Greetings Rat Fans!

The Rat Race season is almost upon us. We bring you tidings of man-sized running Rats, some announcements on our Men’s Health Survival events and a great offer from Men’s Health magazine. Plus a preview on our newest Rat Race in Sheffield and a round-up of current Rat Race competitions for you to enter!

1.)    Rat Runners
2.)    Competitions Galore
3.)    Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest
4.)    Men’s Health offer
5.)    Jurys Inn offer
6.)    Sheffield Rat Race Preview

1.) Rat Runners

The Rat has been out and about on the streets of London and Belfast recently; those of you running the marathon in either location might have seen a stray (man-size) Rodent scurrying past you (or most likely you past them!) as the Rat romped it home in both events to the cheers of the crowd. Raising funds for our youth event partner the Outward Bound Trust, our man-sized Rat enjoyed his run and didn’t get his tail trodden on too many times. Don’t be surprised if you see a big furry Rodent coming alongside you at more events throughout the summer!

2.) Competition galore

Last month’s winners of the Best Biog comp were the comprehensively named “Walk Fast with a bit of paper in your hand and no-one will question you,” the somewhat more briefly named “The Fallen” and the slightly lewdly named “Big Test Icicles.” See their winning Biog entries here. They win Sea to Summit dry sacks, AMK medical kits and Bridgedale socks. If you are yet to enter the Rat Race, make sure you use your poetic license when compiling your team biog, as you could be in the running for one of our monthly best biog prizes too!

Well done too to Rat Race Store Opening Competition winner Matthew Lewis, who bagged himself a Sat Map Active 10 GPS worth £300. The runners up in this comp, winning AMK Ultra Light and Water Tight 0.7 medical kits and Bridgedale socks worth £50, were Angus Reid, Katy Stopher, Simon Marchant, Claire Williams, Edward Renshaw.

There’s more comp action from the Rat Race Store this month, with the opportunity for anyone signing up to their mailing list in May to win one of Ron Hill Aspiration T-shirt (for the lucky lady winner) and Advance T-shirt (for the winning chap) worth £23 a pop. Get on down to www.ratracestore.com to browse the bargains and sign up to the mailing list for an regular ongoing 10% discount.

3.) Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest

We are excited to announce the launch of the Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest events, which are operated by the Rat Race crew. Fresh from the sell-out success of the first “Survival” last year in Nottingham, this unique urban assault course has now spread to 3 UK cities for October 2009 and national pride is now at stake. “Men’s Health Survival: The Tri Nations Challenge Series” kicks off in Cardiff on 4th October, travels back to Notts on 10th October and comes to a volcanic finale in classic Rat Race territory with the Edinburgh event on 18th October. Anyone can enter these races, which feature 10km of running with a tough obstacle zone thrown in every kilometre. Get on down to www.mhsurvival.co.uk and bag yourself one of a limited 1500 places available in each event. Only the fittest will survive!

4.) Men’s Health offer

More from our friends at Men’s Health and this is one for the boys – or the lad in your life! Receive a copy of Men's Health magazine absolutely FREE and get in shape for the summer and for the Rat Race season! A FREE COPY WORTH £3.95 is yours by calling 0845 357 3002. Quote ‘Detail Events.’

5.) Jurys Inn offer

We have a special offer for our Rat Race participants. Simply contact the Hotels directly by phone or email and quote “Raterace” to avail of the special offer.  The rates are subject to availability. Here are the deals:

Sheffield 1/2 August - £49.00 room only or £60.00 BB per double / twin room, call reservations on 0114 291 2222 or email jurysinnsheffield@jurysinns.com
Belfast 8/9 August - £69 BB per twin call reservations on 028 905 33500 or email jurysinnbelfast@jurysinns.com
London 26/27 September – Jurys Inn Chelsea £100 BB per twin/Double call reservations on 0207 411 2200 or email jurysinnchelsea@jurysinns.com , Jurys Inn Islington £90BB call reservations on 0207 2825500 or email jurysinnislington@jurysinns.com


6.) Sheffield Rat Race Preview

Our newest event in Sheffield is shaping up to be a stonker. With the Sheffield Star and Hallam FM now confirmed as media partners and local course planner Shane Ohly, a Sheffield resident himself, getting right to the coalface in Steel City, you are sure to be in for a real treat here, in this very industrial and also surprisingly green location. Think large parks, mega factories, some awesome sports facilities and some pretty bizarre biking and you have the Sheffield Rat Race – let your imagination do the rest! The full lowdown can be found at our Sheffield page at www.ratraceadventure.com/page260.asp.

Rat’s all for now!

The Rat Race Crew