I include myself in this by the way. You go and buy a brand-new shiny bike. You wash it more than your first-born child. You make sure the chain is pumped and the tyres oiled to the nth degree. It looks fast. You look fast. But are you [...]
Hydration pack. A vital component in every endurance athletes arsenal. Especially as we are now in the middle of a relative heatwave. Keeping on top of this, will keep you trucking for longer. But it's not as easy as it sounds. Finding the right equipment apart from the hydration formula can be an absolute minefield. We [...]
2019 is the first year that I haven’t played GAA in over 20 years and to say I was at a loose end was an under-statement!! I had it in my mind at the start of the year to go running, what or where I was not sure but I decided I would target a [...]
Go back 12 months...I cross the line. I have done it. I'm bo!!oxed but I'm buzzing. 13hrs 10 mins. I didn't make the 12 hours but zero fups are given. The high lasts for weeks on end. But slowly it begins to eat away at me. I need to get under the 12. That was [...]
So what can we say about our next racer to go under the spotlight. Although relatively new to the sport, his racing record is about as roller coaster as you can possibly get. Wins, DNF's, DQ's, stories of unheralded selflessness. It's all in there. Ladies and Gents, we give you Luke McMullan... SPOTLIGHT TIME WHERE [...]
A 7:30 am start from Waterford had me arriving in Kinnity around 9:30 for a second crack at the Off The Bloom (Elite) race. Last year the race had been a last minute decision, after myself and my good friend/fellow racer Ian O’Connell decided that it was too long to wait for a race between [...]
Forget Electric Picnic tickets or All Ireland tickets...we have the hottest tickets there has ever been since Willy Wonka announced his factory tour!!!!! We have got our hands on 2...yes 2...exclusive entries to the newest and most eagerly awaited event on the Adventure Racing calendar - Quest Ireland Lough Derg. Sold out for weeks, we want to give [...]
The Do's and Dont's The bigger the challenge the greater the reward! In 2018 Quest 12.24 was everything they said it would be and more, they even delivered the weather. There was sweat, tears and thankfully not too much blood as the inaugural event took Adventure Racers from Sneem to the top Carrauntoohil, to [...]
It’s back!!! We’ve had an 8 week break since the last Continental National Adventure Race Series Expert event at Gaelforce West back in June but its unlikely many of the Expert Series contenders have been resting too much over the summer. A quick look through the start list shows the majority of the main contenders [...]
It was that time of the year again, where I literally take the plunge into the world of triathlon. The King of Greystones Charity Triathlon (try-a-tri) to be exact. Roll back 15 months or so, I decided after a glass or 2 too many of vino to sign up for the race. What's so crazy [...]
The call was made late on the eve of the race on the back of a long couple of weeks hard training and racing. The body was tired and sore but the word on the racing circuit was the Race2Glory was a unique event and the lure was too much to resist. Plenty of time [...]
Race 2 Glory - Kiltimagh - It’s the 5th race in the Continental National Adventure Race Sport series, we’ve reached the halfway point and it’s getting serious now and every point gained is vital! The 40k course is designed by Padraig Marrey (who was part of the gallant band of 11 warriors who each made [...]
As far as yoga poses go, this beauty is highly underrated. To many the most obvious benefit from tree pose is balance, but there are so many hidden gems that lie within, that can be particularly benefit the adventure athlete. All forms of yoga are beneficial to the athlete. 1. BALANCE When people fall out [...]
The conversation usually goes like this, being asked for the millionth time..... Everybody: “Oh you do triathlons?” Me: “No, I can’t swim....I do adventure races (cue puzzled looks)...running, cycling and kayaking, it’s off-road stuff, usually a mountain involved....” Everybody: “Oh like Gaelforce!!” Me: “Yes....they’re the ones”... So 2019 sees the welcome return of Gaelforce [...]
Every now and again, we stumble across something different and that we could use in our outdoor adventures . While Adventure Racing is our primary outlet and what we mostly do...we can also be found spending days out hiking in the Mournes, the Wicklow Mountains, the Maamturks, The Reeks, Comeraghs...actually, you could find us anywhere!!! We’ve [...]
The awesome folk at WAAR.ie have given us a Pair of Entries to give away for the upcoming race on 11th May in Donegal to celebrate joining the Continental National Adventure Race Series(Sport category). One of the best upcoming races of the calendar, this event is not to be missed... To Enter, pop over to [...]
Our November Issue is now available. In an action packed month, we have another wedged issue with articles including Race Previews: The season finale Sea2Summit Readers Race Review: David Power looks back at Quest Killarney Competitor Spotlight: Marie Buicke tells us all about her love of Adventure Racing. How it started and why she keeps [...]
The fifth annual Skibbereen Charity Adventure Race takes place this year on Saturday, October 20th and looks set to be the biggest yet with up to 600 competitors taking part. We took time out to talk to Sean Mahon, Race Director and member of Skibbereen Lions Club about why SCAR is a little different to most adventure [...]
The scene was set. The months of prep were done. Nutrition was dialed in. It was time. Time to step up to the next level. Quest Adventure Series had announced back in 2017 that they were upping the ante. There were calls from the more seasoned adventure racer that they wanted something bigger, tougher, harder. [...]
Our September Issue is now available. In an action packed month, we have another wedged issue with articles includingRace Previews: Quest Achill, Gaelforce North, FearmanaghQuest 12.24 - A test like no other: We took on Quests first ever Ultra down in the Kingdom and boy it did not disappointRace Nutrition: How to properly fuel during an [...]
Like the thousands before you, you have tried this Adventure Racing lark and you caught the bug. Only thing is now you want to up the ante and move to the middle distance but haven't a clue where to start! well...read on! We constantly get questions about the different aspects of adventure racing and one of [...]
1. INJURY PREVENTION In order to minimize the opportunity of getting injured, you should really try and get off the hard surfaces. Those high impact surfaces. The ones that batter the joints i.e. concrete, tarmac. Over time these will absolutely crucify the body. 2. A CHANGE IS ALWAYS GOOD Monotony can be killer. Motivation levels can [...]
Our August Issue is now available. In an action packed month, we have an issue wedged with race previews, Quest 12/24, Off The Bloom, BAR Boyne, Cavan Kayakarun, Top 10 toughest mountains you will find on the event calendar, we try our hand at MTB, Competitor Spotlight shines on 'Because We Can' racer Matt Casey, [...]
So there has been a lot of noise coming from the Swiss Footware company ON's and the general trail running community about the new revolutionary grip technology. We decided to take a closer look DOES IT HELP OR HINDER US ADVENTURE RACERS? Have to say overall they were very good especially in this dry weather [...]
Ok, so there are no kayaks, but you will be waist high running through the waterways of Kiltimagh, scrambling under cargo nets, climbing moutains and pedalling like a mad man or woman. That'll do nicely Race2Glory takes place on July 14th at 10am in Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo. There are two options available: a 40km [...]
Our July Issue is now available. Packed with race previews, Gaelforce West Ultra review, GoPro Hero 6 Review, Champion racer Moire O'Sullivan, and buckets more cool Adventure Racing stuff. Download your copy now! [download id="15307"] Or View it online We hope you enjoy it! Issue 3 - June 2018 You [...]
It was 6am. Dave Gowan & I sat on the transfer bus, waiting for it to fill up before we were to head off to the rendez-vous point. We were decked out in the brand new team kit but something wasn't right. I was having problems with my socks. When I looked down I was [...]
Our June Issue is now available. Packed with race previews, tips & tricks, trail runner reviews, Adventure Festivals, and buckets more cool Adventure Racing stuff. Download your copy now! [download id="15122"] Or View it online We hope you enjoy it!
The Iconic Yellow Jersey. The breath taking back drop of Dingle peninsula. Mount Eagle. Mount Brandon. Ventry Beach. Slea Head. Conors Pass. Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh. An after party and a Dolphin thrown in for good measure. All this and more. It's what brings racers back year after year. That's what we came across last year [...]
Let the Adventure Begin! Here at Kayathlon, we often wax lyrical about an adventure race being more than the actual race itself. Well this weekend we headed for Quest Wales and it certainly didn't lack in the adventure stakes. The road/boat trip was well, simply put, epic! The following events I'm about to write [...]
A fantastic event, a glorious day in Wexford and a post-race BBQ, what else do you want? Actually, the only thing missing were those famous Wexford strawberries, but we’ll forgive the organizers on that one! This race is a must for any Adventure Racer, the 7 steps is well renowned as one of the toughest [...]
19k Challenge Route Report by Padraig O'Connor I had big plans for Glendalough this year. The 57km expert route in 2016 was one of my earlier Adventure races and while I enjoyed it I hadn’t enough training done and it turned in to a slog at the end, 2017 and again training wasn’t what [...]
The annual pilgrimage to the home of St Kevin is almost upon, but we will be praying for the fine weather we received last year. And early indications are that the gods have been listening to our novenas. It's due to hit the high teens with plenty of sun. In 2017, Quest Glendalough scooped the [...]
Just days to go until more than 80 brave competitors/lunatics take to the mountains, waterways and roads of Donegal where they will push themselves to their physical and mental limits as they tackle one of the toughest 250km Adventure Races in the world. With on average a third of participants failing to complete the course, over [...]
Ever wondered how good those miles you have clocked up on the old nelly were for you...well very good actually. Find below an awesome infographic courtesy of the guys at doctriathlon.com. It outlines why cycling rocks and gives you 25 very good reasons to keep cycling! The health benefits of cycling include a never-ending list [...]
Our Spring Issue is now available. Packed with race previews, tips & tricks, endurance fuel reviews, Red Bull Flugtags, and buckets more cool Adventure Racing stuff. Download your copy now! [download id="14800"] Or View it online We hope you enjoy it!
Into The Unknown Usually when there is a race on the horizon, one of our motley crew has done it. Someone to tell us what to expect. But when a brand new race is announced, it gets the imagination going. What do we know about the area? How will the race break down? Will there be [...]
Fresh from her heroics at Gaelforce Dublin, we caught up with top ladies podium placer in the Expert route, Aine Mahony. She kindly agreed to go under the Spotlight. What is your name? Aine Mahony Where are you from? Cullahill, Co.Laois How old are you? 30 Occupation? Physiotherapist in the Mater University Hospital, Dublin What got you into Adventure [...]
All week I watched the weather, worrying about rain, wind, frost and even snow. If you are familiar with the Dublin mountains, they tend to have their own eco-system. Where the rest of the capital may be drenched in sunshine, the Dublin mountains can be slow to loosen the grip of recent weather fronts. As [...]
You may be forgiven for thinking that Dublin is flat...The hills in Gaelforce Dublin are less forgiving. One thing about Killary Gaelforce, you can be sure anything they put their name against, will really test you. Gaelforce Dublin is no different. A race that put you through your paces with particular emphasis on the cycling [...]
You may be forgiven for thinking that Dublin is flat...The hills in Gaelforce Dublin are less forgiving. One thing about Killary Gaelforce, you can be sure anything they put their name against, will really test you. Gaelforce Dublin is no different. A race that put you through your paces with particular emphasis on the cycling [...]
You are probably blue in the face from asking your boss, can we stick an auld exercise bike into that unused room in the back! But now, you have even more reason/ammo to ask again. The government is introducing tax breaks for companies to install showers, bikes and other exercise equipment in the workplace. So, wattbikes [...]
