Ireland’s Newest Outdoor Race
Saturday 25th April 2020
It’s time to go back to the Land & Feel The Burren
Next Challenge
“WATER”
25th April 2020
4 Challenges - 4 Seasons
ICE • WATER • SUN • FIRE
The 4 Celtic Seasons of this Ancient Land
Shaped by mother nature for hundreds of millions of years, the Glacio-Karst landscape lying on Western Atlantic Coastline, provides a unique setting for our race.
Nestled on the lowlands of a working farm, the race rises majestically into the rock, covering 10kms in total. Starting off on Arthur's Field in beautiful Burren grasslands, competitors run through ancient stone paddocks and fields, through hedgerows and along lines of Silver Birch trees.
The trail brings the runner through Burren scrubland and reveals the next stage of the course. Higher ground lies ahead in the distance, as the run opens up into natural rises of multiple Clare Drumlins, onwards and higher. The course enters a huge field known to locals as The Pans, up ahead in the distance, a pair of ancient Ash trees, standing high and majestic on their own, the sister trees of Niamh & Máire.
Then the trail pushes on towards Bouleevin, the Hill, the punishing rise to the top of this ancient land. The scenery changes on the higher ground, the view stretches out for miles and miles over Clare and Galway.
Finally at the Summit, the runners must pass through the 20ft High Standing Dolmen, facing North West accepting the Celtic Sun. The Bell of Bouleevin must be rung at the Dolmen, signalling the hill has been climbed. High up away from it all, in one of Ireland's most unique places, clean air, fresh winds, wide open Burren Sky, a place , to Feel The Burren.
Down the hill the course continues, back to the lowlands, and the finishing line awaits. Competitors end this amazing 10kms by striding up and onto “The Standing Stone“ a 15 ton, 25 foot piece of the Burren Limestone, throw your arms aloft, and say
“Did you Feel The Burren?"
GENERAL FAQs
Feel the Burren is an off-road obstacle course challenge, featuring man-made and naturally-occurring challenges over a variety of terrain, on a course that’s 10km.
No, there will be a number of starting waves with between 30-50 participants in each wave. You choose your preferred wave start time when you register for the event and can double check this on your return email.
Yes, when you are registering, you will be asked which wave you want to start in. Once each wave is full you will need to choose another wave. You can double check the wave you have registered for on the return email.
We will do what we can to try and get you into another wave. Please email feeltheburren@gmail.com as early as possible and we will see what we can do to help you out!
Yes. Wristbands are available for collection onsite on the morning of the event. You must collect and sign for your Wristband at least 45 MINUTES before your allocated Wave Start Time. Your unique Wristband, which you must be wearing to be allowed into the Starting Pen, will be coloured according to your wave.
Anyone who arrives after their allocated Collection Time will need to wait till we get you into another wave.
HANDS: if wearing gloves use fingerless as full gloves will hold water.
UPPERBODY & ARMS: Tight clothes, compression tops, long sleeves for crawling obstacles.
LEGS: leggings or compression bottoms. Shorts. Tight clothes
FEET: trail runners are best. Astro shoes have nice grip as well. Runners are ok but that bit more slippy.
They allow you update the details of your team members. When you register a Team online. You need to send your colleagues the username and password and tell them the time of wave you run in.
Please email if you have an issues signing up.
feeltheburren@gmail.com
Yes you will get wet. You don't need to be able to swim - although you can walk around the water obstacles if you are not comfortable in doing them. Most of these water obstacles are not deeper than about 4 foot (just above your waist) with ropes along the side to hold onto and use to pull yourself along.
Part of the Feel the Burren challenge is overcoming the elements, as well as the obstacles. As mentioned above, you will get wet although we have designed the course to keep you constantly on the move so you shouldn't get too cold! Also weather dependent as to how cold it is on the day.
Absolutely - no matter how strong or tall you are, you are going to need the help of your fellow colleagues (or our course marshals) at various parts of the course. Don't be afraid to ask someone for a booster or helping hand - just make sure you turn around and replicate the favour when you get to the top!
Not unless it's in a hands-free container. There will be water stations on the course so make sure you take the time to rehydrate at these stops. We also provide water at the Finish Line.
No. water and mud and electronics don't mix well.
Yes. For Health & Safety reasons, there is a cut-off time for each Feel the Burren challenge, depending on the length of the course. This cut-off time will be communicated to all participants beforehand, as well during the pre-run Safety Briefing.
If you have not made it to a particular obstacle by a certain time, one of our Safety Marshals will assist you off the course. Please note that the site will also close soon after the course shuts down so please make sure you bring all belongings with you.
For insurance purposes, you must be over 18 to be allowed participate in Feel the Burren.
Everyone will have completed Consent Form, which is available when you sign up.
Due to the strict insurance criteria for Feel the Burren, any participant who looks 23 or under will be asked for valid ID at Registration. Failure to produce a valid ID will result in non-participation.so please make sure you bring the appropriate documents with you.
No. There are no timing chips or official times as Feel the Burren is a challenge, not a race. For those wishing to record their times may do so on there on accord.
Yes. Our team photographers are strategically placed around the course to capture your movements over, under, through and around the various obstacles. We take thousands of photos at each Feel the Burren and post them all on our Facebook page and Instagram Page in the days afterwards.
We are pretty close to kinvara, Gort and Galway City.
You can check from these links below to find a place to stay.
www.booking.com
ww.trivago.ie
Please email our team @ feeltheburren@gmail.com and we will help you as best to sort your refund.
STARTING FAQs
You need a coloured wristband to be allowed into your allocated Starting Wave. Wristbands are collected at the venue on the day of the event. Give yourself at least 45 minutes before your allocated wave start time to get yourself parked, sign for your wristband and familiarize yourself with the site. Your wristband must be collected 30 minutes before your allocated Start Time.
On the morning of your event, you must sign in and collect your colour-coded wristband from Registration. You need this wristband to enter the start area.
You will also receive your Feel the Burren T-shirt.
Bring a printed copy of your Confirmation Email that you received when you originally registered for the event.
ON THE DAY FAQs
All parking is onsite at the Venue. Please Car Pool as there are limited car parking spaces available.
Yes. Car Parking Passes are one of a number of initiatives we have implemented to help alleviate traffic congestion, and thus the impact on the environment, in and around Feel the Burren. Our aim is to reduce the number of cars accessing the Feel the Burren venue, by encouraging carpooling and the use of public transport, where possible. Research after previous events showed that many people taking part did not drive but were nonetheless charged for parking. Therefore, we took car parking out of the registration fee, which reduced the cost for many people, and are now only charging those who require a car parking spot.
You can pay at the gate for all our events @ €10 per car. Get pooling together to reduce your costs.
At each of our events, we have a safe designated area for bags and belongings.
Yes, there are separate Male and Female Changing Areas available to change before and after the run. It is strongly recommended that you bring a towel and complete change of warm, dry clothes with you because you may be cold and wet and have a distance to travel back to your car. At each of our events, there will also be a Wash Down Area to rinse the muck off before changing into your clean clothes.
There will be a Wash Down Area for you to wash off any dirt and muck on your body. Remember that this is a working farm so do not expect luxury! Also, because of the potential dangers they can cause to the farm animals, you cannot bring shampoos or gels into the Wash Down Area - it is essentially water only!
CONTACT US
BROCHURES & POSTERS
If you would like some brochures or posters for one of our upcoming events, drop an email to feeltheburren@gmail.com and we will send you a link, allowing you print them off at your own convenience.
MORE INFORMATION
Before taking part, call us on 087-9022585, Monday to Friday from 10:00 until 16:00. At Feel the Burren, we will have an on site Info Desk for any questions you may have. On course, ask any of our marshals who will be delighted to help you out.