WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE STAND FOR
MEET THE TEAM
We’re a small team based in Yorkshire. We love a challenge and our mantra is that if folks like us can complete our events, you can too.
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JIM // Managing Director
In 2003 Jim was sat on the side of a mountain in Peru, 25 years old, scribbling furiously
into his My Little Pony notebook about an idea he had for an adventure events company.
He could never have imagined that this tiny spark would ignite a global tour de force that would bring extraordinary adventures to everyday people. With unrivalled experience in the industry, Jim is studying for his PhD in Event Management, has personally delivered in excess of 500 stand-alone events and has led expeditions on 6 continents. If you become a Rat Race Test Pilot you’ll see him on the ground taking part in a majority of those trips and if you sign up to one of our Bucket List adventures he’ll be heading up the team that will be taking care of you every step of the way, or beavering away somewhere in the background.
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FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Do I really have to choose?
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Malt loaf
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ROB // Freelance Race Director
You’ll often find him standing in front of you in the start corral shouting instructions through a megaphone, helping get you a cup of tea at a Pit Stop and clapping you over the finish line when it’s all over. He’s here, there and everywhere! The experienced hands that control the well-oiled machine, he is at the top of his game and you wouldn’t want anyone else running the show.
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FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Mongol 100
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Skittles
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DANNII // Commercial Director
She keeps the ship sailing, crunches numbers and runs the HQ in Thirsk. As head of the marketing team, she is creative ringleader of everything you see and the reason you’ll find yourself stood on a Rat Race startline somewhere around the world.
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FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Race to the Wreck
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Biltong
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ABBI // Head of Expeditions
Our very own wonderwoman. Abbi is a highly trained, experienced Expeditions Manager with more than 10 years of exploring under her belt. She leads our small group trips around the world and if you’ve signed up to a journey that tips the mercury below zero she’s guaranteed to be standing right there next to you. She LOVES the cold stuff.
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FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Mongol 100
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Tunnocks Caramel Wafers
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JAMES // Project manager
Our multi-lingual running machine! Our latest Project Manager comes from an established events background and has a keen eye for detail and customer care. He is our man on the ground for many of our UK based events and anything that involves LOTS of running, so if you’re taking part in an event on our fair island there’s a good chance you’ll be seeing his smiling face at the start line! His knowledge on how to get prepped and keep yourself ticking over on multi-day running adventures is second to none which means you are in the perfect hands for getting the most out of your Rat Race adventure. Which is a good job because he is the pack leader for our incredible 35 day Run Britannia 1000 mile epic! If you’ve got a question about running or training, James is the man to help you and he can do that in 4 different languages!
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ANDRAS // Production Manager
The muscle behind what you see on the ground. Andras is responsible for packing all the kit out of the warehouse and getting it to where it needs to be…then putting it altogether! You’ll often find him behind the scenes, wielding a sledgehammer and ensuring that everything is where it needs to be.
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FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Ultra Tour of Arran
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Pork Scratchings
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LAURA // Communications Manager
The queen of social media, Laura is behind all the messaging and communications you see from Rat Race. Whether that’s a new awesome picture on Instagram or our latest promotional film on Facebook, she curates our feed to ensure that you are inspired to take on your next adventure. You’ll find her at all the UK events and a good bunch of the international ones, she’s the woman who pops up on the course with her phone in hand ready to make you insta-famous.
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FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Scotland Coast to Coast
OLIVIA // Events Administrator
We often wonder how we lived at Rat Race in the time before Olivia. She is the ULTIMATE woman with a tick list and keeps us all on track, elevating our slick processes to a whole new level with her unbelievable admin skills. If you’re on an international trip you will almost certainly come across her in your pre-event comms, she’s the one chasing you for insurance documents, asking you what you want for breakfast and making sure you have everything you need before taking on one our huge adventures. A lover of all things outdoors (as long as it doesn’t involve camping and not being able to wash your hair...) you’ll find her in Registration at our UK events and at the airport greeting you on many of our international trips.
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BRYDIE // Customer Service Manager
Brydie is an aspiring ultra runner who was first introduced to Rat Race through our awesome Test Pilot program. She’s an integral part of the team that delivers our excellent RR customer experience, you’ll interact with her if you’ve signed up as a Test Pilot or if you’ve got a question about an upcoming event.
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FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Ultra Tour of Arran
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Peanut butter and jam on toast
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HALINA // Accountant
Arguably the most important person at HQ! She pays the bills and keeps us all in line to ensure that quality is never sacrificed. She also reigns us in when our brainstorming takes us just a bit too far… she is the sensible, rational head of Rat Race. The exact kind of person you want in charge of the finances. She's also very camera shy!
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FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: City to Sea Miami
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Iced Finger
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ALAN // Store Manager
We have a bespoke range of Rat Race kit that has been designed with our #ratracers in mind. Alan is a keen runner who creates, designs, tests and manages all aspects of that kit. From choosing the next delectable Pit Stop Bar flavour, sampling materials, stress-testing our latest running pack, to packing the parcels that arrive at your door ready for your next adventure. He is the brains behind the whole store operation.
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FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Iceland Coast to Coast
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Cashew nuts
RAT RACE EVENT AND TRIP FORMATS ARE DESIGNED TO BE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY TOUGH, BUT THESE ARE NOT WHAT WE WOULD CALL ‘SUFFERFESTS’.
Our challenges can certainly be very hard, but they are all designed to be achievable.
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Critically, we are all about completion. We want people to succeed in the challenges we create. We have never been into elite sport and we do not come from that background. The adventure unfolds from there and that is what we are all about. Of course, when we are going to the type of magnificent locations that we go to, we also think you’ll want some time to take in the scenery too.
IT IS AS MUCH ABOUT THE DESTINATION FOR US AS IT IS ABOUT THE CHALLENGE.
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WE GO WHERE OTHERS DON’T AND WE DO EVENTS THAT OTHERS WON’T
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We dare to be different and we are truly audacious with our adventures. You won’t find a trekking trip up Kilimanjaro on our site but you will find some trips to places you have almost certainly never heard of. We pack in fantastic start-line venues, awesome icons and superlative travel destinations on and off the beaten track.
WE'RE JUST
LIKE YOU!
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We are not Special Forces soldiers, ex-Olympians or all-round action-heroes. We’re a team of regular girls and guys who have jobs, kids, real-world stuff going on and a normal amount of holiday-time. We love a challenge and our mantra is that if folks like us can complete our events, you can too. So we roll our sleeves up and we have a pop at stuff.
WE'VE BEEN AROUND
THE BLOCK
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We have operated over 500 events since we began in 2004, catering to over 1 million people and putting on events that have spanned the Globe from central London to Outer Mongolia. We practise what we preach, too – you will frequently see the office crew and Rat Race’s Founder, Jim, on the start line of our challenges, recce-ing new concepts or elbow-deep in a portable toilet that needs unblocking!
WE CARE ABOUT LOOKING AFTER THE PLANET
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It’s easy to say we’re doing our bit. Most people say that these days, but we do it all and we are proud of our creds! From compostable cups, recycling facilities and a ban on single-use plastic bottles at our events, to getting our garments and medals locally manufactured to order reducing waste, miles and making a proper commitment to longer-term environmental improvements.