CITY CENTRE shoppers in Dublin mixed with hundreds of sweaty athletes at the weekend as the Dublin Dares You adventure race hit the streets of the capital.
The race took 350 competitors from Grafton Street to high in the roof of the Aviva stadium via an assault course on Dollymount Strand, kayaking on Grand Canal Docks and a cycle of up to 55km, depending on which version of the race participants chose.
Adventure races are usually synonymous with wild landscapes and mountainous terrain but Dare turned the capital into an urban sports playground for the day, showcasing the city to teams that came from as far afield as Texas.
The brainchild of former Olympic rower Gearóid Towey, the highlight of the event for most was the 70m abseil from the roof of the Aviva stadium. Instructors from Work at Height Training oversaw the descent via ropes to some of the best seats in the house. In a concession to those with a fear of heights, the abseil was “not compulsory but highly recommended”.
While the cycle courses of 55km for the expert category and 20km in the sports event were on specified routes, the roads were still open to traffic, making it a test of nerve as much as fitness.
But it was during the running leg, or street orienteering to give it its proper title, that local knowledge of the city came into its own. Competitors were given a map and a set of 25 clues and had to design their own routes between locations, where they had to carry out tasks such as climbing the stairs to the top of Liberty Hall and figuring out the reference to a plaque in Christchurch crypt.
“For me, the big thing was ensuring everyone was safe, because when you are running an urban race there are so many factors that can go wrong and the competitors are so close to the public,” said Mr Towey.
“Everyone came back with smiles on their faces and said they would do it again,” he added.