Irelands premier unsupported adventure race “The Beast” starts on Friday 5th August 2017 & for the first year ever it arrives in co donegal Ireland, a county fast becoming the crown jewel location for endurance racing. What makes The Beast stand head and shoulders it’s it adventure purety, this international race takes place over 40hrs with a total distance between 300–500km. 18 four person teams have to mountain run over 50km – mountain bike – map navigate – ocean swim – kayak – ropework mountaineering – coasteering and best of all the teams don’t know the route until hours before setting of. Each team will be handed the 300/500km route and have hours to note down the challenges before they take to the start line. No signposts, no marshalls, no gps or digital equipment.. teams navigate as fast as they can by foot, by bike, by sea to the designated map marked locations, dib in and move on racing day and night desperately seeking out the finish line within the 40hour cut off time allowed. For many it’s a battle for survival against the enviorments & changing Irish weather, for the elite international teams it will be a battle of battles.
Representing co donegal is the velo revolution sponsored “Voodoo performance team” made up of Jason Black, Shaun steward ,Sharon Black & Patrick steward. No strangers to elite adventure racing both Sharon & Shaun both finished second overall solo in one of Irelands toughest multisport races “The Race”. Patrick steward a very capable seasoned multi sport racer and like Jason Black an adventure enthusiast.
Over the last few weeks the team have been putting in the hours conditioning physically and mentally working together as a single unit , as the Beast requires all four “which must be made up of three male & one female” to all finish together and at all times can not be separated day or night from start to finish.
The Beast attracts incredible international endurance athletes due to its pureiest adventure approach & style, testing each athletes disaplines favourites & fears, from roping up hundreds of foot in the air hanging off a cliff edge while ascending or descending to entering freezing cold sea waters in the darkness of night & enduring the sleep deprivation while having to accurately navigate exactly point to point, it’s going to be extremely difficult. The Race will require all teams to be physically in incredible condition ,mentally strong beyond belief, collective as a single working unit, committed to finishing & resilient to overcome what ever obsticals come there way.
The Donegal team will be on a tracker and have continued online updates for fellow supporters family & friends to check in and follow, whooing them step by step to that finish line at god knows where.
Today the team put in a strong 8hrs of quality mixed work in near perfect sunny conditions ,fun laughs were fondly heard & shared along the way.
Stay updated for progress updates.
