Edinburgh Rat Race
The Rat Race Urban Adventure Series takes adventure sports out of the wilderness and puts them onto the streets of the World's "coolest cities". Teams of three race in a multi-sport test of endurance, skills and guts on a course that is only revealed hours before the event begins.
Events incorporate a range of physical and mental activities including navigation, endurance, mental agility, running, climbing, mountain biking, kayaking and abseiling and some of the event's trade-mark surreal sporting tests, obstacles and mystery challenges at different checkpoints across the city.
In previous Edinburgh Rat Races the activities have included kayaking under the Forth Rail and Road bridges, a traverse of the Loanhead viaduct, challenging climbs at the Ratho adventure centre, kayaking the Union Canal, getting to grips with the specially constructed Rat Race 'Urban assault course' at the Cowgate Gap site, an abseil from the top of Nelson's monument on Calton Hill, a roof-top bike obstacle course at Ocean Terminal and bone-shaking cycle rides down the massive flights of steps of the 'wynds' in the old town.
The 'Rat Race' returns to Edinburgh in 2009 for its sixth year with the inclusion of the city's first ever youth event alongside the adult race. Teams of young rats between the ages of 14 and 18 will race alongside seasoned athletes, part time sports enthusiasts and full time couch potatoes who have an urge to get fit, giving the full Rat Race experience with a few format tweaks and course changes.
Edinburgh's stunning architecture, labyrinthine streets and rugged terrain, including urban structures, office blocks, tunnels, parklands, hills, water and sand in the city centre and beyond are ideal for this event.
Race Format
Choose from Saturday's 'Mean Streets;' billed as 'the team running event with bite', a fast, furious hunt for checkpoint challenges scattered all over the city centre and open to anyone with a pair of trainers and a sense of humour. Rats are expected to run or walk up to 10km (or further if they are real racing Rats). 2.5 hours.
Go
for Sunday's 'Nine2Five' adventure, offering a full day's worth of
biking, abseiling, kayaking, climbing, navigation and mystery
challenges city-wide. By the end of the day rats will have cycled up to 50km and have completed an array of amazing activities. 8 hours.
Or, for the ultimate urban adventure and and the most popular format; compete in the legendary Rat Race 'Weekender' - both the Mean Streets and Nine2Five action.
Where's it take place?
The Adventure Village: This year's races will start and finish in a specially constructed adventure village in the heart of the city at West Princes Street Gardens, in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. The event village features well-earned food and drink for competitors and spectators alike, alongside live music plus adventure exhibits and activities for the public to try their hand at.
There will also be a 150ft (50m) crane for members of the public to experience the thrill of abseiling. The crane will be situated in the event village and will give people the chance to tower over the Edinburgh skyline with a photographer on hand to record their efforts for posterity. Costs £25.
Take part
Mean Streets costs £35/head and includes a free Rat Race Endura technical T-shirt and Rat Race Buff Headwear Nine2Five - £69/head and includes a free Rat Race Endura technical T-shirt and Rat Race Buff Headwear Weekender - £99/head and includes a free Rat Race Endura technical T-shirt and Rat Race Buff Headwear. To enter a team go to: www.ratraceadventure.com or call 0845 009 4365
The rat race series also takes place in Birmingham, Bristol, Sheffield, Belfast, Galway, and London.