In an adventure race which stipulates that competitors must pack a first aid
kit containing bandages and two types of painkiller, I never thought that
the chronology of the Industrial Revolution — never my strongest subject —
would be an issue.
Yet as we struggled to catch our breath in a queue of runners outside Bristol
Temple Meads railway station, a heavily whiskered, cigar- wielding Brunel
impersonator quizzed us on engineering history. The Rat Race prides itself
on surprises like that.
The Bristol Rat Race, held last month, was the first of three adventure
weekends planned for this summer: the second begins today in Edinburgh and
the third is in Manchester on August 5 and 6. We were one of 150 teams of
three who had signed up for one of two race divisions: rookie or adventure.
Both divisions competed on the Saturday, while the particular torture of
Sunday’s 50-mile course was reserved for the adventure racers. Misplaced
machismo in our team inspired us to sign up for the full works: adventure.
It all began mid-afternoon on the Saturday. As a marshal attached to our arms
the electronic wristbands that would log our progress, he explained
gleefully that they were attached loosely because “by tomorrow your wrists
will have swelled with all the exercise you’ll have done”. Armed with a map
and some grid references, our aim was to reach as many marked checkpoints as
possible in three hours. The organisers estimated that most teams would
cover at least ten miles on the first evening. It was similar to
orienteering, except in orienteering people with stern expressions dash
purposefully about in the woods looking for checkpoints.
The Rat Race is a bit different. Started in Edinburgh in 2004 by the
mountaineer Jim Mee, its aim is to take adventure sports “from the mountains
and wilderness to where most people are: the city centres”. Competitors, who
range in age from their twenties to fifties, were warned to expect
abseiling, kayaking and climbing, as well as running and cycling. When we
reached a grid reference, we did not simply have to check in as in
orienteering; most of the time we also had to perform a challenge, such as a
100m (330ft) bounce on a Space Hopper (a giant rubber ball which you sit on,
grasping the handles and bounce along) or a complete quiz.
So, after successfully naming Brunel’s great engineering projects, some of
which — the SS Great Britain and Clifton suspension bridge —
would later feature in our course, we navigated to our next task: performing
“free-running” style gymnastics on railings and lamp posts. After racing up
to the hills overlooking the city centre, we practised archery. On the way
down, we relived our youth with a Space Hopper race. Each successfully
completed task helped our final ranking.
For three hours in the fading light of a beautiful summer’s evening we jogged
around the city, asking directions from bemused passers-by before happening
on little islands of Rat Race silliness. Yet as we staggered happily past
the finish line, I worried about what was still to come. Sunday would be
much more serious.
Going to bed, aching and dehydrated, I hoped that the Rat Race’s inclusive
philosophy would prove to be more than just words. Its website claims that
the race is as “accessible for the amateur as it is challenging for the
pros”, with shortcuts to make sure that everyone finishes. The rules state
that teams must stay together and contain at least one female.
Getting out of bed for the 7.30am start, and feeling even achier, the
shortcuts appealed. Though our team was relatively young — all in our
mid-twenties — other competitors seemed fitter.
By midday my lack of training was showing. We were still less than halfway
through and my calves felt as if they were being continually head-butted by
a team of midgets.
That morning we had run three miles around Bristol’s docklands, then struggled
on to bikes to cycle 20 miles to the seaside town of Clevedon. It’s all very
well to talk about shortcuts but after arriving in Clevedon we still had to
get back to Bristol somehow. We also had to complete Clevedon’s assigned
task: wading 60m through a large, cold marine pool with our rucksacks on our
heads.
After removing the seaweed and putting our backpacks back on, we tucked in to
a large battered sausage and chips. My legs hurt a lot.
“Is it downhill on the way back?” I asked a Rat Race marshal hopefully. “Well,
we’re at sea level here,” he replied with a smirk, pointing to the grey
water of the Bristol Channel, “so that seems unlikely.”
The journey back was hard. But despite the pain there was always something to
distract us, at least momentarily, from our legs. After cycling five miles
out of Clevedon along a long featureless dyke we were rewarded with a
breakneck downhill mountain bike course, bouncing down a steep woodland
trail. And after returning to Bristol city centre, almost 11 hours after we
started, we were kept busy climbing up cargo nets to abseil off dockside
buildings.
With all the excitement it was hard to remember that were were supposed to be
taking part in a competition. I have little doubt that the top teams were
out to win — since they finished a good four hours ahead of us, they must
have been — but we were never racing against them. We were with the sort of
people who dismounted when the hill became too steep and who stopped for a
chat when they got lost. Fit? Yes. But fanatical? No.
I didn’t stay for the after-event party. After all that exercise my body would
not have been able to cope with the drinking required to appreciate a
pirate-themed fancy dress extravaganza. This also meant that I missed out on
the prize ceremony. Yet that feels like no bad thing. For me it was always
about the race itself rather than the final position. Of course, given that
we finished 113th out of 150 teams, I would say that, wouldn’t I?
Are you up for the challenge?
Entry There are places available for the Manchester Rat Race,
August 5-6. To be eligible for the competition teams must contain at least
one woman and enter in one of two classes: rookie or adventure. Rookie teams
compete only on the Saturday.
Rookie competitors can also enter right up until the last minute at a cost of
£25 per person. The adventure class, £80 per person, has to be booked by
July 24.
Fitness The only requirement is a reasonable level of
fitness. Rookie competitors can do as little as they want, but the adventure
race has a minimum of 80km (50 miles) cycling, plus running and other
activities.
Equipment Adventure racers need a helmet, climbing harness
and mountain bike, all of which can be hired from the organisers.
Details Visit www.ratraceadventure.com or call 0845 0094365.
