The Rat Race BRISTOL Urban Adventure Race
Rats Race Across the Border into Wales
Rob Howard / 09.06.2010
First, however, the Mean Streets prologue needed to be completed on Saturday night, and this provided the usual 2 and a half hours of challenging and zany activities on the streets of the city. These included bouldering, swimming, a bit of urban gym work, karaoke, basketball and a go on a Wii. As always the sight of black-clad athletes indulging in such activities drew some curious looks and often a crowd. At the checkpoint where each of the team had to run over the upturned hulls of a row of dinghies there happened to be a pub, and as it was a lovely evening everyone was outside on the harbour side … waiting to see who would fall in!
By the time everyone returned to the event base, now back at the Canons Way amphitheatre on the harbour, their legs, brains and ingenuity had been given a good workout, and those who were continuing with the main 9 to 5 event next day needed to rest up and prepare. Prior to the race they didn’t know the trip to Wales was happening, though hints had been dropped and the finish had been extended so it was a 9 to 6 race. Now the secret was out.
The forecast for Sunday was stormy and possibly wet, but although it was blustery for the 9am start, the weather held out and by the end of the day it was warm and sunny again. The Rat Race weather luck held again.
The route lead out along the Avon Gorge to a BMX track near Avonmouth, which proved a testing ride and too much for some, who opted out of the steeper jumps. At that time on a Sunday morning the track was quiet so none of the regulars got to see cross bikes and a few cycles with bike racks and panniers racing round the track!
Next stop was on the Severn Estuary for a mud pack facial, where some teams settled for a gentle dab on each cheek and others literally got stuck in! The bridge crossing was a bit blustery in the wind but it was a chance for the Rat Racers to cross another iconic UK bridge (after the Fourth Bridge and the Tyne Bridge), before indulging in some dressing up and sword fighting in the castle.
SleepMonsters
