Greetings Ratfans,

The season is now in full swing and next up for Ratification is Sheffield, this coming weekend on the 1st and 2nd August. Entries are still open. We bring you a season update with news of races near and far and other ratifying facts and figures from across the land…

Sheffield Rat Race – are you made of Steel?

This weekend sees our first foray into Steel city. Our route is modeled on Sheffield’s rugged industrial landscape and takes inspiration from its green spaces and sporting facilities too. It’s going to be action packed, a little hilly and totally engaging. And revealed last month, you are going ALL OVER the huge ex-Templeborough Steel works – now the Magna Science Discovery Centre www.visitmagna.co.uk Get yourself down to www.ratraceadventure.com for a last Sheffield minute entry this week and come and do our newest event – you’ll find out whether you are built of Steel or not!

Season Update

What a cracking weekend in Edinburgh just gone. Following on from a sweltering Bristol, our trip north of the border was a little “driech” as the locals say, but that did not dampen the Rat Racing spirit. From abseiling into a brand new Edinburgh Napier University library to open water swimming in a reservoir and crawling through a 100m long culvert under the bypass, this was another classic Edinburgh route. Even 5 years in, we still manage to uncover new places and visit new venues in this great city. With Sheffield and Belfast coming up in August there’s plenty of Rat action up ahead and in September, our sojourn on the Emerald Isle continues with the Galway Rat Race on 5th and 6th September. Then, the UK and Ireland series comes to an awesome finale on 26th and 27th September as upwards of 1000 of you are expected to converge on London for the final instalment of 2009’s European Rat action. If you are up for London, scurry along to the website as the event is set to be the busiest yet and the Ratphone is ringing red hot right now.

Aussie events kick off for 2009

If you’ve not had your fill of the action come the end of September, then have no fear. If you fancy a bit of Ratting around in the sun, then the events continue into October with the first ever Brisbane Rat Race kicking off the Aussie season, followed up by Perth and Melbourne in November. Now there’s an incentive for a bit of training! Check out info on these Antipodean events at www.ratraceadventure.com/Australia

New events: Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest

Come October, not all of us will be sunning ourselves in Oz. The Rat Race UK crew will be embarking on a 3 date tour of Nottingham, Cardiff and Rat Race favourite spot Edinburgh for the Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest – a series of 3 action packed 10km “assault courses” running rampage through each host city. Entries for all events are now open so if you fancy an autumn run-out on some brand new urban running events, get on down to www.mhsurvival.co.uk The dates are: Cardiff 4th Oct; Nottingham 10th Oct; Edinburgh 18th Oct.

Rat Race on Channel 4

The Rat Race TV Series airs in September on Channel 4. If you raced in Edinburgh you will have seen men on motorbikes with big cameras. They will be back in Sheffield and Belfast to film the action in those locations too, so remember to put your best TV face on if you see them! The dates for transmission are: Edinburgh on 6th September, Sheffield on 13th September and Belfast on 20th September. All at 8am on Channel 4.

Rat Race Store offers

If you haven't already signed up to the Rat Race Store Newsletter, not only are you missing out on a 10% discount on ALL orders as well as free UK delivery, but you won't be hearing about some fantastic deals later this week for our August promotions. How does 25% off Ron Hill sound? Prefer Gore Running Wear? 25% off that too, plus offers on inov-8 shoes and packs. Remember, only subscribers will be receiving the relevant dicount codes, so what are you waiting for? Sign up here - Click here to sign up and save. You details will NEVER be shared with 3rd Parties Should you have any queries about kit choices or availability, please feel free to call or email our resident Gear Geek Simon Powell - 07966 698597 - simon@ratracestore.com

Spirit of the Rat Race prize nominations so far

Each event sees us nominate a team for our super-snazzy “Spirit of the Rat Race” prize, that will see the winners take a trip over to visit our mates at Adventure Base in Chamonix – bagging themselves a £2500 stay for them and their Ratpack in one of Adventure Base’s top hole chalets. Check out the digs, as well as details of AB offers this summer and autumn here:www.adventurebase.com. And remember, all Rat Racers are entitled to 10% off all of their wares at www.adventurebase.com With prices from 20 Euros a head for accommodation, it’s a stonking good deal. Simply state promo code ABRR0609 when booking.

Bristol’s nomination: For meeting each other the day of the event and pretty much forming their team on the start line and then coming 2nd: Team “Oarsome” Edinburgh’s nomination: For being all-round Ratfans and doing Bristol, then Edinburgh and following up with Galway and Melbourne as a city-break selection extraordinaire: Team “The Girl Does the Work”

Well done guys. We look forward to fresh nominations in the upcoming events!

Rat’s All For Now, The Rat Race Crew