JOIN US FOR THE LAST EVER
MAN VS MOUNTAIN
This legendary mountain adventure returns for a final outing in 2023. This journey starts at sea level in the stunning Caernarfon Castle and weaves its way to the summit of Snowdon and down the other side into Dinorwic Quarry where we’ve thrown in an array of action-packed obstacles, including the infamous Vertical Kilometre and Walk the Plank quarry jump.
2 SEPTEMBER / 2023
EVENT DATES:
DISTANCE:
22 MILES (35 KM) ON FOOT
LOCATION:
SNOWDONIA (ERYRI), WALES
DURATION:
1 DAY
DIFFICULTY RATING: CAN I DO THIS?
This adventure is for anyone with a good base level of running/hiking fitness.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
GUIDES AND SUPPORT
Fully waymarked route with Pit Stop support
EXTRAS
High quality eco wooden medal and Rat Rag
SAFETY
Professional 4x4 support vehicles, safety staff, mountain safety, medical and welfare. Audited and accredited to BS8848 expedition safety standard.
RAISE £500 AND GET UP TO £200 REFUNDED
SET UP YOUR JUST GIVING PAGE HERE OR FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CHARITY PARTNERSHIP HERE
MORE INFORMATION:
This legendary mountain adventure run starts at sea level in the stunning UNESCO Caernarfon Castle and weaves its way to the summit of Snowdon and down the other side. From there, you enter the old slate quarries of Dinorwic, where we’ve thrown in an array of exciting obstacles, including the infamous Vertical Kilometre, a kayak stage, a ‘walk-the-plank’ and an exhilarating water slide into Lake Padarn.
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For those who want to experience Wales’ highest mountain the Rat Race way, this one’s for you…
The date-range is set and the route is tried and tested. However, our challenges unfold in some of the most spectacular places on Earth. Sometimes we do have to change plans on account of weather or other unforeseen factors. If we do have to do so, you will be informed and usually, these unforeseen changes simply add to the flavour of proceedings and provide for a good story to tell at day’s end! That having been said, our route is likely to remain largely intact, regardless of any on-the-ground changes.
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Click ‘Buy Event Voucher’ and go through the sign-up process, you’ll then be issued with an event voucher which will automatically reserve you a place in the event you have chosen.
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Rat Race require you to be over 18 on the day of Registration for this adventure. If you wish to participate as a family group or with a responsible adult and you are 16+, we will consider applications on an individual basis. Please contact us if this is the case.
Getting to the start line is important and we are there to help you as best we can. However, if you feel on reflection that it is just not your time yet, we do have a transfer system that you can use to transfer out, receive Rat Race credit and come back again next year or do something else. Credit is typically valid for 12 months and there is a fee to be paid for transferring out in this way. We want to be really clear that this option is there for you if you need it, but it does have a deadline. View our full terms and conditions here.
The latest kit list will be sent to you before the event within the Essential Event Information Document.
Of course. If you run for Children with Cancer UK and raise the target amount for this event per person, we will refund your entry fee up to the amount of £2500. You are of course more than welcome to fundraise for any cause close to your heart.
Yes, you can. We welcome support on almost all of our events and if you do decide you want to come and work with us, we will make sure we look after you. Click here to find out more about volunteering for Rat Race.
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We’ve put together a fantastic new instalment plan that allows you to choose how many months you want to spread the cost of this brilliant adventure over. You can pay it off all in one go or spread it over as many months as you like, totally interest free. There is no credit check required to use this facility. When you sign up to the instalment plan Rat Race will then set up a reoccurring payment and your card will be debited on the same date each month. If there is an error with your payment you will receive reminders from Stripe, our payment provider, and also the Rat Race customer service team. After 3 attempts to contact you if the outstanding balance remains unpaid we will assume you wish to cancel your entry and will withdraw you from the event and you will not be eligible to enter our transfer process and no monies will be refunded.
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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.
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To check the full list of qualifying unforeseen circumstances that are protected please click here to view Refund Protect terms and conditions.
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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.
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By entering this event you agreed that you have entered in your own name (not nickname) and will bring photographic ID to event registration to prove your identity. If you cannot prove your identity at that time then you won’t be able to complete registration and therefore won’t be able to take part.
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No. Dogs will not be allowed to accompany runners. While many of us love dogs some runners and crew do not, and they complicate the event management. This event is not suitable for dogs for several reasons and would complicate the event support processes including medical rescue, our sweeper logistics, our pledges to farmers with livestock, hygiene where we are serving food, areas that are busy with traffic.
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You will carry your rucksack for the duration of the run route. At our event obstacles that result in full immersion there will be a option for you to remove your bag while completing the obstacle. Where there are wades there is the chance that slipping over could result in your bag getting submerged. We recommend you have all valuables and electronics stored in waterproof drybags. After all, if it rains as heavily as it can do in Snowdonia then your bag getting wet is inevitable.
This is a running event, not a swimming event, but you will certainly get wet, and when it is full immersion we will issue buoyancy aids and have water safety staff on standby. In order to complete the event fully, you must be able to swim. But all of the water sections are short and can be bypassed if you wish.
Good question. You need to be ready to do 20 miles on foot in the mountains. That means sturdy off-road footwear, some good waterproofs, gloves, headwear and plenty to eat and drink. The basic principle here is to dress comfortably, in gear that you know and trust. Spend some time on the hills and try some combinations. We will have some feed stations en route but you should also endeavour to carry fluids and food that suit you. Our feed stations are there to support you; but they won’t provide energy gels and the like, so if you have a favourite Scooby snack or race nutrition solution, you should pack that on your person.
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If you choose to stay in Llanberis we have a pre-bookable bus transfer to get you to the start line on Saturday morning. Our service will commence at 0630 and will run until all ticket holders are at the start line. Please note, space on this service is limited and once all tickets are gone, it will be sold out. The buses will depart from the Community Centre (LL55 4UR), which is also where the event will finish. The cost is £10 and can be booked here. For those in earlier waves, we will ensure you are on the first buses to leave. Bus ticket wristbands are collected from registration and will need to be worn to get access to the pre-event buses.
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If you’re staying in Caernarfon or if you have parked there, we will have a taxi shuttle service available from the finish line. Departing from Llanberis from 1400, taxi seats will be available to take you back to Caernarfon. These services will leave from the Community Centre (LL55 4UR). The cost will be a fixed £5/seat and will be payable on boarding the cab. If you want to book a full cab in advance
Registration is within the Finish & Event Village field next to Llanberis Community Centre. Registration is on the FRIDAY BEFORE THE EVENT ONLY, from approximately 2pm until approximately 10pm (final times will be confirmed). Saturday race day registration will not be possible. There is no car parking directly at the Event Village but there are several pay and display car parks nearby.
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Rat Race’s ethos has always been about inspiring folk to undertake challenges in awesome outdoor locations. Our Man Vs events are not formal race environments and there are no winners and losers and we do not award prizes for the fastest folk. We think of them as races with a small ‘r’. We use chip timing to record times and we publish these times alphabetical order for your information and comparison as we know everyone does their best and many want to see how their efforts compared to others. Rat Race totally appreciate the incredible commitment of those taking on the challenges we lay down and each participant is as important as the next regardless of how fast you can run.
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In delivering these unique Man Vs challenges we prioritise factors such as safety, camaraderie and environmental concerns. Respecting the wishes of landowners and environmental stakeholders with our route management and litter policies is vital in being able to bring folk together and have this common experience. In terms of safety we are often operating routings in exposed and remote locations and putting in place obstacle challenges that require attention to be given to the directing staff instructions, with completion not compulsory if a participant is not confident.
To reasonably balance all these factors, we emphasise that the event is not a formal race environment, rather it a challenge in the great outdoors where great folk come together with a common purpose. Caring for fellow competitors, litter control, closing gates and taking care on road crossings are what the event is about, rather than being the fastest around the course.
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Well, you should be prepared for a long day on your feet. Certainly you should be able to comfortably complete a half marathon and you should practise being in the mountains, whether that’s hiking, or running up them. BUT, this event is not designed solely for whippet-y fell runners. It is a unique proposition. Being way-marked (which means no map and compass required) this allows you to concentrate on the task at hand – which is covering the distance, looking after your nutrition and making sure you are comfortable – good footwear and the right clothing to put on if the weather turns a bit iffy. This is a step-up for 10k road runners but it’s achievable and is built to be so.
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At least 22 miles. The exact distance will be announced as we reveal more of the route, but you should be prepared for no less than 22 miles with significant ascent (well, from sea level to the summit of Snowdon for starters!), some steep terrain and some varied mountain weather. This is a full day’s outing on rugged ground.
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Race entry includes a finishers medal and a collectable Rat Rag. ​
This kit list is from our 2022 event - you will be notified of any changes to this list ahead of the event you have signed up for.
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SUBJECT TO SMALL CHANGES DEPENDING ON WEATHER CONDITIONS.
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MANDATORY KIT
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Small Rucksack, Bum Bag or Ultra-Running Pocket Vest or other appropriate method of carrying your kit – BUY HERE
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Running Shoes: Trail Shoes are recommended.
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Hydration Bladder or Bottle(s) with a minimum 1000ml capacity: We will likely increase if the forecast is hot and dry – BUY HERE
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Food – Min 400kcal (about 4 gels): Always plan to have excess. This is a Minimum with a capital M and our meaning here is that you have this fuel on you as a minimum AT ALL TIMES. i.e. you always have 4 gels (or equivalent) as Emergency Supplies. Please take enough food to be on the mountain, possibly in poor conditions, for up to 8 hours. Ensure you have enough salt and calories in your food. Click here to buy our Pit Stop Bars.
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Race Number (Collected at Registration)
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Waterproof Jacket with TAPED SEAMS as a minimum standard. See image below for an example of taped seams. BUY HERE
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Hat (a Rat Rag or buff is OK) and gloves (lightweight running gloves are OK) – BUY HERE
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Survival Bag: Essential for unplanned stops – BUY ONE HERE
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Basic First Aid Kit (buy here) containing at least:
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A triangular or conformable roller bandage
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Assorted adhesive dressings
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Separate sterile absorbent material (e.g. gauze or gauze bandage) suitable for compressing bleeding wounds
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Whistle: Effective for getting attention in an emergency – BUY ONE HERE
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Fully charged Mobile Phone: Good for repatriations at the busy finish.
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Money (£10): Good for the finish area.
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Full Leg Cover
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Timing Chip: Remember this must be returned. PLEASE NOTE: In order to work effectively the timing chip must be worn outside all layers of clothing so it is easily exposed to the timing equipment. Do not cover it with a Rat Rag or similar or hide it in your bag, it just won’t work if you do. It is very robust and doesn’t need your protection but it can’t transmit through layers of, most likely, wet clothing.
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Printed Essential Event Information and medical contact numbers. (This will be provided at Registration)
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RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL KIT:
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Technical Tee and/or a quality base layer
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Full Waterproof leg cover with taped-seams (This item may be upgraded to mandatory closer to the event date)
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Additional upper body thermal layer
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Sun screen
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Sun glasses
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Blister treatment kit
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Some form of identification
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IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES FOR THE EVENT THIS WILL BE COMMUNICATED IN THE PRE-EVENT DOCUMENTATION
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Note: Electronics will get submerged if you take them into the activity zone in Dinorwig quarry. Have a plan for any watches, phones, media players, phones, cameras, etc, or use the bag drop and put them all in your bag. This bag drop will be marshalled but items are left at your own risk. Consider removing jewellery for the activities and do not wear anything around your neck in the activity zone.
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Once we know you have the kit we will let you register. On race day there will be random kit checks taking place before you are allowed into the start corral. Lead runners will be kit checked at the finish line too. DO NOT SKIMP WITH YOUR KIT. RESPECT THE MOUNTAIN.
Example of taped seams
TRAINING
MAN VS MOUNTAIN TRAINING PROGRAMME
Completing a challenge is something many people can do, but requires a certain level of fitness, a degree of training experience, and mental toughness. They key to reaching the finish line is having arrived at the start line well prepared, and this begins months before, with some simple steps.
YOUR ENTRY FEE INCLUDES THE USE OF A GPS TRACKER FOR THE DURATION OF THE EVENT.
PAY IN INSTALMENTS
N/A
/ MONTH
SIGN UP TODAY
INTEREST FREE!
SOLO ENTRY
£200
/ TOTAL PER PERSON
SIGN UP TODAY
PAIR ENTRY
SAVE £10
TEAM 5+ ENTRY
SAVE £20
All prices are in GBP. An admin fee of 5.99% will be added to all payments. Discounts for pairs and teams are per person.
NEXT PRICE RISE 1ST AUGUST
PAY MONTHLY INTEREST FREE!
ENTER NOW AND SPREAD THE COST INTEREST FREE WITH OUR INSTALMENT PLAN
We’ve put together a fantastic new instalment plan that allows you to choose how many months you want to spread the cost of this brilliant adventure over. You can pay it off all in one go or spread it over as many months as you like, totally interest free*. The payments will be split equally allowing you to budget and plan for this stunning journey. All payments to be made before June, the year of the event.
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*When you sign up to the instalment plan Rat Race will then set up a reoccurring payment and your card will be debited on the same date each month. If there is an error with your payment you will receive reminders from Stripe, our payment provider, and also the Rat Race customer service team. After 3 attempts to contact you if the outstanding balance remains unpaid we will assume you wish to cancel your entry and will withdraw you from the event and you will not be eligible to enter our transfer process and no monies will be refunded.
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Please see here for full terms and conditions and our cancellation policy.
PROTECT YOUR NON-REFUNDABLE BOOKING WITH REFUND PROTECT
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.
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To check the full list of qualifying unforeseen circumstances that are protected please click here to view Refund Protect terms and conditions.
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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.
COMPLETED THIS EVENT?
We'd love to know what you thought of it! If you would like to write a short review or something a bit longer like one of our Trip Reports, please email us at events@ratrace.com with your experience.
RAISE £250 AND RECEIVE A RAT RACE DUFFEL BAG WORTH £60 OR RAISE AT LEAST £500 (EXCLUDING GIFT AID) FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK AND GET A REFUND OF YOUR ENTRY FEE ONLY (UP TO £200).*
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Our longstanding partnership with Children with Cancer UK gives #ratracers the opportunity to raise much needed funds for this great cause in exchange for a refund of their entry fee. So far our #ratracers have raised over £2million for Children with Cancer UK and we would love for you to join the team to help us chase down that £3million target!
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The funds you raise will be invested into vital specialist research to improve survival rates in children and young people and help more of them ring the end of treatment bell.
All you need to do is set up a Just Giving page here and start your fundraising! You will have until 1 month after the event date to hit your target and then send us the link to your page which will allow us to process your refund. Refunds will be made 2 – 3 months after the event completion date.
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Refunds are not mandatory you are welcome to opt-out of receiving a refund. Should participants opt-out their refund will instead be used by Children with Cancer UK to help fund their research.
If you choose to support Children with Cancer UK and raise at least £250, you will also receive:
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A Children with Cancer UK fundraising and training pack
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Regular Children with Cancer UK updates
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A dedicated point of contact at the charity
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A technical Children with Cancer UK t-shirt to wear with pride
For more information on Children with Cancer UK please visit www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk.
Alternatively please contact the Sports Team on 020 7430 7788 or email sports@childrenwithcancer.org.uk.
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Children with Cancer UK is a registered national charity (no. 298405)
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*Eligible fundraisers will receive one fundraising incentive only. Participants raising £250 – £499 will receive the Rat Race duffel bag. Those who manage to raise £500 or more will receive a refund of their entry fee only.
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