THE TURAS
Venue: Kerry / West Cork Penisulas

DATES

14th June: Opening Ceremony
16th - 21st June: The Turas Race

Entry Fee: €4,000 (per 4-person team). Register ONLINE NOW

From 16th - 21st June, some of the world's toughest athletes will be pushed to their limits and beyond as they take part in The Turas, a gruelling expedition-style race across some of the world's most iconic landscapes.

Participants will compete non-stop, day and night, for over 90 hours across 12 disciplines - including trail running, mountain biking, horse riding, navigating megalithic monuments, rafting, rope courses, rowing and kayaking on sea, lake and river. They'll rely entirely on their own strength and stamina, with no outside to assistance allow and access to food ONLY at certain points along the route or where provided by the organizers. If they need to sleep, they'll do so unsheltered along the way - and only when absolutely necessary!

The race will take them along the five peninsulas of Kerry and West Cork - through the mountains and waters of the Mizen, Sheep's Head, Beara and Iveragh Penninsulas.

The highlight of the race will be the longest zipline ever in Adventure Racing, spanning a glaciated valley in the McGillycuddy Reeks area. Well, it'll be nice for the competitors to rest their legs for a bit won't it?

But if all this sounds a bit too much like hard work, don't despair! You can still head down to the West and soak up the excitement and the unique Turas atmosphere with festivals all along the race rounte, including Féile na Tine in Gougane Barra, music and dance in the Black Valley near Killarney, concerts in Schull and more fantastic events in Caherciveen and Sneem. The athletes will be provided with top quality artisan food at all these locations - and it's available to the public too!

The race finishes on 21st June - the summer solstice - and there'll be climatic festival at the finish line in the Gap of Dunloe to celebrate. Whether those athletes are going to be in the mood for anything other than a serious Deep Heat massage and a good snooze is another question all together, though.

And if all this talk of racing and pushing yourself to the limits DOES have your raring to take part - there's still time to register! Check out the Turas Website for details - they can even help you find a team to join if you don't have three equally adventurous / self-punishing mates!