Rat Race Coast to Coast
Coast to Coast - Run, Bike Ride and Kayak 105 miles Across Scotland
Press Release / 19.08.2018
Entries are still open for Coast to Coast 2018, Rat Race Adventure Sports hugely popular adventure challenge, staged in the Highlands of Scotland on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September 2018. 2000 athletes will run, bike and kayak 105 miles on a point to point, East to West journey along the Great Glen from Nairn Links (IV12 4NQ) to The Isles of Glencoe Hotel, Ballachulish (PH49 4HL), one of the most beautiful, mysterious and varied landscapes in the World.
Coast to Coast is a fully supported and way-marked multisport adventure challenge, a wild endurance event in unforgiving terrain. The route, which includes a total ascent of 10,840 feet, takes in stunning lochs, brooding glens, enchanting forests, rugged mountains and the most fantastic views imaginable. It also features many evocative landmarks and locations that are steeped in generations of history, folklore and legend. These include Cawdor Castle, Loch Ness, Fort Augustus, The Great Glen, Fort William, Glen Coe and Loch Leven.
Since it was first staged in 2007, more than 10,000 intrepid adventurers have taken on this magnificent challenge. As many as 8,000 of those participants have travelled from outwith Scotland, from as far a field as New Zealand, the USA and Europe, to experience the true beauty (and sometimes brutality) of the Highland terrain and its ever changing weather.
The athletes, taking part as solos or in pairs, set off from Nairn on the Moray Firth, in waves from as early as 06.45. They start with a seven mile trek / run to Cawdor Castle, followed by a 48 mile road cycle along the edge of Loch Ness and a half mile run (that includes a 500 metre kayak on Loch Ness). They then transition again into a 21 mile off road cycle and a 13.5 mile road cycle through the Great Glen to Fort William, where the bike is replaced by running shoes and they take on a 14 mile trek / trail run to Loch Leven. The adventure challenge finishes at The Isles of Glencoe Hotel in Lochaber with a one-mile flat water kayak.
However, the Coast to Coast is definitely not for the faint hearted and participants will need to be prepared physically and mentally with an element of self sufficiency in remote locations. Following the Great Glen from East to West means journeying into the prevailing wind and participants should expect winds that stop them free-wheeling downhill and rain that makes hills too slippy to run on!
This epic journey can be taken over two days as a Challenger (an average time of 14 hours) or in just one day as an Expert (an average of 12 hours), a mammoth undertaking! Most athletes take on the mighty Coast to Coast over two days where the brave weekend warriors can break things up with an overnight camp at Fort Augustus. With a good rest, refuel and recharge it makes the race makes it more achievable and allows participants to enjoy a cracking weekend out with friends, relations and work colleagues.
Coast to Coast is also ideal for spectators and supporters, having plenty of highlighted spots the entire length of the route to both view the action and refuel and cheer on the brave. This year organisers will be replacing chip timing with live GPS tracking allowing safety teams and armchair supporters to monitor participant progress live.
For a video preview of Coast to Coast go to https://youtu.be/lJB5dcouud0
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