To this end, training regimes will be tougher than ever. And so, senior Kerry footballer, Tommy Griffin is looking forward to meeting a challenge of a different kind next year when he takes on the 644m ascent to the Mushra summit during the 64km multi-sport challenge in Cork's unspoilt Boggeragh mountains on May bank holiday 2011.
Ireland’s newest adventure race, http://www.monstermac.ie/ is a unique multisport race challenge attracting elite athletes, runners and beginner joggers from all over Ireland to North Cork’s Duhallow Way. Says Griffin: "We're used to training and competing on flat surface all year round so even the 8km off-road trail run within the Millstreet Country Park with uneven surfaces etc will provide unpredictable challenges for us."
Five times all Ireland medal holder, Griffin hopes to have several of his club and/or county players in hot pursuit on the slopes of the Duhallow Way. "With my ankle surgery behind me, the MonsterMAC challenge will be a good rehab training ground opportunity. For the rest of the lads on the team, it will be a good addition to the rigorous fitness regime in preparation for July's Munster final day (assuming we get there of course!)." When asked for his reaction to the possibility of some of the Cork team participating in the MonsterMAC challenge also, Griffin smiled: "Sure if they don't overtake us on one of the bike routes, they'll never catch us on the mountain hike. But the final dash or dunk element will surely separate the men from the boys."
But the question on everyone’s mind now is ….. Will the winners at the adventure race on the grounds of Millstreet Country Park in May also be the winners on the grounds of Pairc Ui Chaoimh later in the summer?
