The Inside Track – The Race Donegal

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 the best part of 24 hours the competitors will cover 6 different race stages, each one designed to add a different challenge and test (and break!!) even the strongest of wills and fitness levels.

To give you an idea of the severity of the cycle, there is an annual ironman in Lanzarote that is regarded as the toughest cycle (180km) in Europe ironman. There are more inclines in the first 100k of The Race than the whole ironman. Picture then another 150K on top of that taking in mountains and a full marathon on road and trails at the end.

This race throws everything at you, rolling hills, soul destroying headwinds and steep climbs on the bike, open sea kayaking where you are hoping for a tidal break, a scramble/climb up Muckish mountain and right at the end when the body is screaming for rest there’s a marathon in the darkness to get you home to the finish.