Obstacle Course Rating - Adare to Survive September 2014

Adare to Survive

Adare, County Limerick 28/09/2014

Team Name: Obstacle Illusion

For some of us, this was our second time taking on Adare to Survive, having taken part in last year as well. However, we more than doubled our numbers, as this year we came in force, with a group of twenty-nine, mostly members of the Kildysart Currach Club in County Clare, and a lot of first timers.

Some of team Obstacle Illusion

Ratings

Price 4/5

We paid a group rate of €40 for our group, although we didn't exactly get in early, in fact, we ended up paying the week before.  If we'd been organised we might have got a better deal.  That price includes everything though, with no hidden extras for parking etc.

Timing 4.5/5

Again, this is Ireland, so weather is inconsistent from year to year (we did get rained on quite heavily in the beginning, but not for too long), but this is comfortably placed at the end of the season, just before the temperatures start dropping as we head towards winter, making the difference between a 'pleasant' day out (if you can call dragging yourself under barbed wire pleasant) and a miserable slog.  But then again I think I may be a fair weather obstacle courser!

Distance 5/5

7.5K a nice middle of the road distance, not too intimidating for first timers, but still worth getting out of bed for those who would be comfortable with a 10K.

Course 5/5

The course brings you around Clonshire and the surrounding woodlands.  Nice mix of natural obstacles and man made.  After doing a few obstacle courses you become used to seeing variations of the same things, however there were several obstacles in this that we'd never seen before, which made it very interesting.  The electrical obstacles were very tame this year, not much of a shock off them - although we still didn't linger too long under them.  Perhaps they'd been earthed in places, as we got there pretty late in the day and the ground was fairly torn up.  Plenty of upper body challenges, like ropes to climb and monkey bars, so I was happy!

Dirt Levels 5/5

Once again, another muddy event.  From crawling through mud under barbed wire and electric fences, to sliding down wet clay and jumping into muddy water, there is more than enough muck to keep your washing machine busy. 

Waiting Time 4/5

Very hard to rate this fairly as a group twenty-nine strong is going to cause congestion anyway, especially when you're waiting around for everyone to get through each obstacle.  The course seemed pretty spaced though, and we didn't get stuck behind anyone other than our own team all that much.  The only place where we ended up waiting for a while was at the big water obstacle 'The Adare to Survive Bombs Away'.

Safety 5/5

We were told before we set out that a certain obstacle in particular, 'The Adare to Survive Bombs Away', was a no-go for non-swimmers.  When we arrived at the 15 foot jump from a scaffolding into a large pool of muddy water which we were informed was 16 feet deep - impossible to know for sure, although I certainly didn't hit the bottom - non-swimmers were once again warned off it, and directed around it.  Nevertheless, six ring-buoy-bearing lifeguards lined the sides of the pool, and a steward on each of the three platforms kept things moving at a steady, but manageable pace.  Excessive, perhaps, but not smotheringly so, and there are four wheel drive ambulance/jeep things to get to those hard to reach places on the course.  The gang from the Red Cross who were on hand for the day were also lovely - one of our over-zealous supporters on the sidelines took a tumble while watching the event and was very well looked after in the first aid tent until we were able to pick her up and take her home.  So thanks for that you guys.

Showers 2/5

Fairly sure we saw people washing with some success under the big water containers when we passed by the outdoor showers during the run, but by the time we got to trying to get clean there was only a trickle of freezing water for us.  The technique that worked for me was to clear the worst from hands, face, hair and neck and then covered the rest up with a change of dry clothes  (some may use the word 'genius', but I don't like being labelled...).

Food 3/5

We took a long time getting around, due to the size of our group, so by the time we got there, Cully & Sully were folding up their table, which is sad, because I was really looking forward to that soup. We each received a banana and a bottle of water.

Fun 5/5

Definitely one of my favourite events, the stewards are all cheerful and really sound, and there's a great atmosphere in the 'spectators area', although from what I could see spectators had a free reign to wander around themselves.

Overall 4.5/5

What makes it unique?

Not sure if they will do it every year, but this year at least they ran a competition where entrants designed an obstacle for the event, which they would then include in the course.  A brilliant idea that I hope they'll keep going, as it almost guarantees that at least one obstacle will be completely different to anything you'll see at other events.  Management were also very helpful and very easy to deal with when setting up our team.  They were also very flexible on the cut-off date for registering our group, and when you get there on the day you're well looked after.  At the end of the race you receive your Adare to Survive dog tags, which is a nice change to the usual medal.  In theory you also get a t-shirt, and I think I saw people wandering around with bags of swag (vouchers for businesses in Adare town).  Still waiting on ours though, they're arriving in the post, apparently.

Recommendations
Highly recommended, a great day out.  Maybe bring two towels (old ones, leave your soft white Ralph Lauren ones at home), one for scraping off the excess dirt that you're caked with when the showers don't work for you, and then another for actually drying yourself.

Final Obstacle Course review coming soon, for Killary's Turf Warrior.