ENDURANCE and adventure races as we knew them mightn’t be happening for some time, but competitors will be able to take part in a unique Donegal challenge next month – and it’s open to the most novice of participants!
The Wild Atlantic 500k Challenge will run throughout June, July and August.
The virtual challenge has been broken into 11 stages in a route that follows the Wild Atlatic Way from Malin Head to Bundoran.
“You can do it from anywhere in the world,” Excel Sports’ Eunan Quinn, one of the organisers, says.
“This is a unique event that will promote Donegal. It will be a platform for Donegal tourism and businesses to promote or advertise themselves, and through the event we will be promoting Donegal to the world.
“Unless you happen to live on a part of the route, you do walks or runs from where you live. You don’t go to the route. We will have a map where people will see virtually where they are on the route. People from around the world are taking part, and expressing interest in coming to Donegal.”
Entry, costing €50, is open until the end of June. This is primarily a fun event to get people active, fit and healthy over the summer months. The challenge is to complete 500k over three months.
The route has been broken into 11 stages to make it easier for you, and this will guide you to roughly where you are on the map. Distances have been rounded on the official route.
ROUTE STAGES.
1. Muff – Kinnagoe Bay. 40k
2. Kinnagoe – Malin Head. 40k
3. Malin Head – Ballyliffin. 40k
4. Ballyliffin – Letterkenny. 60k
5. Letterkenny – Fanad Head. 45k
6. Fanad Head – Dunfanaghy. 50k
7. Dunfanaghy – Annagry. 50k
8. Annagry – Ardara. 55k
9. Ardara – Killybegs. 60k
10. Killybegs – Donegal Town. 30k
11. Donegal Town – Bundoran. 30k
Quinn says: “You can walk 1k five times a day if you have to. Over the weeks you will get fitter and be able to go further and incorporate some rest days. Get someone to do the challenge with you. Having a friend makes you accountable to each other, and you can encourage each other along. Before you know it, you will have the distance each day covered.”
Entry includes: Premier fitted Technical T-shirt (made from recycled materials); Commerative Medal (90mm x 5mm thick); Buff (neck scarf); Commerative Personal race number; Packaged and mailed to anywhere in the world; Weekly draws for Spot prizes ( e.g. Hotel stays, fitness gear, Excel race entries); Discount voucher for Excel events in 2021 (15%)
You can register for the event here: https://www.njuko.net/wild-atlantic-500k-virtual/select_competition
