News
Edinburgh Rat Race final mailout
15 July 2008
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1) Under a week to go - the event timeline and words from the Race Director
2) Medical Forms and Self Declaration of Mandatory Kit
3) Harness and Helmet hire
4) Scottish Apartment Offer and Competition
5) Parking
6) Raise Funds for Teenage Cancer Trust
7) Massage
8) Prize giving and Party
1) Under a week to go - the event timeline
Greetings Edinburgh Rat Fans. Things are hotting up in Auld Reekie and we have under a week to go as we prepare to bring you face to face with the Mother of all Rat Races…it’s the original and some may say the best…so limber up and get your Rat head on. It’s time for the 2008 Edinburgh Rat Race.
This year’s event village is based in our traditional spot in West Princes Street Gardens, located between Princes Street and Edinburgh Castle. The event village will contain a secure compound where you will be able to leave your bikes overnight on Saturday for collection on Sunday morning. The gardens are closed overnight to the public and security guards will also be in attendance. However, we would still recommend the use of a bike lock and you will require this as part of your mandatory kit on Sunday.
For the Mean Streets on Saturday night, we are once again enabling you to finish up a little earlier. After 2.5 hours of running and activity you can start to return to the event centre, although the course will remain open for three hours. The question of when to return will be based on your strategy against the penalty points that start to accrue after 2.5 hours.
It’s getting late for any last minute fitness improvements so I’d recommend eating, drinking and sleeping well in the run up to the race and making sure you have all your equipment ready and your bike in top condition.
Please note that contrary to the kit list, you do NOT need to carry a headtorch on the Mean Streets or the Adventure Class race in this year’s Edinburgh Rat Race.
Looking forward to seeing you out there at the weekend
John Laughlin
Race Director
Here’s some important times for you to note for the race weekend:
Saturday
0900-1200 Refresher courses
1000 Competitors Registration opens - collection of hired kit
1430 Competitors Registration closes
1200 Event village stage programme goes live
1530 Competitor pre-event briefing at Ross Bandstand (ALL required to attend)
1700-2000 Mean Streets Prologue Race (For ALL racers)
2000-2200 Light carb-based food served for all racers in the event village
Sunday
0600 Competitor secure compound open
0730 Adventure Event starts from Edinburgh Castle Esplanade
1200 Event village open to the public
1430 First teams expected to finish
1800 All teams back – course closes
1930 Rat Race After Party begins at Caberet Voltaire
2000 Awards Ceremony at Caberet Voltaire
2) Medical Forms and Self Declaration of Mandatory Kit
As we mentioned in the previous mailout we have uploaded the Competitor Medical to the website (here) the Self Declaration of Mandatory Kit. We strongly recommend that you print these, fill them in and bring to the registration. Each competitor needs to fill in the Medical Form and one Self Declaration of Mandatory Kit per team.
3) Kit hire
We still have harnesses and helmets available for hire but we close bookings today (Tuesday) at 2200. Please click here to go to the Urban Adventure Gear shop where kit hire is available.
4) Scottish Apartment Offer and Competition
For those of you last-minuters still looking for accommodation in the city, why not try a superb serviced apartment from Scottish Apartment, who are an official Rat Race event partner for 2008. Check out their special Rat Race deals here http://www.scottishapartment.com/edinburgh-events/rat-race-2008/promotion on accommodation for the weekend.
If you are already sorted for digs and just fancy the opportunity to win a great break in a swanky pad in the coming months, then enter our Scottish Apartment competition to win a 2 night stay in the luxurious new Quartermile development in central Edinburgh + 20% off a big night out at the Living Room. To enter, go to http://www.scottishapartment.com/edinburgh-events/rat-race-2008/competition.
5) Parking
There is NO parking on site at Princes Street Gardens. Please do not attempt to access Princes Street Gardens by motor vehicle; as this is the main thoroughfare for pedestrian and racer traffic into and out of the site and also production traffic. Parking can be found in close proximity to the venue in various multi-storey car parks. The closest is at Castle Street and you can directions on here on the NCP website.
6) Teenage Cancer Trust
Six teenagers are diagnosed with cancer each day, that’s over 2,000 every year. But these young patients don’t stop being teenagers just because they get cancer. Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) ensures that young cancer patients get the best possible care in hospital and the chance to do all 
the things that other teenagers do.
TCT funds specialist teenage cancer units in NHS hospitals, with the aim being to give every young person with cancer access to a unit and improve survival rates – TCT currently has 9 units around the country and is planning to open a further 14 units by 2012. It costs around £2million to open a new unit, all of which TCT has to raise.
For more information about TCT and how you can get involved, visit their stand at the event village or go to www.teenagecancertrust.org
7 ) Massage
We will have a massage service at the event village where qualified sports therapists will be offering sports massage and the proceeds are split 50:50 with TCT and the therapists. £5 for 10mins, additional donations welcome.
8) Prize giving and Party
The party will this year take place in the awesome Caberet Voltaire on Blair Street and will kick off with the prize giving ceremony. After that kick back and enjoy the laid back ambience of the Speakeasy bar and the soulful sounds of “The Cab” as you relax and unwind with the satisfaction of a job well done at the weekend’s event.
Well, that’s all for now. We will see you in a few days for the 2008 Edinburgh Rat Race. In the meantime, if you have enquiries please do email us at info@ratraceadventure.com or call us on 0845 009 4365.
Rat Race HQ
