Race Advice from Past Competitors

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Published on Thursday, 02 March 2017 12:00

Written by The Race

We asked our previous Race competitors what the biggest piece of advice would be to anyone daring to attempt The Race. Have a read of what competitors thought of the course, the conditions, diciplines and the atmosphere.

Rachel Nolan's Top 5 tips

 1. Get up there & test out the course to estimate times & become friends with the hills of Donegal. 

 2. Have a plan for transitions, fast clothes change if really needed & eat on the move. Especially on the bike.

 3. Don't be too hard on yourself & play your own game. Anything can happen.

 4. Visualise finishing each section & the feeling of crossing the finish line.

 5. Have fun, you decided to sign up. Donegal is spectacular for the scenery with fantastic friendly people and The Race offers the opportunity to soak this up. It's a great holiday weekend with likeminded people, enjoy making new top class buddies.

Lonan O'Farrell

Race your race, eat well at transitions but don't hang around long, enjoy every minute knowing you are one of a small number of people able to be in this position.

Graham Macken:

It's a hellish day, just prepare for that and get on with it. 24hrs is generally plenty of time to finish it, but just keep going and take in the sights!!

Victor Young:

Do a few race trips to the course, plan and practice your nutrition, enjoy the experience. It's a fantastic day and I recommend you bring supporters with you to lift you at different stages.

David Sheehy

Prepare for every eventuality in your head. It's hard to make rational decisions out on the course when you are mentally drained. Practice transitions and taking different foods in training. Know you can finish it.

Sinead Keogh

Treat transitions like they are stages of the race. Be prepared going into them, get in and get out quickly and don't get comfortable, it will only prolong the inevitable. Oh and enjoy the scenery.

John MacCormack

The first bike stage can be brutal if the wind blows, just keep going, the less time spent in the dark of the second bike stage the better, so don't mess around in transition. 

Ruaidhri Stewart

Don't panic. No matter what it throws at you stick to your plan.

Keith McGarvey

Nice and steady throughout! Don't go too hard on the first run. Get yourself a seat backrest for the kayak. Keep yourself fueled with real food and don't spend too long in the transitions. Good lights are essential. Be prepared for the worst and train in the worst conditions you can.

Gerrit Durnin

Cycle, cycle and cycle. Making the transitions is really dependant on both bike legs. The running and Muckish will look after themselves.

Dave Gowan

Check list stuck to the lid of your transition box to make sure you don't forget anything! It's all about the bike. Some flat coke in the later boxes will do wonders. Remember three words, relentless, forward, progress.

Arthur McMahon

As Mike Tyson said, everyone has a plan until they get a punch in the face! There will be punches in the face but for many, finishing this will be their finest hour. Look forward to that, you can do it!

Kate Kelly

Put plenty of spare clothes in every transition box. A really good waterproof jacket, savoury food especially at Muckish is a good idea. Beg, borrow or steal good torches for the second bike and the final run. 

Luke Daly

Use the food you use during training and do not change on, or near race day. Do not underestimate Muckish!

Oisin Weldon

It's a bike race..two thirds of the distance is on two wheels. Everything else is irrelevant if you can't bike like a beast. In training..bike, bike and bike some more. And do not take it too seriously, what's the worst that can happen!!

Damian Rogers

Don't underestimate the kayak section. Keep moving forward and soak up the support, scenery & fuel as you trained. 

Gerard Callaghan Interview

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Published on Wednesday, 01 March 2017 12:51

Written by The Race

With the 2017 event fast approaching we interviewed the only competitor on the start line to finish all 3 previous races.  

Have you always been interested in endurance sports ?

Well it would have been up until about 18. From 18 on then it would have been cars, rally cars, racing cars. 

As a young cyclist I finished 7th in the national championships at a junior level and was part of a 3 person team that won an Irish U16 cycling title. From then on however I did nothing in terms of cycling for the next 20 years. I didn't even own a bike other than the original one I had at school. All that energy and interst was directed towards motor sport.

Read more: Gerard Callaghan Interview

The Race - Team Event

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Published on Wednesday, 18 January 2017 11:08

Written by The Race

The Race 2017 is incorporating a team challenge element to The Race for the first time. Teams will consist of 3 people taking on the same 250km race course.

The experience of being part of The Race community is, in our mind, the single strongest advertisement for the event. To this end, we have been exploring ways in which we can expand the reach of the event without compromising the core principals of competitor focus and limited entry. 

To date we have 3 teams competing in The Race and have 2 team places still available. 

To register for one of the final team places please complete the following registration form or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  for more information.

Click here to register. 

Below are the three teams currently set to take on the event this March. 

1. 3 Wise Men

Competitors: Martin Kerr, Martin Gallagher, Shaun Boyce

All three team members are Donegal locals who describe the event as one on their bucket list.

2. Try Hards

Competitors: Shay Downey, Ray Jordan, Paul Kelly

Ray is the CEO of our charity partner Gorta-Self Help Africa who takes on the event along with colleague Shay and friend Paul.

3. The Not Dead Yets

Competitors: Jim Jackman, Michael McNamara, Robert Warman 

The Race and NorthWest Triman

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Published on Friday, 17 June 2016 09:04

Written by The Race