Day in the life of a Rat

So what happens exactly? Read below for a “Day in the life of the Rat.” There is info contained here on Pre-registration options for the Friday too.

Pre-event Registration option - Friday 14th March

For those that want to register early, you can do, on the Friday night at the Rat Race event area within the Outdoor Show. Please note, you will not gain entry to the show for free if registering on the Friday, although you can avail of the 2 for £20 tickets offer. This pre-event registration facility will appeal to those who are attending the Outdoor Show on the Friday and who can therefore attend the Rat Race stand. This will be open from midday on the Friday.

If you are a little nervous on the ropes or the kayaking in the event (as many people are – so don’t worry – you are not alone) then you might also want to avail of the ropes or boats refresher courses. More info will be available on these nearer the time and you will be given the option to sign up for a 1 hour refresher course with our instructors on one or the other (or both).

Race Day – Saturday 15th March

Well, the race is upon us, or rather, YOU! You will arrive at the NEC and will be directed to the special Rat Race car park. Friends or relatives might be dropping you off and that’s fine. Just follow the directions of the marshals you will encounter at the NEC upon arrival. You can park up the car, or jump off a train at Birmingham International and it’s a short walk (or ride, as you will have your bike with you) until you arrive at the (sign-posted) Rat Race event centre in Hall 3 of the NEC, which is part of the Outdoor Show. You will NOT be accessing this hall from the main concourse of the NEC, so please follow the special temporary signs that will be erected on site. If you have not been there before, the NEC can be a confusing place, so if in doubt, please ask parking marshals and follow the signs when you pick up the scent! Your first navigational challenge will be finding the event centre!

Registration will open at 0700 for Rat Racers and expect a bit of a queue. Some of you might have registered the day before, but it’s likely most of you will not have done. You will collect your race goody bag and your famous Rat Race shirt + race number and electronic SPORTident timing device. There will be toilets but there may not be refreshments on offer this early. There might be, but don’t count on it yet. Bring water and food for your day out, but remember you can always stop and re-supply en route – you are in the city after all! Your bike and belongings can be stashed in your team zone in the competitors secure compound and you can prepare for the start of the Rat Race, at 0900 SHARP. Don’t be late, or we will have gone. See ya!

So, from there it’s into town on the bikes. Aside from that, we won’t tell you much about the course itself and what you will be doing/ where you will be going, other than at some point between the start and the end, you will leave your bikes at Brindleyplace and take to the streets by foot, rope and boat. Brindleyplace will be the “satellite hub” for the Rat Race and our city centre base.

Having completed the city centre challenges, you will come back out to the NEC and cross the Rat Race finish line no more than 8 hours after you began. Or so you hope…! Then, enjoy a fleeting glimpse of the Outdoor Show and get ready for the Party; venue to be confirmed. Well done! You’ve compelted the Birmingham Rat Race 2008!

The wind-down – Sunday 16th March

With the race behind you, come back to the Show and see pictures of you and your mates in action and browse the sponsor concessions, together with a whole host of other activities and attractions in the Outdoor Show. You have the option to buy 2 tickets for £20 on our special Rat Race deal and more info on that is contained here.