Local man in real test of endurance

A Coleraine man is one of the brains behind ‘The Race’ - the 260km 24-hour trek dubbed as Ireland’s ultimate and pioneering single-day endurance test.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Feb 2014, 10:51 BST
David Burns from Coleraine pictured with Limerick native Maghnus Collins following one of their Sand2Snow Adventures.David Burns from Coleraine pictured with Limerick native Maghnus Collins following one of their Sand2Snow Adventures.
David Burns from Coleraine pictured with Limerick native Maghnus Collins following one of their Sand2Snow Adventures.

David Burns, and his good friend Maghnus Collins from Limerick, designed the course in County Donegal, which has been billed as the toughest endurance event Ireland has ever hosted.

Competitors will run 22km from Gartan Adventure Centre to Lough Swilly, kayak 15km Ramelton to Rathmullan, cycle 100km onto Muckish Mountain, then run, walk or scramble the 5km 500-metre vertical metres up and down, cycle 75km onto Glenveigh National Park before finishing with a 43km to Gartan Adventure Centre.

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“David spent a lot of time growing up on Eighter Island, and maybe he did try and influence me in advance,” Collins joked ahead of this Saturday’s (March 1st) event.

“I had no preconceptions but was immediately taken aback. Normally you have to go out and look for beauty and even repeat parts of courses but Donegal is different.

“The biggest problem we had was cutting pieces out from the route. We tried to get as much in as possible - Fanad Head, the Atlantic Drive, Glenveagh and Muckish mountain.”

“Basically, what we were after is as hard a course as is possible, one that could stand up with the toughest in the world,” said Burns. “The aim of the event is for competitors to stand at the start-line and really question will they be able to finish the event and then get the rewards for achieving it if they do.”

Related topics:IrelandDavid BurnsColeraine