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 a whole new ball game as they say. The course is tough, really tough hence the name and is created by Harold Mc Guinness of Extreme North Events here in Inishowen. Knowing the course already just by local knowledge, I can vouch for its toughness and if you take time to lift your head the views are breath-taking especially up at Mamore and up Kinnego.

STAGE 1
RUN 1 – 12.5KM ROAD RUN / MOVILLE – SHROOVE – GREENCASTLE
Tuff Inish has an early dawn start from Moville Celtic Club house up thru’ Moville town with spectacular views over the Causeway Coast from 5k before the decent into Shroove and onto Greencastle and T1.

STAGE 2
KAYAK – 5.5KM KAYAK / GREENCASTLE – MOVILLE
Starting from Greencastle Pier the Kayaking will take place along the West Bank of Lough Foyle. Kayaks will be sit-on-top kayaks. Paddles and Life jackets supplied. Kayaks will not have seats but competitors can opt to have their own seats and be personally responsible for fitting same to kayak.

STAGE 3
CYCLE 1 – 55.0KM ROAD CYCLE / MOVILLE – KINNEGO – CULDAFF – MALIN – BALLYLIFFIN – CLONMANY – MAMORE GAP
The elevation profile below illustrates this route better than words can so just add in some windy spells along this rugged coastal route. You’ll witness some of the most amazing scenery as you climax numerous vantage points along the route. Save your energy for a tough final 0.5k ascend to Car Park at Mamore T3/4. Mamore Gap is an iconic climb and the RAS always takes in this when its in the area. You’ll be glad of the “wee break” for the climb ahead.

STAGE 4
MOUNTAIN – 5.5KM MOUNTAIN TRAIL/TREK
Starting with first half on trail then onto a rocky heather climb to the top of Raghtin Beag at just under 3k. Hopefully mist free and taking a few minutes to be amazed at the panoramic vista all around, then back to transition T3/4.

STAGE 5
CYCLE 2 – 31KM ROAD CYCLE / OVER MAMORE – DUNREE – COCKHILL – BALLYMAGAN – GLENTOGHER
Starting with a really tough 1k climb up past the grotto and over Mamore, then a more relaxed cycle into Buncrana. The final section from Ballymagan to Glentogher is hillier than it appears, hence the slower than expected pedal on narrow roads and sometime poorly tarred surface.

STAGE 6
RUN 2 – 22.5KM RUN, ROAD/TRAIL / GLENTOGHER – LOUGH INN – CROCK – BALLYLAWN – COOLEY – GLENCROW – FINISH IN MOVILLE
Starting on trail, check out the Elevation profile below for the 2 other trail sections.
Lots of turns and twists but compensated with fantastic scenery at numerous vantage points and despite a few climbs this is predominantly a descending gradient on mostly quite rural routes with a final 3km downhill and back to the Finish at Moville Celtic Club House. Job Done!

Tuff-Inish promises to be a real physical and mental challenge, fueled by the spectacular scenery at every turn and twist of the course. The hilly Donegal landscapes and unpredictable Autumn weather will be a major player in the unpredictable outcome over all 6 stages to an exhilarating and Tuff Finish.
Tuff-Inish has a 12 hour cut-off and can be completed Solo or in teams of 2 or 3 so if your not into Adventure racing this is also a decent challenge for a runner / cyclist team. The event will start and finish in Moville.

All enquiries regarding entries to Harold McGuinness

Email: harold@extremenorthevents.com

Telephone: 00353862374644