A TOURING 100 MILE ULTRAMARATHON FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T DO 100 MILE ULTRAMARATHONS
Have you always wanted to tick off a 100 mile ultramarathon but you've found them too strict, too intimidating or just a little bit too serious. Then we have the perfect adventure for you. The Rat Race 100 is a touring ultramarathon, meaning the location will change each year but the idea remains the same. A 100 miler you can complete at 2.5mph, fully waymarked, fully supported and fully designed for anybody to come and have a go at. There's no qualifying times required and no barrier to entry apart from your willingness to commit yourself to conquering this bucket list distance. We'll see you on the startline.
DISTANCE:
100 MILES (161 KM) ON FOOT
+4853FT ELEVATION
LOCATION:
NORTHUMBERLAND
/SCOTLAND
DURATION:
48 HOURS
DIFFICULTY RATING: CAN I DO THIS?
This event is designed to be completed at 2.5mph and is a fully supported 100 mile ultramarathon.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
WAYMARKED AND SUPPORTED
Fully waymarked route with Pit Stop support en route and designated sleep stations.
TRANSFER POLICY
Flexible transfer policy up to 1 month before the event.
EXTRAS
Includes bespoke Rat Race 100 rag and the biggest medal in our UK series.
SAFETY
Professional 4x4 support vehicles, safety staff, medical and welfare. Audited and accredited to BS8848 expedition safety standard.
RAISE £750 FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK AND RECEIVE A REFUND OF YOUR ENTRY FEE
SET UP YOUR JUST GIVING PAGE OR LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CHARITY PARTNER
MORE INFORMATION:
We've been in the business of putting on great, beginner friendly ultramarathons since 2012, our long established and much loved classic adventure: The Wall is our heritage ultramarathon and continues to go from strength to strength. Fully waymarked, fully supported and stocked with more pork pies than a hungry butchers it is designed to be completed at 3mph and boasts a 90% completion rate year on year.
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Every year in June we see the disbelief when people cross that line and realise they've just completed 70 miles in one go. Then once the pain has subsided and people can use the stairs again, the question on their lips is often - what's next?
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When you've ticked off 70 miles the next logical distance for those who want to go further is the heralded 100 miles, a bucket list achievement for many. Strict cut-offs, strict rules, qualifying times, map reading skills and the need to prove your running history is a barrier to signing up for many 100 milers for those who just simply want to have a crack at this distance and see how they fair. So we designed one that anyone can enter, with a moving completion pace of just 2.5mph making it accessible to walkers and runners alike. We've built in the same fantastic level of support we have at The Wall and supersized it for another 30 miles. You don't need to navigate, you just follow our arrows. We'll move bags for you, allow support runners at certain locations and help get you back to the car park at Bamburgh when it's all over. This is the 100 miler for people who don't do 100 milers.
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The best bit? We're taking our concept on tour! Each year the Rat Race 100 will move to a brand new location, this means you can come on tour with us and each edition of this fantastic event is a special edition. In 2025 we're going Castle to Castle in a coastal rollercoaster route that has been designed to showcase the beauty of this stunning northern coastline.
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2025 Start location: Bamburgh Castle 19th July 07:00
2025 Finish location: Edinburgh Castle
The nature of an adventure is that sometimes, the uncertain becomes certain! That is all part of the adventure. Whilst we will always strive to pull off ‘Plan A,’ it may well be that for any one of a number of reasons, we cannot do so and we ned to wheel put Plan B, C or D. We do line up contingencies for many eventualities of course. But 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. Ultimately our skill and judgement in organising such events is part of why you are entering, so we must be able to exercise this on your behalf where we deem it necessary. If we do have to make a route change, we will strive to inform you in good time (if that is possible). Usually, these unforeseen changes simply add to the flavour of proceedings and provide for a good story to tell at day’s end!
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.
Rat Race require you to be over 18 on the day of Registration for this adventure.
At Rat Race we are determined to get you on the start line even when life throws up its own obstacles! 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, whether that be the same event a year later or a completely new adventure! Transfers must be requested within the qualifying transfer window to be accepted and processed. For Rat Race 100 this is 1 calendar month before the date of the scheduled on the day Event Registration. Credit vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Credit voucher are exempt from the transfer process. To find out more information and how to submit a request, view of full transfer policy HERE.
The confirmed kit list will be sent to you before the event within the Essential Event Information an indicative kit list is published on the website.
You don't have to run for charity, but if you choose to you are more than welcome to fundraise for any cause close to your heart.. If you choose to run for our partner charity Children with Cancer UK and raise the target amount for this event per person (£750), you can receive a refund of your entry fee up to the amount of £300.
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Yes, you can. Volunteer places will open in September 2025. 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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Registration is on Friday 18th July 2pm - 10pm at Bamburgh Pavillion (right next to the castle!) local parking is available nearby. Your bib number and bag tags will posted to you in advance (UK residents) International participants will need to collect theirs from Registration. You will need to bring your mandatory kit with you to be checked to Registration and to pick up your tracker from Open Tracking. More information on getting to the castle can be found here
Sorry we cannot accommodate dogs on the route.
The Rat Race 100 is designed to be completed at a 2.5mph moving pace and is designed for walkers and runners to take part - this factors in 8 hours of stopping/strategy sleeping along the way in the 48 hour time limit. There are 8 Pit Stops on the route with designated places after 60 miles that you can sleep.
There is no requirement to be able to self navigate on this course, we will waymark the entire 100 miles with our bright orange arrows. We will also have marshals in place at key locations and roving event vehicles. No maps, no compasses, no gpx files to follow!
The nature of the Rat Race 100 is that it is a one way journey and therefore you have to plan your logistics a bit if you do not have supporters with you. We will operate an event car park in Bamburgh where you can park your car from the morning of the 19th July until the afternoon of the 22nd July. We will be operating post-event bus transfers back to this car park from Edinburgh city centre. Spaces are limited so make sure you book your seat on the bus if you need to use this service.
We will collect you via the Sweeper vehicle and move you forwards on the course. We are unable to transport you backwards i.e back to the start.
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MANDATORY KIT LIST
Some of the kit listed is to help you have a safe experience and have the best chance of finishing. 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 to not be carrying the requisite items.
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Running shoes or walking boots. The course is 50/50 road/trail.
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Hydration bladder or bottles. A 2L carrying capacity is required.
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Basic first aid kit containing a triangular or conformable roller bandage, assorted adhesive dressings including 1 at least 100mm x 100mm. Gauze or gauze bandage and paracetamol.
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Spare food to be carried with you
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Survival bag, NOT blanket
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Whistle
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Reusable cup suitable for hot drinks at Pit Stops
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Insulating mid layer merino or synthetic similar
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Full waterproof body cover, long sleeve jacket and full length trousers with taped seams
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Additional full length leg cover if you are running in shorts (eg a pair of leggings, if you are wearing leggings you do not need to carry a second pair)
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Fully charged phone
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Method of payment (card/cash/apple pay)
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Tracker (supplied)
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Hat or buff and a pair of gloves
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Headtorch
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Rear red light or reflective/hi-vis patch (10cm x 2cm minimum)
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Spare batteries for your headtorch or back up light source
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OPTIONAL SLEEP KIT - we will transport your sleep kit to a designated sleep station
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Sleeping bag
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Roll mat
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Eye mask/earplugs
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RECOMMENDED KIT
This kit is not mandatory but more 'common sense' additions that we recommend to give you the very best chance of reaching that bridge at the end!
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Suncream/sunglasses
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Blister treatment kit. Our paramedics will prioritise live cases and they are not a foot care service, we recommend that you know how to treat your feet if hot spots and blisters do occur and that you are self contained.
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Anti-chafe lubricant
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Spare socks
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Trekking poles – totally optional but helpful if you are a walker
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Headphones - when the going gets tough the tough listen to music! Please ensure these are not noise cancelling and that you can hear the traffic and people around you.
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Toothbrush/toothpaste to freshen up your mouth
EVENT T-SHIRT
Pre-order your Rat Race 100 2025 event tech t-shirt to collect at event registration. Unisex and female fit available.
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£25 per t-shirt
CLICK HERE TO BUY A 2025 EVENT T-SHIRT
POST EVENT BUS TRANSFER
Book a seat on the bus from Edinburgh City Centre (21st or 22nd July) to Bamburgh.
Includes parking for one car in Bamburgh.
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£60 per person
4 days parking and coach transfer
CLICK HERE TO BUY A BUS TICKET
SUPPORTER PARKING
Car park pass for Supporters to park in our startline event car park 19th July only.
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£5 per car
CLICK HERE TO BUY A SUPPORTER CAR PARKING PASS
TRAINING
RAT RACE 100 TRAINING PROGRAMME COMING SOON
PAY IN INSTALMENTS FOR 2025
£35.33
/ MONTH
SIGN UP TODAY
A booking fee of 5.99% will be added to all payments. Price shown is solo entry price per month when using the instalment plan.
Please note discount promocodes are not valid for use on a Rat Race 100 entry.
SOLO ENTRY 2025
£300
/ TOTAL PER PERSON
SIGN UP TODAY
All 2025 entries include a £10 donation to our charity partner Children with Cancer UK
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 February, 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.
SUPPORT TEAM
We understand that you may have people attending the event who wish to support you throughout your adventure. We will issue detailed guidance 2 months before the event but some general rules for your interaction with your supporters are detailed below. A support team is not necessary to take part in the Rat Race 100.
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Supporters and any planned support runners must be self contained in their own vehicle and you cannot have more than one designated support vehicle.
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Supporters can not access event resources such as Pit Stop food, medics, toilets, sleep stations. ​
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Supporters may not access Pit Stop 1 and 4. They can interact with you at all other Pit Stop locations.​
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Support runners may join you from PS5 and run with you as much as you require until Pit Stop 8. Support runners must join and leave the course at Pit Stop locations only.
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Support runners should plan to carry the mandatory kit, especially if they are running through the night.
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Support runners should be confident, self supported and not rely on any event support or resources.
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You may only have one support runner with you at any time on the course.​
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Supporters should not drive any of the route, the A1 mirrors the route and supporters should plan to travel on this road and drive into the Pit Stop locations from it.
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RAISE AT LEAST £750 (EXCLUDING GIFT AID) FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK AND GET YOUR ENTRY FEE ONLY (UP TO £300) REFUNDED!
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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 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 £750, 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
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PIT STOPS AT THE RAT RACE 100
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WE’RE FIRM BELIEVERS THAT A GOOD FEED IS THE KEY TO RUNNING ULTRAMARATHONS, SO OUR PIT STOPS AT THE RAT RACE 100 ARE SOMETHING SPECIAL INDEED! CHECK OUT WHAT’LL BE WAITING FOR YOU AT EACH OF THE STOPS…
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‘Pit Stop’ is the name for a service area where the event organisers, support vehicles, and runners all meet up. Supporters and your support team can interact with you at designated Pit Stops.​
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At the Rat Race 100 we will operate 8 pit stops where participants showing their number can access food, water, toilets and medical provision. Each Pit Stop will have a selection of the following:
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Water
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Juice
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Cola
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Salty snacks
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Hot food - soup or a simple meal
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Porridge pots
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Sandwiches, pastries, cake, savoury baked goods
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A fruit option
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Sweets
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Hot drinks .
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Some Pit Stops will be enhanced with a wider selection of food available and some will be more simple and designed for you to check in and spend minimal time at.
Our Pit Stops are there to help supplement any personal sports nutrition plan you may have. If you have any special dietary requirements then please plan for this and pack your kit accordingly. We have a Bag Drop system to ensure you have supplies that suit you. Rat Race aim to offer Pit Stop snacks that are tasty and functional for as broad a mix of needs as possible. We have options available that are suitable for vegetarian and vegans and availability of this will depend on demand. If peanuts are served these will be in individual portion bags to reduce the chance of contamination but Rat Race cannot guarantee that the food does not contain contamination from allergens such as nuts or gluten in its preparation or serving.
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Please take care when consuming food with dirty hands. Please please please take care with litter and help us in our aim of leaving our venues and routes tidier then we find them.
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RAT RACE 100 PIT STOPS
All distances are approximate and subject to change
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Pit Stop 1 10 miles
Pit Stop 2 22 miles
Pit Stop 3 33 miles
Pit Stop 4 47 miles
Pit Stop 5 60 miles
Pit Stop 6 73 miles
Pit Stop 7 82 miles
Pit Stop 8 92 miles
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RAT RACE 100 GUIDE TIMES AND CUT OFFS
Cut offs are planned for a 2.5mph completion pace and are in place from PS5. Timings for PS1 - 4 are guide times and the latest you should aim to leave this Pit Stop. You will not be cut off at PS 1 - 4.
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19/07 Pit Stop 1 11:15
19/07 Pit Stop 2 16:15
19/07 Pit Stop 3 21:15
20/07 Pit Stop 4 04:30
20/07 Pit Stop 5 13:00
20/07 Pit Stop 6 19:00
20/07 Pit Stop 7 23:15
21/07 Pit Stop 8 03:45
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Pit Stops and Cut offs are not 100% confirmed and will be confirmed by September 2024. The above information is indicative of pace and timings. Cut offs are applied to you departing a Pit Stop, not your arrival time.
SLEEP STATIONS AND BAG DROPS AT THE RAT RACE 100
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We will move 4 bags for you at the Rat Race 100. They are planned as:
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1 Sleep Station Bag
You will choose in advance your designated sleep station, you can choose between:
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Pit Stop 5 60 miles
Pit Stop 6 73 miles
Pit Stop 7 82 miles
This is only if you wish to factor in sleep to your 100 mile attempt you are not obliged to. We would recommend a power nap of no longer than 90 minutes - 3 hours max.
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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.
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Your Sleep Station bag should be a small backpack style bag containing no more than:
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sleeping bag
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small pillow
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rollmat
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eyemask/earplugs
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2. Dunbar Drop Bag
This will go to Pit Stop 5 (60 miles) and can be up to 5kg and 15L in size. Recommended items for here would be spare clothes, a change of shoes, spare socks, a top up of snacks and nutrition. Once you are finished with this bag we will transport it to the finish for you.
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3. 82 Mile Drop Bag
This will go to Pit Stop 7 and can be up to 5kg and 15L in size. Recommended items for here would be spare clothes, a change of shoes, spare socks, a top up of snacks and nutrition. Maybe something to help push you through this last section! Once you are finished with this bag we will transport it to the finish for you.
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4. Finish line bag
This can be up to 70L and 15kg, we ask that these are duffel style vs hard suitcases please. This will go straight to the finish and it will be waiting for you when you cross this magnificent finishline!
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Supporters may bring you additional items to the Pit Stops. You are not obliged to use all of these drop bag options, they are just there if you need them.
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