What is it?
The Rat Race is a series of events that take adventure sports out of the wilderness and onto the streets of the world’s coolest cities. Now in its seventh year, the Rat Race sees the streets of Edinburgh turned into a massive adventure playground that tests the limits and endurance of all those who take part. Exact details of the route are kept top-secret until a few hours before the race to keep the spirit of adventure alive.
So does it last all weekend?
Yes, but there are three parts to it. A fun run in fantasy work clothes kicks things off on the Friday night, then things are stepped up a notch on Saturday with Mean Streets; ‘a fast, furious running event with a bite’ that sees teams of people scurrying across the city in search of various checkpoint challenges. Sunday’s Nine2Five is the most extreme of all the Rat Race events with its eight hours of biking, hiking, abseiling, climbing, navigation and mystery challenges.
Where does it take place?
In previous years Edinburgh Rat Races have included a nail-biting abseil from the tops of Murrayfield Stadium, a traverse across Loanhead Viaduct, kayaking through the choppy waters of the River Forth and a trolley dash round a shopping centre obstacle course.
This year’s races will start and finish at the specially constructed Rat Race Adventure Village, Ross Bandstand, West Princess Street Gardens.
The Rat Race weekend starts on Friday 16th July 2010 (with the fun run) then continues over Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th July. For more information go to www.ratraceadventure.com or call 0845 009 4365.
Rat Race Adventure are offering Informed Edinburgh readers 25% off the price of the Friday night Fun-Run-in-your-Work-Clothes! Just enter online and quote RATRUN101 to get the discount.
