I do a good bit of walking from the city out to my own place so this caught my eye. It’s the inaugural Sneem JFK 50 Mile Challenge taking place on the weekend of the 20th, 21st & 22nd May 2011.
The challenge, which is organised by Sneem Walking Club and will start and end in Sneem village, is to walk 50 miles (80km) in under 20 hours, a challenge originally designed for U.S. Servicemen by John F Kennedy back in 1963. Taking in a looped road route, the challenge includes some of most beautiful scenery in Kerry including Kenmare Bay, Molls Gap, the Black Valley and views of the McGillycuddy Reeks. The walk will be a physical challenge and it’s open to anyone with average fitness that is over 16 years of age.
The Sneem JFK 50 Mile Challenge starts at 05.00am sharp on Saturday morning, 21st May and continues right through until 01.00am on Sunday morning, 22nd May. Entrants are required to register online by Friday 22nd April 2011. The registration fee is €40 per person and there will be a mandatory briefing in Sneem Hotel at 8.00pm on Friday evening (20th May) on safety requirements. It’s the first time the JFK Challenge will be undertaken in Kerry or Ireland but it all began back in 1963 when the former President John F Kennedy sat in The White House.
For further information and to register, log onto www.sneemjfkchallenge.com, there’s a Facebook page or you can email: kerrygeopark@gmail.com. I’m gutted that I won’t be able to go down as I have a wedding that weekend but I wish all of the participants the best.