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Adrenalin Rush - ‘The Dragon’s Back’

Rob / 20.01.2004

After 2 races in Ireland and 2 in Scotland, the 5th Adrenalin Rush will be held in Wales this year, and that’s just one of several innovations for ‘Europe’s Toughest’ adventure race.

In another first for the race, this year’s course will be linear, a journey across the ‘Dragon’s Back’, the mountainous spine that runs down the centre of Wales. The exact venue and competition won’t be revealed until nearer the start date of May 22nd, but Race Director Brian Elliott commented, “Using a linear course for the first time gives me a lot more scope to find the very best locations –I’ve wanted to do it for some time and it’s going to be an exciting race,”

Elliott is no stranger to Wales, having run the last two British Championship finals there, and he has some other surprises planned too. “We will have some new water disciplines this year,” he said, “one completely new to adventure racing, and the other requiring some sailing ability, though the craft might not be one you’d expect.”

Planning for this race will be critical as Elliott has said, “It’s back to basics for this year, if you want something during the race you have to carry it”.

The race has a reputation as an uncompromising test of endurance and determination where “To finish is to win” and Elliott describes it as “epic and unpredictable”. One rule change to previous year’s which is likely to be introduced is to allow all male teams to take part, in a separate competitive class.

For teams from outside the UK there are special travel packages available, and there are already confirmed entries from as far a-field as the Cayman Islands, Guatemala and Canada.

All the detailed race information is now on the Adrenalin Rush web site.