Meet the rat race team

Jim

CEO

In 2003, aged 25 and sat on the side of a mountain in Peru, Jim scribbled the first ideas for an adventure events company into a My Little Pony notebook. What began as a spark of inspiration has grown into a global adventure brand bringing extraordinary experiences to everyday people. With unrivalled industry experience, Jim has personally delivered more than 500 events, led expeditions on all 7 continents, and is currently studying for a PhD in Event Management. As founder of Rat Race, he continues to lead and grow the business alongside his wife, Danni.

Danni

Managing Director

They say behind every great man is a great woman, but in Rat Race’s case, Danni is right there at the helm. One half of the husband-and-wife team leading the business, Danni is the driving force behind the day-to-day operation of Rat Race.

A keen hiker rather than a runner, Danni is a powerful advocate for making adventure more accessible to more people, proving that extraordinary challenges aren’t just for the elite. She is also leading Rat Race’s mission to increase female participation across the portfolio, helping shape a more inclusive future where more women feel empowered to step onto the start line and take on life-changing adventures

Abbi

Head of Expeditions

With more than a decade of expedition experience, Abbi is a highly qualified, multi-disciplined adventure professional who thrives in the world’s wildest places. An International Mountain Leader, Mountain Bike Guide, Bushcraft Instructor, Sea Kayak Leader, sailor and skydiver, she brings exceptional skill, calm leadership and serious expedition credibility to every adventure.

Laura

Communications Manager

Meet Laura, the powerhouse behind Rat Race’s social channels. If you’ve been inspired by an epic Instagram shot, stopped scrolling for one of our adventure films, or felt the pull to sign up for your next big challenge, chances are Laura had something to do with it. As the creative force behind Rat Race’s social media and communications, she brings our adventures to life with compelling content, unforgettable storytelling and a constant stream of inspiration.

Rob

General Manager

Rob heads up the Rat Race event delivery team, orchestrating the countless moving parts that bring our adventures to life. From logistics and operations to people, planning and problem-solving, he coordinates across every operational area of the business to keep the company running at maximum efficiency. Whether it’s delivering seamless start lines, keeping complex expeditions on track, or ensuring the team is firing on all cylinders, Rob is at the heart of making extraordinary adventures happen.

Hannah

Event Administrator

Hannah is the right hand woman for all our Project Managers. She is a key component of how our small group adventures fit together on the ground, from logistics and accommodation to tech support and gear. She works behind the scenes on every single event in our portfolio and is an essential cog in the Rat Race machine. She also loves a Guinness and is your go to person for the best local bar recommendation.

Brydie

Customer Experience Manager

Brydie leads our Customer Service team and is one of the driving forces behind the Rat Race customer experience. Often your very first touchpoint with us, she works tirelessly to make sure you have everything you need to take on your next adventure with confidence. From that first email enquiry to the moment the medal you’ve worked so hard for (quite possibly one she ordered herself!) is placed around your neck, Brydie is dedicated to making every step of your Rat Race journey smooth, supportive and top notch.

James

Project Manager

Our multi-lingual running machine, James brings extensive sports event experience, having delivered events of all shapes and sizes across the industry. A UK Athletics qualified running coach, he combines expert endurance expertise with a sharp eye for route design, logistics and participant experience. James has a knack for crafting running routes you’ll genuinely love, always seeking out the very best trails, roads and hidden gems in every destination to create unforgettable adventure experiences.

Seb

Project Manager

Seb brings extensive experience delivering complex events and remote adventure experiences in challenging environments around the world. A climber, splitboarder, mountaineer and trail runner, he’s happiest exploring wild places. Inspired by big mountains, remote landscapes and true adventure, Seb combines real expedition experience with calm, expert project delivery to create adventures that feel both challenging and brilliantly executed.

Alan

Head of Retail

Alan heads up Rat Race Retail and is the man behind everything bearing the RR logo. A keen runner and cyclist, he’s passionate about creating kit that real adventurers actually need, gear that’s practical, hard-wearing and genuinely built to perform in the real world, not just look good on a shelf. Whether he’s buried under a mountain of samples in the office or stress-testing the latest product drop, Alan is always focused on making sure our gear is adventure-ready. Come the weekend, you’ll usually find him out on the trails with his dog, Finn, putting that kit through its paces properly.

Stephen

Web and Graphics Designer

Stephen is the creative force behind the Rat Race brand experience, designing almost everything you see, click and receive on your adventure. From the website that inspires you to sign up, to the bib number waiting for you at Registration, Stephen’s creativity shapes the look and feel of the Rat Race journey from start to finish. But he’s not just a design wizard behind a screen, he’s also a keen cyclist and qualified CYTECH bike mechanic, so don’t be surprised to find him roadside on an adventure, spanner in hand, helping keep the wheels turning.

Dave

Project Manager

Dave brings energy, experience and plenty of good humour to the Rat Race event team. An outgoing character who loves a laugh as much as a flawlessly delivered event, Dave has helped plan and direct some of the UK’s biggest endurance challenges, including large-scale ultramarathons with over 2,500 participants and epic cycling adventures like LEJOG. When he’s not delivering unforgettable adventures for #ratracers across the UK, you’ll likely find him out running, paddleboarding, tackling a board game, or happiest of all, up in the hills.

Olivia P

Event Marketing Copywriter

With a passion for bringing extraordinary adventures to life through words, Olivia is the creative mind behind much of the storytelling that inspires your next Rat Race challenge. From epic event pages to compelling campaign copy, she helps turn big adventures into even bigger dreams.

When she’s not writing about adventure, she’s usually out living one, whether that’s travelling the world, swimming, hiking, or bringing her love of fashion into everything she does.

Tom

Project Manager

Tom thrives in remote, extreme and challenging environments, from dense jungle and scorching deserts to sub-zero wilderness and high-altitude terrain. With experience designing and leading expeditions in over 30 countries across 6 continents, he brings serious adventure expertise to every project. Tom is qualified as a Mountain Leader, Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician and HEAT-trained expedition professional, with additional certifications across climbing, mountain biking, paddle sports and off-road driving.

Kate

Project Manager

Kate thrives on creating unforgettable adventure experiences that make every participant feel supported, welcomed and capable of achieving something extraordinary. Known for her warmth, positivity and caring nature, she brings people together through inspirational events designed to build confidence, spark connection and help participants achieve more than they ever thought possible.

Robyn

Retail Marketing Executive

A seasoned traveller with a love of trail running and a competitive streak on the football pitch in her local ladies’ recreational league, she brings energy, practicality and a real adventurer’s mindset to the Rat Race team. Day to day, she’s a true all-rounder, mucking in wherever needed, from creating marketing materials and maintaining the website to testing product samples, picking and packing orders, and helping shape the future direction of the Rat Race retail range.

Charlotte

Customer Service Assistant

A true people person, Charlotte is at her absolute happiest when she’s with customers, whether that’s answering questions before your adventure, supporting our incredible volunteer teams, or cheering you across the finish line at one of our UK mass participation events. With a huge smile, endless enthusiasm and a genuine love for helping people, she’s often one of the friendly faces that makes your Rat Race experience so memorable.

When she’s not making adventure happen, she loves dogs, ducks, paddleboarding, hiking and wild camping. A lover of life’s simple pleasures, she’s proof that big adventures and the little things go hand in hand.

Halina

Accountant

Having been part of Rat Race for longer than almost anyone can remember (with only Jim able to claim more years!), Halina is a true institution within the business. As our accountant, she keeps the numbers in line, the wheels turning, and the rest of us vaguely financially responsible. Known for the occasional perfectly-timed Polish swear word and an appreciation for a proper vodka, Halina brings as much personality as she does precision. Hilarious, vivacious and always up for the adventure, if you spot Halina on an event, you know you’re in for a brilliant time.

Stacey

Accounts Assistant

Our newest recruit and she's already getting properly stuck in, Stacey is busy learning the ropes and getting to grips with everything that makes Rat Race tick. A proud mum of two and local to Thirsk, she brings fresh energy and enthusiasm to the team and is excited to be part of the adventures ahead.

Olivia A

Special Projects Manager

Liv is the Special Projects Manager, which we liken to the 007 of Rat Race - chances are the rest of us don't know what secret mission she is on until it's time for us to know. She works closely alongside Jim as his right-hand woman, helping shape the next big ideas, bold ventures and strategic priorities that keep Rat Race pushing forward. From confidential concepts to game-changing new directions, Olivia is often at the heart of what’s next for the business, quietly making big things happen behind the scenes.