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I signed up with Rat Race to take part in Mongol 100, a 100 run, trek, bike or skate across a frozen lake in Outer Mongolia. It was a truly epic adventure in the most surreal, beautiful place at times feeling like a personal pilgrimage across this vast space. There were lots of challenges including -36 degree camping and the Rat Race team ensured we were well looked and safe. The local Mongolian team were amazing and allowed us into their culture and going above the call of duty to look after us. Thank you Rat Race for a truly magical and life affirming adventure … can’t wait for the next one!
MealsAs stated on the event main page and within the itinerary, all meals included as standard. Day Two – 15th January – Breakfast and Dinner were supplied, but no lunch.Day Eleven – 24th January – No dinner supplied at Hotel. As stated on the event main page and within the itinerary, all meals included as standard. Day Two – 15th January – Breakfast and Dinner were supplied, but no lunch.Day Eleven – 24th January – No dinner supplied at Hotel. An event of this magnitude, proper sustenance, adequate sleep, and optimal fitness levels are essential. However, when it comes to providing nourishment and rest, the organisers fell short. While some factors may be influenced by availability, there were instances where these necessities were severely lacking..Day Five: Breakfast consisted of one hard-boiled egg and some bread. Despite other food being available. Day Ten: The evening meal was tasteless, almost void of nutrition.PitstopsAs the event progressed, pit stops became more efficient. However, in the initial stages, food shortages were a common issue. For instance, on the second day, the lead group consumed all the Empanadas, leaving none for those following behind. This wasn't a fault of the group but rather a matter of insufficient supply. Additionally, the available drinks were limited to water and soft drinks, with no provision for electrolyte drinks. In comparison to European or Western sporting events, whether single-day or multi-day, the provided food and beverages were markedly inadequate considering the energy demands of each day's activities.. The initial placement of the pit stops proved to be insufficient, often still in the process of being set up when the lead group arrived. As the event progressed, there was improvement, with pit stops established approximately every 40 kilometres. However, these placements remained problematic at times, as they were determined solely by distance using an online map, without prior reconnaissance. A significant issue encountered during the event was the insufficient rest facilities and lack of shade at many of the pit stops, exacerbated by the scorching weather conditions. Numerous rest stops could have been strategically relocated by just a few kilometres or less to incorporate towns with parks, seating, and ample shade. For instance, on the exceptionally hot fourth riding day from Mendoza to Balde, covering nearly 250 kilometres, there was a notable absence of suitable facilities for lunch.AccommodationOn the large, the accommodation was clean, tidy and great. Day Ten: The accommodation turned out to be extremely disappointing, as the original venue had unexpectedly cancelled the booking, leaving the organisers scrambling to secure a last-minute replacement. The Rat Race Hotel, hastily chosen as an alternative, failed to meet expectations, with the organisers admitting they hadn't inspected the venue beforehand.As a result, participants found themselves crammed into overcrowded rooms, with up to five individuals sharing space, which raised concerns about hygiene and comfort. One bathroom appeared to have faecal matter on the wall, and the majority of rooms had only a single power outlet, forcing four riders, each with multiple devices needing recharging, to share. Frustrated by the subpar conditions, which included sagging beds, many participants took it upon themselves to seek alternative lodging arrangements.Upon further investigation, it was discovered that several nearby hotels had plenty of available rooms, offering a far more suitable and comfortable option for accommodation. RouteCreating a coast-to-coast route that traverses the Andes presented significant challenges. Participants found themselves navigating treacherous roads, with reports of groups of riders being forced off the road by passing lorries, particularly along Route 7. However, a conversation with a bike shop in Buenos Aires revealed an alternative, safer route to the north.Day Four, the rider briefing did not mention safety for the very technical descent. The GPS files were not updated accurately. Despite receiving an amended file for riding on day 8 due to a change of hotel, the file for day 9 remained unchanged. Consequently, the initial route out of town on day 9 did not align with the GPS provided, causing the devices to continuously attempt to direct us to the starting point of the original route.CoffeeFor an organisation that prides itself on its coffee, the coffee supplied was Nescafe. Understandably providing good coffee could be logistically difficult, but not impossible.
Well that’s a wrap on the most epic 9 days of cycling! Coast to coast across South America. Standing in the Pacific and the Atlantic within 2 weeks was properly special. We averaged 120 miles per day, 2 weeks ago that would have been a huge day! I learned a lot about myself, my capabilities and felt inspired by helping others along the way. Chile and Argentina are amazing countries with fantastic people. To see the world by bicycle is the way to do it!Abbi and her team were simply amazing! The support was fantastic and I cannot recommend this event enough. I had the easy job… shut up and ride!I have been inspired by the incredible people I have met, in awe of the beautiful scenery and animals… and floored by the Andes. This will not be the last time South America… until the next time!
I participated in the Glacier to Glacier event in December 2023 and in one word it was awesome! Of course the stunning environment of the famous glaciers, mountains but also the steppes and the National Park through which I cycled almost by myself in complete silence, are inspiring enough. The event is tough, especially because of the ever present wind (although we were lucky to have a decent wind compared to the usual force), but the hardship makes the experience even better.The Rat Race crew was very well organized, giving (safety) briefings every day in the evening and in the morning before the start. They are a friendly and experienced bunch and they did all they could to make the experience for the participants as good as it could be. This was my third event with the company and I am absolutely a huge fan of what they do and how they do it!Their experiences are definitely worth the title of ‘bucket list adventures’ and I am looking forward to my 4th event! Keep up the good work guys!
Glacier to glacier event in Patagonia. Superb event. Well organised. A great mixture of accommodation. Campsite locations were picturesque and the food quality was great - even for vegetarians. Washed down with local beer supplied by Rat Race. The event was tough at times and you do need to be fit. Both the U.K. based staff and local Argentinian teams are excellent. You’ll feel 100% safe at all times. And it’s difficult to put into words the glacial experience at the finish. If you have ever wanted to experience Patagonia (not from a tour bus) then this is the five star event to do. It will be an epic experience.
This was my first Rat Race multi day event abroad (I've taken part some of their other events in the UK) and I wasn't disappointed. From the moment we all met in El Calafate, James, Jim, Danni and Brydie, along with a great group of local guides, made this a trip to remember. The organisation of each days stage was excellent. The tea, did everything they could to make sure every participant got the most out of the stage. For me, the final stage on closed road to the Perito Moreno glacier was the highlight of an amazing six days! Patagonia was a bucket list destination and I've now got to experience it in the best way!
We had such a great weekend at the santorini race. The team were awesome, organised, friendly, and knowledgeable! The build up to the race had them sending us all the info we needed so we arrived fully prepared, the brief was done, kit checks done, trackers issued and we were ready to go. On the day The local Kayaking leaders were bob on, they had the banter but were safe at all times! Pit crews were awesome with well stocked pits full of snacks etc. And then The post race dinner was lovely.... I'm not sure we could have expected anything more really, actually, there is one thing. Proper photos from a DSLR camera. The team were awesome taking and sending us photos from their phones but they lose their quality when sent over WhatsApp and arent "professional" photos anyway. Having a proper organised quality approach to photos would be the icing on the cake I recon. But if that is the only thing I can find as an improvement I think its fair to say they knocked it out of the park...
Santorini Circuit was epic. I’ve done a fair few Rat Race events in the UK and on one of these a few of us decided to sign up for this one. And i am so glad we did. Amazing location, amazing weather and more importantly amazing people. Both participants and crew! Until Santorini i had never been in a kayak, i’m terrified of water especially the open sea. But the crew were amazing and i bloody did it! My navigational skills are terrible (get lost with sat nav!) but again i did it! Only got a teeny wee bit lost in a village - some wee greek woman is probably still trying to figure out what i was doing. Our group was lucky enough to be the only group since the pilot that have managed to do the whole circuit as it was intended as the weather gods were so kind. I’ve met friends for life doing Rat Race events and the same applies to this one. So much so we’re now planning the next one - so Abbi we may very well see you in Croatia!
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Extraordinary adventures for everyday people. All of our adventures are imagined, designed and tested by the Rat Race team, you won't find them in anyone else's brochure. They are entirely bespoke concepts created to be inspirational and achievable. We believe adventure should truly be for everybody. For us, it’s about exploring the world with a like-minded group of folk who are looking for an exceptional challenge in an incredible place.See more
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