2027 MINI EVENT GUIDE

Friday 23rd July between 1200 - 2000 at central location (TBC). You must register and pick up your tracker between these times, there is no option to do this on Saturday morning. You MUST bring your running backpack to Tracker Collection so your tracker can be taped to your backpack after allocation.

These will be posted out in advance of the event. UK residents should expect to receive their adventure pack  around 1-2 weeks before the event. International participants will be required to collect their adventure pack from Tracker Collection. Please ensure you have your current address on your entry, you can update this by logging into your Rat Race account. You MUST bring your bib number and running backpack to Tracker Collection.  

The start is at Princes Street Gardens at 0740 - 0800 on the 24th July. Please arrive at the start with all of your water bottles/reservoirs etc full of water, there is no water fill up point at the start. Please head to the Ross bandstand and follow our signage.

Staggered Self-Seeded Start

At the request of Edinburgh Council in order to help manage the flow of #ratracers through Edinburgh city centre, we will be operating a staggered start from 7:40am. #ratracers will be set off in groups of approximately 100 every 5 minutes, there will be a manned hold after each 100, please respect this.

We kindly ask that you self-seed based on your estimated finish time. This is simply a guide and is not mandatory. Please don't worry if you don't fit neatly into one of the suggested categories or you miss the suggested start time for you. All #ratracers will have crossed the start line by 8:00am, the previously communicated start time, so none of the event timings or cut-offs previously communicated will be affected and you will be on your way through Edinburgh at the time originally planned or slightly earlier.

Suggested start times:

• 7:40am / 7:45am: If you are aiming to finish sub 30 hours
• 7:50am / 7:55am: If you are aiming to finish in 30 - 40 hours
• 8:00am: #ratracers who plan to walk from the start

If you are planning to walk from the start, we kindly ask that you cross the start line at 8:00am.

Opens at 0630 on King Stables Road. This will be signposted and you can find the google pin HERE. Please ensure your bags are clearly labelled, bag tags will be provided in your adventure pack. 

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.  

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) Pit Stop 3 up to 5kg and 15L  

This bag is intended as a small resupply bag of your nutrition or a spare pair of socks etc. 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.  

2) Pit Stop 6 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. 

3) Pit Stop 7 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 

4) Pit Stop 8 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. 

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 at Glamis Castle.  

Supporters may bring you additional items to the Pit Stops.  

IMPORTANT NOTE ON  BAG DROPS & FORWARD MOVEMENT OF BAGS 

If you are using our bag drop system please ensure you collect your bag from each pitstop even if you DO NOT plan to use it, you must collect it from the collection area and move it to the 'Bags to the finish' area in order for it to meet you at the finish. Bags are moved at intervals throughout the event and if you do not collect your bag it will only be transported to the finish when the Pit Stop closes and it may not be there when you arrive as a consequence.  

Any bags not collected at the finish will be posted to you (UK postal addresses only) at a £10 postage cost per bag, due the admin and time involved  this may take up to 2 weeks after the event to arrive back with you. Alternatively you can collect them from our office in Thirsk from the 30th July. Please make an effort to collect your bag at the event as this is the best solution for everyone!

There will be random kit checks at various pitstops and at the start, with a particular focus between PS3 - PS6 as typically this is when most #ratracers move into the first night. You MUST carry all of the mandatory kit at ALL times. If you fail a check your tracker will be removed and you will not be allowed to continue in the event.

We will have a waiting section at all pitstop locations between and including pitstop 3 to pitstop 9 where people who are a bit nervous about the next section through the night can hang fire for a buddy. Please make sure you check this section if you're happy to have some company along for the ride, we know our #ratracers are a friendly bunch! ​ 

Train  

If you are travelling by train, we recommend arriving into Edinburgh on Friday 24th July and staying centrally, this will place you in easy distance of the start line for the following morning.  

At the finish line, you can then hop on our free shuttle bus from Glamis to Dundee train station and catch an onward train. 

Driving  

If you are driving to Edinburgh, we recommend finding a long term car park in the city centre where you can leave your car for the duration of the event. We recommend you book a seat on one of our Glamis – Edinburgh post-event bus transfers via your RR account which will bring you back into Edinburgh city centre where you can pick your vehicle back up for any onward travel. 

Flying 

If you are flying, we recommend flying into Edinburgh on or before midday Friday 24th July to allow any time for delays etc. You can then grab a bus, taxi or tram from Edinburgh Airport into the city centre.  

At the end of the event, you can either hop on our free shuttle to Dundee train station where you could grab a train back to Edinburgh or book a seat on one of our post-event transfers back to Edinburgh. It is vital you leave yourself enough time to connect with onward travel. You may need to wait a while for the free shuttle and our post-event transfers operate a set times so please do consider this and be prepared ti swing in a plan B if you finish earlier or later tha expected and this puts pressure on your travel plans. Rat Race cannot be held responsible for any missed flights or trains.

There is no parking available at Glamis Castle pre-event.

Free Shuttle: Glamis Castle – Dundee Train Station 

We will operate a free shuttle from the finish to Dundee train station. This will run on a loop so please expect to wait at busy times as it is a 1 hour round trip. There will also be parking available at the finish so supporters can pick you up.   

SLEEP STATION BAG GUIDANCE 

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

• Pit Stop 6: 58 miles  

• Pit Stop 7: 67 miles  

• Pit Stop 8: 78 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,  

SLEEPING IN SUPPORTER VEHICLES 

If you have a supporter and plan on sleeping in their vehicle rather than utilising the sleep stations, this is permitted. If you do this, you MUST text the Race Director phone number with the following specific info; 

1. Bib number 
2. Time you are leaving the route 
3. Where you are leaving the route (mile / location) 
4. Intended time to end sleep & rejoin route   

Then another text when you are back on route: 

1. Bib number 
2. Time back on route 
3. Location rejoining route 

ROUGH SLEEPING 

RR has put specific sleep locations and support in place for you. If you are planning to sleep, you must use these locations or you may sleep in supporter vehicles, if that option is available to you. 

We ask that you DO NOT sleep rough anywhere on the route. This is forbidden for many reasons; 

1. You will quickly become cold without shelter. 
2. You will become an obstacle on the route.  
3. Almost everyone that passes you will think that you need help and will disturb you. 
4. You may inadvertently cause the race team to come searching for you if we see you stopped for an extended period of time somewhere that is NOT the Pit Stop. 
5. You may cause nuisance to local residents. 

GOT A SUPPORTER WHO WOULD LOVE TO JOIN THE CREW? 

We are currently on the look out for hi-vis heroes to volunteer over the RR:100 weekend in various roles and help build the incredible atmosphere #ratracers know and love! 

As a volunteer you will receive:  

• £50 cash travel contribution 

• £150 event credit or a Rat Race kit bundle 

• A crew Rat Rag  

• Access to hot drinks/snacks/food 

• A fun day out! 

AVAILABLE SHIFTS 

You can sign up to any available shift here and the Rat Race team will be in touch ahead of the event to answer any questions you may have and provide your briefing docs. You can also contact the volunteer team on staffing@ratrace.com if you have any questions ahead of signing up! 

The transfer deadline is 23rd June 2027. You can find more information on our transfer policy HERE and submit a request via your RR account. We are unable to process any transfer requests or make any exceptions after the deadline has passed.