News
Hello Edinburgh Rat Fans
2 July 2008
The event is close. We can feel the action oozing from the beating heart of Auld Reekie. Will you dare to join us as we prepare to ratify Edinburgh once more…? The first and original Rat Race will once again pack a mighty punch and you are invited to run amok with us across the Capital…
1) Under three weeks to go – Race Director’s preview and entries still open
2) Raise Funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust
3) A great opportunity to brush out the cobwebs this weekend!
4) Event Village
5) Harness / Helmet Hire
6) Skills Refresher Sessions
7) Race Crew
8) Prize-giving Party
9) Macmillan Zip Wire
1) Under three weeks to go – Race Director’s preview and entries still open
With just under 3 weeks to go we thought we would give you a sneak preview of what is in store. If your mates are still umming and arhing and you really want them to get in on the action, forward them this mail and show them what they are missing. Entries are still open at www.ratraceadventure.com. We can't actually tell you much about 
the course – yet. It's secret, as you know. But it's good. Oh yes it's a cracker. So maybe we'll just drop you a few cryptic clues and see how you get along with them. So, on 19th and 20th July Edinburgh is once more transformed into an urban adventure playground and hundreds of you will convene on Princes Street Gardens to take part. Here are some words of wisdom from our wily Edinburgh planner and Race Director John Laughlin:
- This year's route will be slightly longer but faster than last year's route
- It will definitely involve some water crossings
- Semi-slick or fast rolling tyres are a good idea
- You will see Edinburgh from above, below, up close and from afar
- You may lose your innocence
- You may find an opportunity to sit down and take in the views but that's your choice
- You may visit somewhere The 'original' Beatles worked....!
2) Raise Funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust
Why not take part in the Edinburgh Rat Race and raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT - the event's official charity partner) at the same time? It’s easy. All you need to 
do is contact Teenage Cancer Trust (challenges@teenagecancertrust.org) for an official sponsorship form – and you’re off! All donations, however big or small, will be welcomed.
Six teenagers are diagnosed with cancer each day; that’s over 2,000 a year. TCT funds specialist teenage cancer units in NHS hospitals. It costs around £2million to open a new unit, all of which TCT has to raise. Southampton General Hospital has now made a full commitment to build a unit as part of their building plans which will care for patients from across the South Coast. The new unit is expected to be completed by 2011.
3) A great opportunity to brush out the cobwebs this weekend!
Dirty Weekend is happening just down the road at Traquair House this weekend near Peebles. There is still (just) about enough time to enter so if you are up for a stretch of the legs in anticipation of Rat Race action in Edinburgh, then get yourself along to www.dirtyweekendadventure.com and choose from adventure racing, mountain biking or trail running. The Rat pack will be on site to help with any Rat Race queries too!
4) Event Village
We are once again back in glorious Princes Street Gardens this year and for your enjoyment we will be laying on live bands, a giant screen showing up-to-the-minute race action and a whole host of action sports programmed for the Ross Amphitheatre by local extremists EHX. Alongside the entertainment programme, we will have our retail village in operation with gear bargains from Ellis Brigham and Urban Adventure Gear, plus gourmet food and drink including hearty veggie fayre and fresh fruit smoothies. For your supporters we will have the beer tent too, plus attractions for the kids including the climbing tower and some inflatable fun too. Be sure to enjoy the vibe of this beautiful place as we transform it into the Rat Race base for the weekend.
5) Harness / Helmet Hire
We have a limited number of climbing helmets and harnesses for hire and you WILL need both for the race. The hire kit will be issued when you register on the Saturday morning in the event village and you will keep it throughout. Prices are as follows:
* Harness: £8pp
* Helmet: £8pp
* Helmet and harness: £15pp
Reservation of this equipment must be made only through the Rat Race Adventure Shop. Once the payment is made you will receive an automatic email confirming the hire. Remember - we only have a limited number of helmets and harnesses to hire so it will be a first come first served basis for reserving your kit. Please get your order in as soon as possible.
6) Skills Refresher Sessions
Have you booked a refresher course for kayaking or ropes/abseiling should you require it? They are intended to give you the extra confidence you may need prior to the event should you be rusty on these disciplines.
Each course is priced at £10 (session lasting <1 hour) or £18 for both. They are usually popular, so make sure you let us know ASAP if you want in on the refresher action. To sign up, please email info@ratraceadventure.com and state your name and team name and which sessions you are interested in. We will then get in touch regarding the payment with debit/credit card. We offer up these refreshers in "waves" at 0900 and 1000 and 1100 on the Saturday so please indicate which time suits you best. We will do our best to accommodate you - but please bear in mind these are popular courses so we may not be able to offer you your first choice of time. We will then get in touch with you regarding the payment for the course prior to the event. Remember that we require all participants to have some experience of abseiling and kayaking prior to the event kick-off.
7) Race Crew
If you are local to Edinburgh or perhaps bringing a friend or partner, we are always happy to enroll you as event crew. Jobs are varied, but each and every crew member has an important and valued role to play at the event. You will need to be adaptable and hard-working, plus use initiative and be quick-thinking in dealing with situations whether they are at Rat Race Base or in a remote location on the course. The role of an event crew member is demanding... but extremely rewarding at the same time. You will be warmly welcomed by the Rat Race team and you are sure to find your day a most rewarding experience. You will find full info on our Event Crew page. If you have any questions please write to dorota@allinthedetail.com
8) Prize-giving Party
For this year, we are moving off site for the after-race party on the Sunday. We will be hosted by the legendary Cabaret Voltaire on Blair Street and we invite you to join in the post-race revelry with us. The Edinburgh party is always a highlight and we hope this one will be just as rip-roaring a ride as ever. And remember, Sunday night is NOT a school night.
9) Macmillan Zip Wire
If you have supporters who are keen to get in on the Rat action, but who might not be wanting to take the full plunge, then why not get them along to the Zipwire for 
Macmillan Cancer Care on Saturday the 19th of July 2008 at Holyrood Park, Edinburgh 10am - 5pm, happening as part of Rat Race weekend. Go up in a 160ft crane....zip down a 1000ft wire!
Enjoy the thrill of a life time and help people affected by cancer. It’s £10 to register and £100 minimum sponsorship.
For all enquiries please phone Katie Junor on 01382 22650 or email kjunor@macmillan.org.uk
We will see you in Edinburgh later on this month to RATIFY Auld Reekie once again!
The Rat Race Crew
