The course in general

The routes are a mass of stunning scenery, dotted with historical landmarks, beautiful lakes and enduring climbs. While Extreme North take no credit for the fantastic natural routes, other than identifying them, the perfect balance of adventure, endurance, hospitality and care for runners is part and parcel of what makes an Extreme North event a memorable one.

This event is suited to all levels of fitness enthusiast / elite adventurer. The SPRINT Adventure will hopefully entice the keep fit enthusiasts / 10k achiever to the wonderful outdoors while the 41km / 62km REBEL & EXTREME course appealing to the regular adventurer and our new TITAN course needs no explanation to those considering it. In all cases PACING is crucial, please remember.

Start / Finish – All races start and finish at the new Sliabh Sneacht Centre will excellent facilities including hose down and showers at finish allowing to to freshen up as you recover savor the hot food and goodies while reflecting on an amazing achievement on an equally amazing course. The finishers medals and T shirt will serve as a deserving memento of a job well done.

The adventure consist of

Discipline	105K TITAN	62k EXTREME	41k REBEL	26k SPRINT
Run	12.50k	12.50k	6.50k	5.70k
Kayak	4.50k	1.50k	1.50k	1.00k
Bike 1	37.00k	22.50k	14.50k	8.00k
Mountain hike	10.00k	7.00k	5.30k	3.30k
Bike 2	30.00k	18.30k	13.00k	7.8k
Run	11.00k	0.20k	0.20k	0.20k
Total	105.00	62.00k	41.00k	26.00k

Bike Hire from Grassroutes Cycles

Why not save yourself some hassle and hire a bike for the Mini / Sprint and Extreme events. Grassroutes cycle are offering €32.00 bike hire for this event. Price includes hire, fit-out and leaving bike at transition. The bikes are Ridgeback Velocity hybrids available in a wide range of sizes. They are 24 speed with Shimano Acera gearing, aluminium frame and rigid forks. The tyres are fairly wide for the road and ideal for the trail. We can also fit your own accessories to the bikes such as pedals, saddles etc. You can collect your bike and get fitted at Race Pack collection

 

RUN 1 – 12.5km Road / Trail Run  –  Elevation 288km / 950ft.

Starting at the Sliabh Sneacht Centre (R238) a flat start soon turns right onto a 3.0k steep climb, starting on road and eventually leading onto hill track. After passing the Wind Mills the hill road goes into a long decline before ending back on main roads and a rolling terrain leads runners to the Lake Kayak stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAGE 2 – KAYAK – 4.5km Kayak  /  2 Laps of the Lake

Starting from the Pier on Lough Fad, kayakers will complete 2 laps of the Lake. Kayaks in the form of “Touring Kayaks” will be provided complete with Paddles and Life Jackets.

 

STAGE 3 – CYCLE 1 – 37.0km Road Cycle  / Lake – Clonmany – Urris – Mamore – Buncrana – Drumfries.    Elevation 525km / 1,725ft

The elevation profile below illustrates this route better than words can so just add in some windy spells along this rugged coastal route. You’ll witness some of the most amazing scenery as you climax numerous vantage points along the route. save your energy for a tough climb of Mamore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAGE 4 – MOUNTAIN – 10.0km Mountain trail/trek – Elevation 485Km / 1,600ft

The first 2km on trail followed by a flattish 1km boggy section before embarking on a final 2km heather / rocky climb to the summit, be careful of loose rocky surface near top. Then a much faster 5km return to transition. The mountain section will be wet & boggy so you may want a change of footware on completion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAGE 5 – CYCLE 2 – 31km Road Cycle  / Drumfries – Illies – Carndonagh – Lough Fad.  –   Elevation 340km / 1115ft.

Starting with a really tough 1.5k climb over Mamore, then a more relaxed cycle into Buncrana. The final section from Ballymagan to Glentogher is hillier than it appears, hence the slower than expected pedal on narrow roads and sometime poorly tarred surface.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAGE 6 – RUN 2 – 11.0km Road/trail   – Lough Fad – Cloontagh – Base Sliabh Sneacht – Drumfries .    Elevation 205km / 670ft

Starting on trail, check out the Elevation profile below for the 2 other trail sections. Lots of turns and twists but compensated with fantastic scenery at numerous vantage points and despite a few climbs this is predominantly a descending gradient on mostly quite rural routes with a final 3km downhill and back to the Finish at Moville Celtic Club House.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

62K EXTREME RACE – Total Elevation 1295km / 4245ft.

12.5K Run – Starting at the Sliabh Sneacht Centre a flat start soon turns right onto a 3.0k steep climb, starting on road and eventually leading onto hill track. After passing the Wind Mills the hill road goes into a long decline before ending back on main roads and a rolling terrain leads runners to the Lake Kayak stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.5k Kayak – Kayaking is on Lough Fad lake, surrounded by steep mountainous terrain, so enjoy and relax a little for some of the tasks ahead.

 

22.5k Cycle – The first cycle of the day starts with a 6k on road then 6k off road section which incorporates a 1k steep climb. Fantastic panoramic scenery on both sides of Lough Swilly as you wind your way around Wind Mills before embarking on rural windy, rolling roads for the final half of the cycle terminating with a steep off road climb to base of Sliabh Sneacht.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.0K Mountain Trek – Starting with a .75k track, then onto a similar distance of relatively flat but boggy section before embarking on the real 2k climb of Sliabh Sneacht. Hopefully a clear day will reveal the real beauty of the peninsula for as far as the eye can see.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18.3K Cycle 2 – Continuing on Mountain track and after a short 1k you may have to assist / carry you bike across a 100m section then another 2k of off road before eventually ending up on small windy rural roads as you make your way back to the Finish line at Sliabh Sneacht Centre at Drumfries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.2K Run -Rack your bike and a short sprint around the Centre to the very welcome Finish Gantry where you’ll get presented with your Medal and Race time and then a well deserved warm meal as you reminisce on your achievement with friends and colleagues.

 

41K REBEL Race – Total Elevation 788km / 2588ft.

6.50k Run – All on road this starts with an easy flat then continues on rolling roads as you make your way to Lough Fad and the Kayak section.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.5k Kayak – Kayaking is on Lough Fad lake, surrounded by steep mountainous terrain, so enjoy and relax a little for some of the tasks ahead.

15.5k Cycle – The first cycle of the day starts with a 6k on road then 5k off road section which incorporates a 1k steep climb. Fantastic panoramic scenery on both sides of Lough Swilly as you wind your way around Wind Mills and separate from the Extreme Course for a shorter descent before embarking on rural windy, rolling roads for the final half of the cycle terminating with a steep off road climb to base of Sliabh Sneacht.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.3K Mountain Trek – Starting with a .75k track, then onto a similar distance of relatively flat but boggy section before embarking on over 1k of a rock/heather climb of Sliabh Sneacht. As you turn around to descend again take in the real beauty of the peninsula for as far as the eye can see.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13.0K Cycle 2 – Continuing on Mountain track and after a short 1k you may have to assist / carry you bike across a 100m section then another 2k of off road before eventually ending up on small windy rural roads as you make your way back to the Finish line at Sliabh Sneacht Centre at Drumfries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.2K Run -Rack your bike and a short sprint around the Centre to the very welcome Finish Gantry where you’ll get presented with your Medal and Race time and then a well deserved warm meal as you reminisce on your achievement with friends and colleagues

 

26K Sprint Adventure – Total Elevation 485km / 1585ft.

5.80K Run – Starting from the Sliabh Sneacht Centre, all on road, the first half is all drag & climb before opening out into a panoramic vista and a proper downhill stride for the second half.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.0k Kayak – Kayaking is on Lough Fad lake, the kayaks are twin, flat bottom kayaks which means that you don’t really need much /any previous kayaking experience as there is little chance of capsizing. So relax and take in your surrounded of the steep mountainous terrain, as you complete the short course around the centre Island.

 

 

8.0K Cycle 1 – Continuing on Mountain track and after a short 1k you may have to assist / carry you bike across a 100m section then another 2k of off road before eventually ending up on rural roads as you make your way to the kayak section.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.50K Mountain trek – At end of run on hill track runners now start on the first 1k of flat boggy hill trek, then a further 1k climb half way up the mountain. Take note of the beautiful scenery as you turn around to descend the mountain and back to the Bike Transition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.6K Cycle2 – Back on the bike and navigate along small windy rural roads as you make your way back to the Finish line at Sliabh Sneacht Centre at Drumfries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.1K Run -Rack your bike and a short sprint around the Centre to the very welcome Finish Gantry where you’ll get presented with your Medal and Race time and then a well deserved warm meal as you reminisce on your achievement with friends and colleagues