The thrilling city-wide action-packed Rat Race Urban Adventure Series returns to the capital
Edinburgh is gearing up for some high-octane urban adventure again this summer as the action-packed Rat Race Urban Adventure Series returns to the capital on 15 and 16 July.
Locals, visitors, amateur sports enthusiasts and experienced adventure racers will compete side by side to ‘beat the streets’ by navigating the urban jungle on mountain bike, kayak, foot, rope and even the mighty space hopper!
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Having experienced huge popularity in its two year history, organisers of the Edinburgh Rat Race are expecting a record number of team entries this year with upwards of 700 adventurers taking part.
Supported once again by EventScotland, the City of Edinburgh Council and VisitScotland, the event will embrace the whole city in a sporting spectacular.
Jim Mee of Detail Events Ltd, who invented the Rat Race in Edinburgh in 2004, says that the events are aimed at providing extreme challenges for all levels of adventurers.
He said: “Our races are not purely the domain of the seasoned athletes. The response from the novice teams was incredible in 2004 and 2005 and we hope this will continue.”
This year the challenges will remain as eclectic as ever and will not only take advantage of the stunning architecture, labyrinthine streets and the city’s close affinity with rugged terrain but also demand both a head for heights and a good level of fitness.
2005’s athletes found themselves urban coasteering, disappearing underground into the belly of the Old Town, abseiling from the roof of Murrayfield Stadium and down Salisbury Crags, kayaking in the Forth estuary, navigating their way through crowded shopping centres and free running across city landmarks!
Rat Racers this year will also face all manner of surreal challenges that use structures, office blocks, tunnels and parklands right across the city.
The specific routes of the Edinburgh race are kept confidential until the event starts, as navigation and orienteering are key elements of the event.
Locals and visitors alike are welcome to come and watch the action in Edinburgh’s city centre. From 15 to 16 July, the Adventure Village, Princes Street Gardens, will be the hub for competitors and ‘armchair participants’.