The Canterbury Tales were a series of stories authored by the famous English author Geoffrey Chaucer and they depict a number of colourful characters making a Pilgrimage to Canterbury along what was a very popular Pilgrim’s route.

That route in large part followed the old Roman road of Watling Street and connected Southwark with Canterbury over some 67 miles (100 KM) of distance.

Our objective is to re-trace the steps of CHAUCER’S PILGRMS over 1 day, weaving our way through LEAFY South London to Rochester Castle. After overnighting in these Medway Towns we then head onwards through tranquil lowland orchards and beside the North Downs, before terminating at THE MAGNIFICENT Canterbury Cathedral.

An oddity of the Pilgrimage of Yore was that the Pilgrims would complete the final 3 miles barefoot, as a penance. We intend to do likewise for the final mile…! This is an optional challenge for those who feel comfortable taking on this quirky finish!

A stunning route that connects the azure waters of the Aegean with the rugged summit of the ‘home of the gods’ and one of the World’s most famous mountains – Mount Olympus

Ascend from sea level to the summit of Greece’s highest mount (2909m) on a route that takes you from the sea, through a dry river bed and then on beautiful trails up a stunning gorge to reach the slopes of Olympus herself, passing the evocative and serene ruins of the Monastery of Dionysus en route. Make your summit bid before descending to our cosy refugio for food, rest and big beers! The ent day you will hike out and finish your adventure, before being whisked to the coast for a well-earned night’s R and R on the azure beaches of the Aegean Sea.

This legendary mountain adventure race starts at sea level in the stunning Caernarfon Castle and weaves its way to the summit of Snowdon and down the other side into Dinorwic Quarry where we’ve thrown in an array of punishing obstacles. Including the infamous Vertical Kilometre, for you to tackle before you can cross the finishline victorious.

For over 10 years, intrepid #ratracers have been taking on our original Scottish adventure race and falling in love with the wild hills of the Highlands. This breathtaking 105 mile route takes in some of the most mysterious and wild locations in Scotland, run bike and kayak* past the historic Cawdor Castle, the legendary Loch Ness and the mountainous Glen Nevis and Glen Coe. This unforgiving Highland terrain and weather breeds tough folk and when you sign up to Coast to Coast you’ll find out why. Experience all the beauty and brilliance that Scotland has to offer in this epic journey over one day or two.

A breathtaking foot traverse of the entire chain of the Outer Hebrides from South to North.

This 6-day running adventure traces a route the entire length of the inhabited isles of the Outer Hebrides, and passes through the most superlative coastlines, beaches, hillsides, sea and inland loch and river terrain in Scotland and the UK.

Firstly, it completes the 150-miles of the entire Hebridean Way, then on the 6th day, an additional 35-miles to reach the Butt of Lewis – the lighthouse built at the northern tip of these isles.

A multisport crossing of the entire island chain of the Outer Hebrides on bike, foot and boat from North to South.If you are the sort of person who looks at far-flung islands ‘at the edge of the map’ and wonders what is there, then the Outer Hebrides are for you.

A wondrous archipelago forming a barrier from the wild Atlantic and Scotland’s West Coast, some of these islands are interconnected with causeways and some are separated by sea. In all, the island chain stretches some 150 miles and we intend to hoover up all of that distance from the Butt of Lewis in the north, to tiny Vatersay in the south, using a multisport selection of bike, foot and sea kayak.

A classic city break: Rat Race style. Take on this incredible multisport traverse of the entire Hudson River from its source high in the mountains all the way to where it meets the sea: New York City.

Imagine a journey undertaken on foot, bike and boat that starts in pristine wilderness at a hidden mountain lake, giving rise to one World’s great rivers. Then follow that river as it winds its way downstream, carving a course through a lush valley before finishing as a colossal waterway amidst the most famous icons in America in the hustle and bustle of New York City. 

This is Source to City – a multi-sport descent of the mighty Hudson River traversing all 300 miles of its course.

A superbly unique multi-sport outing, with options to ‘go ultra’ and run the whole thing, interspersed with a kayak or swim leg. Or choose to run, bike and kayak (or swim). Whichever disciplines you choose, you will cover the full distance across all 3 main Maltese islands, from the very western tip of Gozo to the very Eastern tip of Malta, taking in tiny Comino en-route too. For those who like to traverse entire countries in a day under their own steam, this one’s for you!

Get ready for an island escape – Rat Race style. Nestled in the channel just off the shores of France, Jersey offers up top class coastal running, brilliant vistas and the perfect landscape for us to add a stunning challenge to our 2021 calendar. 

With back to back marathons over 2 days, taking in all the very best trails that Jersey has to offer – you’re in for the perfect weekend adventure.

2021 is the final year for the Ultra Tour of Edinbrugh!

Dawn breaks and in the crisp autumn air of Scotland’s Capital a quite remarkable event gets underway. Enveloped within the beating heart of this most famous of cities, the runners of the Ultra Tour of Edinburgh set off with a Braveheart charge down the most famous street in Scotland – the Royal Mile. Their course then weaves 57km through streets, alleyways, onto hills, up crags, past monuments, museums, seats of Royalty, Government and up and down 3000 feet of ascent and descent.

The Ultra Tour of Edinburgh is unique. Many events claim to be. But this one is an Ultra Run in a city – a city like no other. Rat Race is the UK’s best known adventure sports outfit and our company was forged on the streets of Edinburgh in 2004 with the staging there of our first ever event. It is to our spiritual home that we bring a superlatively ‘doable’ Ultra. 57km on foot is no mean feat but for all those out there who think they can go that extra mile, you can. And what better place to do so than somewhere so hauntingly beautiful, rugged, gnarled and famous in equal measure. 

A journey across the Namib Desert to the Skeleton Coast by foot and fat-bike or foot-only
to reach the most famous shipwreck on Earth…

Namibia means Vast Place. The sand dunes of the Namib Desert and the famous Skeleton Coast are perhaps 2 of the most photographed landscapes in the World – in equal part alluring, evocative, mysterious and foreboding. In the ancient expanse of the Namib Naukluft desert, endless skies merge with towering dunes for hundreds and hundreds of miles. Nothing else. Just sand and sky. And then at the coast, the Atlantic breakers come crashing onto the shore amid colonies of 1000s of seals, rolling in on the cold seas of the Benguela Current all the way from Antarctica.

When we were looking at locations for the Rat Race Bucket List, our eye was drawn to this corner of South West Africa and a stunning photo of a shipwreck landlocked in the desert. You will probably have seen that photo too, but you are unlikely to know much else about it. The wreck is the Eduard Bohlen on the Skeleton Coast of Namibia – perhaps the most famous shipwreck in the World. We were so intrigued that we went to find it; our journey could not have been more spectacular. The route took us across the mighty Kuiseb Riverbed system to the highest sand dunes on Earth in the Namib Naukluft National Park. Then across them to reach the wild Skeleton Coast – exploring abandoned diamond mines and coming across abundant wildlife such as seal, oryx, jackal and the litter of endless whale bones to which the coast gives its name. The place was beyond rugged; beyond wild. And there, sticking out of the desert nearly 1km from the shore, lay the final resting place of the Eduard Bohlen.