This year, I have been looking for new adventures. And Quest24 delivered this, and more, last weekend. For the past five years, I’ve been doing one-day adventure races around Ireland and the UK. By the end of last year, however, I realised that the ‘racing’ part was taking over, in a stressful, competitive way. The … Continue reading Finding True Adventure at Quest24 Adventure Race
You’d think, after four years of doing events like Quest, that I would find adventure racing easy. Instead, it’s quite the opposite: It seems to get harder with each event. Just look at last weekend when, for the third time, I lined up at one of Ireland’s toughest adventure races, Quest Killarney. I don’t think … Continue reading Head-to-head Battle at Quest Killarney 2017
Great little video of Achill Roar Adventure Race from this year. Brilliant event, definitely recommended for anyone thinking of adventure racing in 2015! http://youtu.be/do6QZKLl59M
Saturday’s Dingle Adventure Race was the first test of my winter training regime. Last year, I decided I’d give the National Adventure Series a go this season. Four races need to be completed out of nine. Waterford Adventure Race in May was my original season opener. But a bad cough prevented me from reaching the … Continue reading Pipped at the Post at Dingle Adventure Race
It’s that time of the year when Ireland’s Outsider Magazine puts together its People of the Year list. It’s their chance to celebrate those that have done incredible things on the Irish outdoor scene in 2013. This year has an incredible line-up: Calvin Torrans (71) who continues to push the boundaries of Irish climbing – … Continue reading Outsider Magazine People of the Year 2013
I promised myself that, once I'd delivered, I'd get properly fit again. I even decided that I would enlist the help of a professional to get me in proper shape. The first thing I had to decide was what I wanted to be fit for. Much as I love mountain running, I've found it easier … Continue reading Back to Proper Training
2012 was quite a year. A little over 12 months ago, I was living and working in Cambodia. I visited Burma for a week in February, getting to run around the famous Bagan Temples and the capital Yangoon’s streets. In early March I was off to Thailand to compete in the River Kwai Adventure Race. … Continue reading Back home in Ireland for 2013
“We have to go out fast”, our team leader said. We all agreed. Looking around the room, there was some serious competition. Not only had Irish team “Get No Sleep” turned up, but there was a group of foreigners in our midst. They had to be good if they were sponsored by Salomon and had … Continue reading Chasing after the Danes in The Sperrin Mountains’ Raid
I grew up in the north of Ireland and was born in the remote region of County Donegal. So when I saw a 65km adventure race advertised 30 minutes from my birthplace, I couldn’t help but register. The race was run by Extreme North, a new adventure racing company based on Donegal’s Inishowen Peninsula. They … Continue reading Rugged Peaks Multi-Sport Race in Remote Donegal
I swore 5 years ago that I would never adventure race again. 5 years on, I have forgotten all the reasons why I made that very same promise. So, thanks to my amnesia, last Saturday at 6am I found myself at the start line of Ireland’s Beast of Ballyhoura 36 hour non-stop adventure race. It … Continue reading The Beasts of Ballyhoura – Back Adventure Racing