Some of the kit listed is to help you have a safe experience and have the best chance of finishing the ultramarathon. Some of this kit is to ensure that if you are unable to continue without our assistance then we can be confident of you having the level of equipment required to keep you as comfortable as possible whilst you wait for that assistance. Spot checks are carried out throughout the event and you will not be able to continue if you are found not to be carrying the requisite items.

View mandatory and recommended kit

James, our resident running coach, has designed 3 training plans for the Rat Race 100. They are split into 4 x 6 week blocks so you can work through them. They are also categorised by 3 different pace goals, so choose the one that best aligns with the finish time you are shooting for.

Sub 24

Sub 24 Part 1

Sub 24 Part 2

Sub 24 Part 3

Sub 24 Part 4

Sub 30

Sub 30 Part 1

Sub 30 Part 2

Sub 30 Part 3

Sub 30 Part 4

Sub 48

Sub 48 Part 1

Sub 48 Part 2

Sub 48 Part 3

Sub 48 Part 4

Yes, there are cut-offs on the event after the 60 mile mark, but these are generous and designed for a 2.5mph moving pace.

• PS1 - No enforced cut off
• PS2 - No enforced cut off
• PS3 - No enforced cut off
• PS4 - No enforced cut off
• PS5 - No enforced cut off
• PS6 - 60 miles 12:00 Sunday
• PS7 - 74 miles 18:25 Sunday
• PS8 - 83 miles 22:45 Sunday
• PS9 - 93 miles 03:30 Monday

It is worth knowing that the course may change if we deem it prudent for your safety or for other operational or weather-based reasons, and we must always reserve the right to do so. Please always follow our arrows and signage over any gpx files you may download.

You can view the GPX route online. Please note this is subject to last minute changed so always follow the waymarking on the day. 

Download the GPX file

Rat Race require you to be over 18 on the day of Registration for this adventure.

We will move up to 5 bags for you at the Rat Race 100. You will drop all of these with us on the Saturday morning at the start line.

If you have a support team they can bring your bags to you if you prefer, they can also take them from you when you are finished with them. You do not have to use this service but it's there if you need it. Note: supporters cannot access Pit Stop 4 so if you want to use the Dowlaw drop bag option you will need to leave that with us at bag drop.

IMPORTANT: Your drop bags/contents MUST be waterproofed as they will be exposed to the elements at various stages during their transport. Your bag labels will be provided in your adventure pack.  

BAGS WE WILL TRANSPORT:

1) Eyemouth Drop Bag (PS3 – 33 miles) up to 5kg and 15L 

This bag is intended as a small resupply bag of your nutrition or a spare pair of socks etc. This comes before the most technical and difficult section of the route as you go over St Abb’s head – if it’s wet you might appreciate new socks in your pack to put on! We would recommend a dry bag of about 10L as an easily transportable option. 

​After you have finished with this bag we will transport it to the finish for you. 

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2) Dunbar Drop Bag (PS6 – 60 miles) up to 5kg and 15L 

Recommended items for here would be spare clothes, a change of shoes as the route from here is predominantly road, spare socks, toothbrush and toothpaste, a top up of snacks and nutrition.  

After you have finished with this bag we will transport it to the finish for you. 

If you want to sleep at this stop, please see 'Sleep Station Bag' section. You are permitted 25L and 10kg.

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3) North Berwick Drop Bag (PS7 – 74 miles) up to 5kg and 15L 

Recommended items for here would be spare clothes, toothbrush and toothpaste, a top up of snacks and nutrition.

After you have finished with this bag we will transport it to the finish for you. 

If you want to sleep at this stop, please see 'Sleep Station Bag' section. You are permitted 25L and 10kg

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4) Aberlady Drop Bag (PS8 – 83 miles) up to 5kg and 15L 

Recommended items for this bag would be spare clothes, spare socks, a top up of snacks and nutrition. Maybe something to help push you through this last section!  

After you have finished with this bag we will transport it to the finish for you. 

If you want to sleep at this stop, please see 'Sleep Station Bag' section. You are permitted 25L and 10kg.

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5) Finish line bag up to 15kg and 70L 

We ask that these are duffel style vs hard suitcases. This will go straight to the finish from the start and it will be waiting for you in Edinburgh. 

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Supporters may bring you additional items to the Pit Stops. 

SLEEP STATION BAG GUIDANCE

​You will choose in advance your designated sleep station, the options are: 

• Pit Stop 6: 60 miles 

• Pit Stop 7: 73 miles 

• Pit Stop 8: 82 miles ​

All of these pitstops have a standard dedicated drop bag logistic to them anyway (5kg and 15l), however, if you wish to sleep at one of these, you are permitted an increased allowance of up to 25L and 10kg to accommodate your sleep kit.​

Please note you cannot change your sleep station once you have dropped your bag off with us at the start. It cannot be transported to another location. This bag will only be transported onwards to the finish. 

You are not obliged to sleep. If you do plan to sleep, we would recommend a power nap of no longer than 90 minutes - 3 hours max.  ​

If you do plan to sleep. the additional kit you would need to add to your pitstop bag should be no more than:  

• Sleeping bag 

• Small pillow 

• Rollmat ​ 

• Eye mask & Earplugs ​​​

SLEEP STATIONS - WHAT TO EXPECT

​​​Sleep station facilities will be in the same room as the pitstop, this will be a warm room where you can find space in the sleep area to set up and get some shut eye. Please bring earplugs as there will be other participants and crew in and out of this pitstop. There are no beds provided so we recommend a good roll mat or thermarest style inflatable mat for comfort but it is personal choice. 

When utilising pitstop facilities at a pitstop that also has a sleep station, please be mindful of those sleeping and keep noise to a minimum where possible, 

The Pit Stops are the points where you can grab a snack, interact with the Rat Race team and also your own supporters if you have them. Our Pit Stops have a few staples that you'll see at all stations and also some which are bespoke to that Pit Stop location.​Standard provisions include:

• Water

• Juice

• Sweet snacks

• Salty snacks

• Fruit

• Toilets

• Medical team

Our Pit Stops are well stocked but they do not contain any sports nutrition products as we know you will have your own that you have trained with. The last thing you want to do in an ultra is try an untested gel and suffer the consequences! You should plan to bring your own supplements and be self contained when it comes to gels/electrolyte tablets.​

We aim to cater to a wide variety of dietary needs, every Pit Stop will have options for vegetarians and vegans, plus we have a box of gluten free/dairy free snacks for those with intolerances that are kept separate please ask our staff for more info when you arrive. While every effort is made to keep these snacks separate we cannot guarantee there is no cross contamination from allergens such as gluten/peanuts due to the nature of the Pit Stop during a live event.

ENHANCED Pit Stops will have all of the services available at the SIMPLE Pit Stops but they will have enhanced food offerings which will vary by location. Examples of enhanced food selections include porridge pots, noodles, soup, hot catered food, sandwiches, pizza, sausage rolls etc to help keep you fuelled on this adventure.

If you find yourself unable to join us on the start line of this event, you are able to transfer your entry into an event credit voucher once for use on a new entry into an event of your choice. Transfers must be requested within the qualifying transfer window to be accepted and processed. Credit vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Credit vouchers are exempt from the transfer process. To find out more information and how to submit a request, view of full transfer policy HERE 

You can earn the epic Trilogy buckle by completing all 3 Rat Race 100 ultras. You can complete these in any order over a period of 3 years. 

HOW TO GET TO THE EVENT 

If you are completing this event without a support team the best way to travel to this event is in a car and parking it in our car park at Bamburgh and using our post-event bus service back to the car park. It is not a location easily reached by public transport. If you are an international participant, we strongly recommend hiring a car from the airport and driving to the event and utilising this service. You can book your parking and bus ticket in your Rat Race account.

You can view our current volunteer positions for Rat Race 100 here. You can earn Rat Race Event Credit to use on a future event entry or you can rope your supporters into volunteer while you're on the course! Volunteer credit vouchers can be gifted to others.

Registration and tracker collection is on the Friday 1200 - 2000 at Bamburgh Pavilion, NE69 7DB. You cannot collect your tracker on Saturday morning. 

You are very welcome to fundraise for any charity close to your heart while taking part in the event. Please note, however, that our Charity Refund Offer applies exclusively to participants fundraising for Children with Cancer UK.

Click 'Enter' and sign into your Rat Race account and follow the sign up procedure. If you need any assistance please drop the customer service team an email on events@ratrace.com

Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance. PLEASE NOTE this protection is with our 3rd party partner Refund Protect and NOT Rat Race. In the event you make a refund application this is administered by the Refund Protect customer service team, Rat Race are not privy to the application and cannot intervene on your behalf to influence the outcome determined by their team.

To add Refund Protect (administered by a 3rd party) to your Rat Race booking simply select this option when presented during the entry process. Refund Protect cannot be added retrospectively. Rat Race will then send you name and booking details to Refund Protect in order to protect your transaction with them. If you opt to pay in instalments and transfer your entry before the entry cost is full paid you will be liable to ensure the cost of Refund Protect has been fully covered. This total amount will be deducted from any Rat Race credit due through the transfer process or you will be invoiced by Rat Race for the outstanding amount as Rat Race have paid this on your behalf to Refund Protect at point of entry. 

The Rat Race 100 Trilogy

We have designed a unique trilogy format which allows you to experience each 100 miler in an unbroken journey, the next one starts where the previous one finishes. Each event has it's own personality and we recommend watching the Test Pilot videos to get a feel for each course. 

Bamburgh Castle to Edinburgh Castle - The Original One

This is the first in the series and the route that spawned the Trilogy idea, it is a stunning coastal run that follows the Northumberland coast line up to Edinburgh, it's beautiful and a great mix of trail in the first half before becoming more urban as you wind your way towards the city centre. 

Edinburgh Castle to Glamis Castle - The Fast One

This is the flattest course with a bigger ratio of road vs trail, this is good for people who maybe can't train on hills (although there is a big one at the end!) or people who are keen to push for a 100 miler PB. It is primarily urban as we work our way out of Edinburgh with lots of local facilities to take advantage of in the first half of the course. Glamis Castle is arguably the best finish line experience of any event, with a dramatic 1 mile long driveway where you can see the finish getting closer.

Glamis Castle to Stirling Castle - The Hard One

If you know Scotland the title will come as no surprise, the route here is much more remote as we skirt the Cairngorms and surrounding hills in this spectacular finale. If you've done them in order you've built up to this one, with over 1000m more elevation in the course than Bamburgh to Edinburgh it's the perfect step up to test you that little bit more. Still achievable for walkers though.

Do all 3 over 3 years (or less!) to get the Trilogy Buckle!