Weekender Format
This is the Rat Race Urban Adventure at full-tilt which sees you complete both the Mean Streets on the Saturday and the Nine 2 Five on the Sunday.
• Saturday: Mean Streets
• Sunday: Nine 2 Five
• Ropes Refresher Sessions
• Scoring
• Key Points
• Skills & Preparation
• Registration
• The Briefing
• Weekender Timeline
• Team Composition & Age Limits
• Prize Categories
Saturday Evening: Mean Streets
The Mean Streets kicks off at around 5pm and involves 2.5 hours of checkpoint hunting in the city centre by running and walking. You will have been given a map of the city at Registration and at the end of the briefing you will have also been issued your 'Mean Streets Sheet' detailing the checkpoint locations allowing you to mark them on your map. From the Start, the “course” is up to you, you may visit as many checkpoints as you can in a 2.5 hour period, navigating your way. Each checkpoint (CP) is awarded a different points value, the details of which you will receive immediately after you start. Approximately half of the CPs have activities ranging from physical, comedy or mental mind games. Go as fast or as slow as you like and enjoy the great views of the city, the camaraderie with other teams and possibly from time to time, enjoy being lost! To get a bigger taste of the Mean Streets Adventure & to see an example map check out the Mean Streets format here
When the 2.5 hours period is nearly up, you must make your way back to the adventure event village to ensure you do not get back too late, as escalating points penalties will be inflicted if you are. The idea is to use team tactics, route choice and the values of the CPs to steer you around the Mean Streets and get back to Rat base with as many points as you can. You points total will be carried over with you in to Sunday's Nine 2 Five event.
Sunday All Day: Nine 2 Five
OK, so you have conquered the Mean Streets. Now it’s time to turn up the heat for the Rat Race Urban Adventure course. This is where you break out the pedal power and we introduce ropes, boats, and a guided route lasting up to 8 hours as you foray further into (or out of) the city and possibly further still.
Return to the Event Village on Sunday morning where you'll receive your Nine 2 Five Routebook. This is your Bible for the Sunday Nine 2 Five route; just like with the Mean Streets Sheet from Saturday's Mean Streets, you will use this route book alongside your map throughout the Sunday event. But it will not guide you like a Saharan nomad; you’ll have to use it to prepare the route and plot the CPs on your map yourselves. Ensure your maps are marked up in plenty of time for the start of the event at 0900 on Sunday. From out the traps, you will have around 50-60km of distance to tackle mainly on bike. Along your journey there will be several Checkpoints to stop off at, most of which will involve an activity. We'll keep the action a secret almost until you arrive but expect physical, mental & comedy capers in weird and wonderful locations throughout your day. Included in all our courses will be some kayaking, an awesome abseil or similar ropes-based adventure and a fair portion of navigation. Don't worry you don't need to be Bear Grylls to get around but some experience and a sense of direction is required. Check out the Skill & Preparation section within the Nine 2 Five format page for more info on how to maximise your Nine 2 Five experience. Each checkpoint you bag will gain you points which will be totted up at the end.
As your day of adventure comes to a close the end of your course will guide you back to the event village where you'll drop your bikes for the final time. It's not far to the finish line but before you cross it you'll take on our final hurdle! Then it's across the line & download your scores for the day. For more info on the Nine 2 Five format and to see and example map click here.
Scoring
Once both days are over, we order all the teams by their points total from the Nine 2 Five with the highest score 1st. In the event of a tie we 2nd sort them by time with the quickest 1st. We then use the time from the 1st placed team as 'Zero' time. We then add your score from the Mean Streets to your Nine 2 Five points and subtract 2 points for every minute your team are slower than 'Zero' time from your total. The team with the highest score wins!
Key Points
The Weekender sounds a lot and it is a challenge for sure. However, remember some key things here:
1.) You CAN choose to do as much or as little as you like within the Mean Streets. This gives you the opportunity to pace yourself and reserve energy for Sunday's Nine 2 Five.
2.) You CAN miss sections of the Nine 2 Five out if you don’t fancy them, this relates to the foot sections especially. You take a points penalty instead and continue in the race. However you must follow the guided route as directed in the Nine 2 Five Routebook. There will be short cut options within the route.
3.) There are cut-offs, after which time you will be routed onto shorter courses. So if you fall behind for whatever reason, don’t worry we will not leave you out there when everyone else is enjoying their first beers at the prize giving.
Skills & Preparation
Mean Streets - You need very little to take part in this foot based event just a pair of shoes, an open mind and a sense of direction. Click here for an idea of suggested fitness levels & a few skills to brush up on. Remember, it is up to you how much you pack in to 2.5hrs.
Nine 2 Five - We've made this event accessible to all whether you're a highly tuned athlete, a group of friends with a basic level of fitness and sense of adventure. Click here for some info on expected distances and skills to brush up on to help you prepare for such an event, particularly regarding ropes & kayaking skills. Remember some experience of an abseil or being on a rope is required for the Nine 2 Five.
Ropes Refresher Sessions
For those of you who are doing the Weekender class, you might still be a bit nervous (or rusty) on your ropes skills. We lay on special refresher sessions at our Event Village on the Saturday morning to ensure you feel totally at ease when you go for the ropes. Remember, these sessions are NOT A TOTAL SUBSTITUTE for prior experience; we ask that you have at least been on a rope in advance of the event. But you can pick up these skills from any good climbing wall in your area.
Registration
One thing is for sure; there WILL be a queue to register for this event. Please come early and prepared. On the day, you will:
1) sign your acceptance of our standard terms and conditions
2) collect your SportIdent Timing Chip
3) receive your Rat Race T-shirt
4) receive your Race number
5) receive a map
This mandatory kit might be checked at Registration, or it might be checked at a random kit check out on the course. So do not cut corners with what you bring. Bring it all.
You do NOT need to register again on Sunday morning for the Nine 2 Five however you will need to pick up your Nine 2 Five Routebook in good time before the start.
The Briefing
There will be a briefing before both the Mean Streets & the Nine 2 Five. This is where you are given some info on what will happen in each event. The Race Director will address the whole event field at these times and it’s important that everyone MUST ATTEND. There will be some safety information and there might be some special instructions that relate directly to that city or the way the adventure will be run that weekend.
Mean Streets - At the end of the briefing, you will be given the Mean Streets Sheet which will allow you to mark the checkpoint locations on your A-Z Map before you start. Use this time well and ensure you mark them up accurately.
Nine 2 Five - This will occur just before the start of the event and will include safety info as well as any last minute details of the day's adventure.
Weekender timeline*
Saturday
• 1000 Registration opens
• 1100 Refresher courses begin
• 1200 Event Village open to public
• 1500 Registration closes
• 1530 Mass briefing from the Stage
• 1700 Start of the Mean Streets event
• 1930 Finish of the Mean Streets event
• 2100 Secure bike compound locked for the night
Sunday
• 0700 Registration opens
• 0730 Nine 2 Five Routebook available
• 0830 Registration closes
• 0845 Mass briefing to all participants
• 0900 Start
• 1200 Public entertainments commence in the event village
• 1700 Course cut off time – all teams finished
• 1800 Prize-giving at the event village
• 2100 Secure bike compound to be cleared
*Timeline is TBC. Confirmation will be provided in the weeks nearer the event weekend
Team composition & Age limits
The is event is open to all from the age of 16 and above. You can take part in teams of 3 or pairs which can be made up of all male, all female or mixed. Those aged 16 and 17 must provide
written parental/ guardian consent of their participation. Consent form is available for download here.
Prize Categories
• Mixed Team 1st – 3rd
• Best all Male team
• Best all Female team
