BORNEO ESSENTIAL EVENT INFORMATION 2025
Due to the scale and nature of Rat Race Events, changes to the event course, structure and timings sometimes need to be made right up until the date of the event. To ensure you have the latest information and are fully prepared for the challenge that lies ahead, please check back on the EEI before travelling to the event.
The EEI was last updated on: 09/01/2025
WELCOME TO BORNEO
Dear Intrepid Rat Racer.
We hope you are getting excited to what is going to be an event to remember on this journey to the summit of South East Asia's most mythical mountain.
Please find our Essential Event Information Document, containing what we hope is a comprehensive outlook towards your journey in just a few months’ time. If you have not done already, do ensure you are fully conversant with the website and then pour yourself a cup of tea or coffee (or something a little stronger!) and read on….
FILES AND DOWNLOADS:
KEY REMINDERS:
Make sure you’ve read this thoroughly well ahead of your departure date to ensure there are no last minute panics or surprises, if you have any questions after reading this please reach out to us on office@ratrace.com
SKIP TO SECTION
TIME ZONE
GMT (+8)
PHONE CODE
+60
LANGUAGE
Official language is Bahasa Malaysia. They may also speak Malay, Chinese (in its many forms!), Tamil, English and unique indigenous tribal languages.
CURRENCY
Malaysian Ringgit.
TEMPERATURE
Average in March
28 Celsius
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
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Event Detail Form: to be submitted by Wednesday 22nd January 2025
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Medical Form: to be submitted by Wednesday,22nd January 2025
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Snacks: Bring any additional snacks and electrolytes/isotonic drinks for the duration of the itinerary. Your own snacks are to augment what we provide and make sure you always have something that you fancy.
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Trackers: Please remember that GPS tracker is not always a-given; you should particularly note this if sharing live links with supporters.
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Kit: You will need to bring ALL kit that is on the kit list for you to take part in the trip. If your kit is not right the Event team will reserve the right to prevent you starting the event. Don’t worry – there are several more touchpoints before departure to ensure this does not occur. Firstly, the comprehensive kit list is provided with this document. We will also have a Q&A webinar on 13th February before we depart to the Borneo. If in any doubt on kit, please get in touch with us at office@ratrace.com and we can help.
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Insurance: You need insurance. You will need a medical repatriation and evacuation policy that has a minimum of $500 000 trip cover on it. You will submit this to us pre-event and we will ensure we have the correct number to call your insurer if we need to evacuate you or provide serious medical attention. We also highly recommend a policy that covers you for curtailment and non-attendance.
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Live Events Decision Making: When we are in Borneo, in all cases whilst on the trip, the Event Directors decision is final. They are at all times acting in the combined interest of the safety of the individual and the group, as their paramount concern.
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Check all protocols for entry into Malaysia, including checking the potential impact of anywhere you may be required to transit through or any other recent travel.  
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Be up to date on all UK government travel restrictions and guidance.  
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KEY INFO
PERSONAL DOCUMENTATION
Please use the following as a checklist on what you will require for this trip. All documents should be in a waterproof pouch or container.
PASSPORT
(at least 6 months remaining and enough pages for all the required stamps - minimum 2).
RETURN AIR TICKET
You should ensure you have purchased a return air ticket.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
See insurance section or event FAQ.
PERSONAL MONEY
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TRIP MEETING POINT AND END POINT
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The dates of the trip are fixed as 22nd - 28th March 2025. These are the dates on which the itinerary commences and finishes.
Pick up: You should be aiming to arrive in Kota Kinabalu no later than 1700 on Saturday 22nd March 2025. For anyone arriving on 22nd, we will pick you up from the airport directly and transfer you to our hotel. For anyone arriving before this date, you will be welcome to meet us at the hotel from 1400 onwards when rooms are available for check in. There will be a bag drop facility at the hotel prior to 1400 for anyone wishing to leave bags and return later.
Drop off: After a final breakfast together, we will arrange early morning transfers to Kota Kinabalu airport for those who are heading home. If you are looking to relax and catch up on some sleep ahead of your journey home we would recommend booking another night at our resort to recharge those batteries after this epic adventure (extra nights can be booked by contacting us on  office@ratrace.com).
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WEBINARS
We will do general Q & A webinar on Thursday, 13th February 2025 at 1830 UK time. This is very useful to attend if you can as an introduction to the event, it will also provide you a live opportunity to ask any questions you may have. It will be recorded and put on the website for those who cannot attend or for anyone to refer back to at a later date.
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TRAINING AND PREPARATION
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Borneo Sea to Summit is a substantial undertaking. It is 120 km of hilly and difficult terrain. It is a beautiful island, but it will pack and punch. The first day is all runnable. Beyond that, it is mainly a hike with some sections that can be run. Training should now be focusing on consecutive days of hiking; aim for 8 hours of hiking for 3 days in a row. Do not avoid hills, hill strength will be the key to success. If you don’t have access to multiple hills, do some hills repetitions to strengthen the legs. We understand it is by no means easy for everyone to fit in the training, everyone is different, everyone also has different day-to-day pressures, commitments and methods open to them.
Train with the kit you are planning on wearing. You will then be able to check if it is comfortable and fits correctly. Chuck the bag on you is going to be running or hiking with, fill it with some tasty snacks and water, this will help your body to get use to the extra weight on your back. The fitter and more prepared you are for a challenge like this the more you can enjoy each and every moment.
STYLE OF TRAVEL
On this year Sea to Summit event we are a very small team. This will mean we can be adaptable on the trail. In general, we will provide lead and sweep staff (and other support vehicles and/ or hikers throughout the course) and we will establish pit stops along the route. We will be travelling on the trail with guides. The best and safest way is to stick with one of the guides. There will be a guide with a slower and faster group. However, you can go at your own pace, hike with others, hike on your own, whatever you fancy. You will not be able to go in front of the first guide or drop behind the sweeper, this is what we call an ‘envelope’. It is there as part of the safety and support system within the difficult terrain. We will not stop you trekking unless you look unlikely to finish in daylight. As such, there is no formal cut-off time as the daily stages could be influenced by weather, tricky river crossings, or other factors – it is very much down to the judgement of the event team on this basis. That is our pledge to you. For your part, just keep moving forward.
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REGISTRATION
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Registration for the event is split into a ‘pre-event’ Registration phase, where we will ask for information to be submitted online (See the top and bottom of this document for what and when). This will be followed up by a physical registration process upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu on 23/03/2025.
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We will provide you with a safety procedure to follow in case of Emergency while on each phase of the event. This may differ per stage and the safety and Emergency protocols will be made clear to you prior to the commencement of each phase.
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ENTRY INTO MALAYSIA
Please see the official government advice page for the most up to date information. This covers vaccination requirements and a bounty of useful information.​
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Entry requirements - Malaysia travel advice - GOV.UK
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Travel back to the UK - Currently, as of 07/01/2025 there are no requirements for travel or entry back to the UK after visiting Malaysia.
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ACCOMMODATION
ACCOMMODATION
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22nd and 23rd - 2 nights in Kota Kinabalu Hotel
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24th Homestay, dorm style accom in mountain foothills
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25th Homestay, dorm style accom in mountain foothills
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26th Mountain hut accom, dorm style
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27th Beach resort, final night
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FOOD AND BEVERAGES
All meals will be provided whilst you are on our itinerary. Typically, this is breakfast and dinner at your accommodation in Kota Kinabalu breakfasts and dinner every night when the hiking starts.
For the running and hiking days you will be supported by Rat Race Pit Stops (3 per day, we will try to space them evenly, however the length of days and access points vary), featuring water, small grab and go snacks and other treats. On some of the days we will ask you to carry some additional items in your personal backpack. This is dependant of the trail accessibility by a vehicle on some of the days. At pit stop 2 (if present) there will typically be some more savoury items and ‘lunch’ items such as wraps and bread where you are able to make a scooby snack.
You should look to augment these Pit Stops with your own snack supplies and you should very definitely provide your own hydration, electrolyte and sports nutrition supplies. This will be important throughout your adventure, At the end of the trip in, we will provide dinner and some celebration drinks.
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND EXTRAS
Where we provide meals as part of the general event service, we will not include alcoholic or soft drinks as standard, and these must be provided by yourselves. See more on local payments, below.
At the hotels there will be a bar where you can but alcoholic and soft drinks. If you put anything onto your ‘tab/room’ please pay for it before you leave the hotel.
We will provide you with some beers at certain locations, to celebrate a job well-done. That is a Rat Race tradition! These will be at the discretion of the organisers, however. In general, you should expect to pay for alcoholic and soft drinks.
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ABLUTIONS AND HYGIENE
There is a mixture of accommodation within the itinerary. It is therefore not guaranteed each evening will have a shower facility. You should keep to a high level of personal hygiene by using wet wipes, washing with minimal water, and always keeping hands clean. Check wounds, rashes, and blisters regularly for infection.
Pit stops will not contain toilets, so if you need to go out on the course, be prepared. The firm advice is always to ensure you are ‘self-contained’ with toilet roll and with anti-bacterial handwash gel for the trail. Do NOT leave toilet paper out on the trail, please bring nappy bags to contain used toilet roll and dispose of where at a pit stop or at the hotels.
WHAT TO EXPECT
TRIP FORMAT
The Borneo Sea to Summit event is going to be adventurous in its nature. It has been meticulously planned and we will do all that we can deliver Plan A. However, owing to weather, terrain, or any other number of factors, there is a chance that we may sometimes need to revert to Plan B, C or so on!. Please do keep in mind that safety will always be the number one priority, and if that means amending or omitting part of the itinerary, then that's what we will do.
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The general format of the trip is that we will be staying together as a small team throughout the journey and supporting each other the whole way. You should therefore expect to travel as a group and at the groups pace throughout the whole trip, unless otherwise instructed by the expedition leaders. This is a great way to make friends for life, as you will be looking out for each other when the going gets tough and jointly sharing in the elation when we achieve our goal.
THE SUPPORT
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You are highly supported on this trip. It will be led by a full-time member of Rat Race staff, who will serve as your trip leader and who will be with you on the ground on the mountain stages. We will also be supported by a medical professional from Trailmed and an additional UK-based crew member on hand at all times. Finally, we will be working with an in-country team comprised of mountain guides, drivers and support personnel. The local team worked with us to deliver the Test Pilot and the can't wait for the return of another group of #rateracers!
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The local in-country team will provide support in many ways. They will help to deliver our Pit Stops, they will guide us on the mountain, and they will support the logistics such as vehicle and baggage transfers. This means that you will be able to travel nice and light when on foot, a 10 - 15L pack should suffice. Your overnight bags will be transported between accommodations by our support crew.
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Finally, you will meet another in-country support team when it comes to the Via Ferrata. This activity is led by a specialist local provider, and we are in their care for the duration of this activity. Your Rat Race team will be with you every step of the way,taking part in this activity alongside you.
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ALTITUDE
Altitude may influence some of us at some stage. When you combine this with fatigue, hear and humidity, that makes for a pretty tough challenge and your body will struggle to maintain equilibrium. It is important that you counter this as best you can by being really on top of your persoinal admin. Stay well hydrated, eat enough, manage your layers as best you can, wear sunscream and always make the most of an opportunity to have a good rest. It is going to be an awesome adventure and the more you can look after yourself and each other, the more you will get out of it. It won't be easy, but we guarantee that it will be worth the effort and it will be a great adventure.
CLIMATE
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Borneo is hot and humid, and this is the weather that we are expecting for this trip. Temperatures in the low to mid 30C are common, with humidity levels being high. Generally, managing your own welfare and hydration will be one of your biggest challenges for this event. However, we must also be prepared for cooler temperatures. Very heavy rain is not uncommon, and you may chill down if we are hit by heavy rain. Waterproofs are therefore mandatory. As we gain height, the temperature will cool. Warm layers are important for when we reach the mountain. Further details are shared in the kit list.
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We will share further advice about the heat, humidity and altitude to help you with your preparations for this trip.
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ALONG THE ROUTE
THE TERRAIN
The terrain over the days will be mixed. You can expect to encounter road, tracks, secondary jungle, some well-made trails, others perhaps a little more 'exploratory' and perhaps even some roped sections when up on the mountain.
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THE MOUNTAIN
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We use an out and back route to reach the mountain summit and the worlds highest via ferrata. The path is generally good, clear and easily walkable. There are some steeper sections that appear to be a bit of a scramble, and these sections may have ropes available for confidence. In reality, these can all be walked if you are sure footed. You may wish to use the ropes for additional sure security, particularly if the weather has been wet and the rock is slippery.
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ROUTEFINDING & GPS
We will NOT waymark the route. Except, for a small sections when our guide at the front thinks it is appropriate to do so or the route has to be diverted due to a fallen tree or similar diversion.
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In general, this event is operated with GPS as the main method of route guidance. YOU need to bring a GPS watch and a navigation device or application on your phone. It is imperative that you are well versed in the usage of your down device and that you are confident in their battery life and reliability.
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If you wish to rent a GPS watch from us, that is also possible at a cost of £50. This will have the GPX already downloaded and you will get tuition of how to use the watch on registration day. You can let us know on the online form if you wish to rent a GPS watch.
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As stated above, you will get to know your devices intimately on this event. We will also make available route GPX files for you to upload onto your own devices as you see fit. These files will be provided much closer to the commencement of the event, once we are satisfied, we have the final version to share. Experience has shown that we will never share the file until it is the final, final, final version. Or else we end up with version control issues that are hard to resolve.
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COURSE CUT OFFS & WITHDRAWALS
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This event is not about cut-offs. But, having a ‘cut-off’ and a ‘sweeping’ structure is an important part of our Event Management Plan and Risk Assessment processes. Cut off times are independent of any other factors that occur earlier in the course such as start time, injury, going the wrong way, time taken at Pit Stops; and whether it is your fault or not. We understand that missing cut offs can be tough to take but please remember this is not the crew member’s fault that breaks the news to you, should it happen to you. Please also remember that if this does happen to you, the Event team’s decision is final.
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If you are cut off, there will be no option to re-start from where you were cut off the next day. (The event only ever moves forwards). You may however re-start the next day from the official re-start location, subject to the discretion of the event team. There are a number of reasons why you may be cut-off or withdrawn from the event. These could be medical, pace, kit, personal or other factors. It is OK to retire and to be taken forward to the overnight spot. We’d rather you re-started the next day vs suffer meaninglessly and spoil it for yourself. We call this being ‘boosted. So far as the time available goes to avoid a cut-off, there is no ‘set’ cut off time each day. (i.e. Time limit or published time). Instead, we require all participants to be at the finish location before nightfall. If this is looking unlikely you will be ‘swept’ forward. That is the cut-off. Above all else, please remember, this event is not about cut-offs. It is about getting the most out of this magical environment. We will not cut you off and sweep you forward unless we really must. And if we do, it is for your own safety.
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‘Bedding down into the course’
It is probable that when you set off on the Challenge on day 1, the first hours of the first day may be a bit hit n’ miss. Pace, temperature regulation, kit selection, footwear or bag niggles. All to be expected. Embrace that ‘bedding down into it’ phase and listen to your body and to your kit. Expect some unexpected phenomena (not UFOs, just unusual kit or boot issues that you may not have quite been expecting). Use this time to just get used to the environment, the gear and the temperature. Go with it and relax. By Pit Stop 1 or 2, you’ll have worked out enough to be comfortable…
TRACKING DEVICE
At registration in Kota Kinabalu you will be issued with your tracker, (in a ziplock bag (with your name on) inside a small dry bag ). It is your responsibility to look after the device. This device not only allows those at home to follow you on the route, but it also acts as a tracker for us too, meaning we can see where you are throughout the event,
Tracking will go live on the morning of the first hiking day (i.e. the start of the event.
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The trackers rely on GSM signal to report, (which is generally very good across a lot of our route) but there is a delay on tracking. Sometimes, our team back at base will increase or decrease the reporting frequency, so those watching at home will sometimes not see your dot moving or see you moving very slowly. Or they may see you adrift from others in the group (for example if you have not turned the tracker on!).
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It is REALLY important that you ensure anyone watching at home knows this, for their own peace of mind and for our own safety systems. Experience shows that if someone watching at home does not understand this, they can sometimes unwittingly commence full rescue missions by panicking, calling in the cavalry and sparking confusion for us as organisers. As such, it really is a very important point to note.
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If we have any issues or snagging with tracker units, our basecamp team can see this, and we will pull them back in and reset them for you. As with the GPS units, you must return this device at the end of the event or whenever a member of staff asks for you to do so (for example to check a setting or to charge it). Do also hand to a member of staff should you drop out on any day. As with all electronic devices, there is a replacement cost. For the tracker, it is £150.
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Looking after your GPS kit and your tracker:
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Once we hand you your tracker or rented tech devices, it is your responsibility to look after the devices until you return them to us at the finish line in exchange for your medal.
All devices will be given to you at registration, and you will undergo a familiarisation session with them that day. You will also be issued with charging cable and other accessories, and it will be your responsibility to keep the devices charged and functional during the event.
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You must return all devices at the end of the event and until then, you keep them with you.
EVENT INSTRUCTIONS
EVENT REGISTRATION AND PRE-EVENT ADMIN
Formal Registration for the event is completed in 3 phases:
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1.) Online enrolment, payment – COMPLETE
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2.) Submission of online event details and medical form (by 22nd January) and online waiver all pre-event.
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3.) Physical registration at Kota Kinabalu on 23/03/2025. You will complete a final physical kit check with our event team, do a short final paperwork exercise including checking your insurance company contact details, present some ID and do a medial interview. You will also receive your event bib and bag tags, GPS devices, trackers and other items. There will of course be some briefings. If you have rented a GPS watch, we will hand these out at this time also. We will introduce you to the mighty team that will be with you every step of the way throughout the event.
EVENT REGISTRATION PACK
In Kota Kinabalu, there will be one event pack issued per person. Your Event Pack will contain:
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Race Bib
This must always be visible.
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Baggage Labels
For your overnight bag; Pit stop bag and your Race bag.
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Tracking Device
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Event T-shirt
If we do not receive your size you will be given a Large
PIT STOPS
Our provision will be made available to you throughout on the route daily at our pit stops. Each Pit Stop will feature staff, first aid support, comms and of course, some food and drink. Expect the odd cameo local snack appearance, some baked goods from time to time, plenty of sweets and salty snacks and loads of fresh fruit.
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Please pack your own hearty supply of snacks and electrolytes that you enjoy on the trail too. These can be stored in your day packs and topped up each night when you are reunited with your overnight bags.
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BAGS
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There are 3 bags you need for this event:
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1. Day pack for the hike/run stages – You will use this bag to carry food, water and other supplies during the trekking. Please make sure it is big enough to carry all the mandatory kit. You can choose to carry water in a bladder or water bottles.
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2. Trek/Run Bag – This should be a 10-20L backpack, big enough to carry everything you need for the run stages and the mountain trek sections. This must be big enough to contain all mandatory kit.
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3. Main overnight bag - This should be a soft duffel or hold-all (please, no hard cases) and be capable of carrying all the kit you will not be wearing during the biking or trekking stages. It must be one bag (not a series of bags) but your sleeping bag can be separate. Size is not too important – up to 120l is OK as we do realise all this kit is bulky. In general, we ask that you attempt to get this bag to around the 23kg mark (this is the upper limit for most ‘standard’ airline checked luggage anyway).This bag will be left with our event team each day and you will have access to it each evening.
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ID
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By entering this event you agreed that you have entered in your own name (not nickname) and will bring photographic ID to event Registration at Kota Kinabalu to prove your identity. Clearly, having got on an aircraft in a seat booked in your own name, this should not be too difficult! It is however a requirement for us to know categorically know who at the event, hence the final physical ID check.
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AVOIDING KIT CATASTROPHE IN TRANSIT
It is not impossible that your gear may not arrive with you into Borneo. In general, the longer you are in country, the easier this is to solve. Once you start travelling away from major airports, getting re-united with lost bags becomes harder. However, it is not impossible and if you do lose bags or if they do not arrive, it does not necessarily spell certain doom. However, to avoid the chances of total catastrophe, we would recommend that you do travel with some event clothing in your hand luggage: A set of hiking/running kit, something to wear top and bottom, a hat, some footwear would be minimum recommended. Indeed, you can travel wearing this gear.
Experience tells us that if you arrive wearing or physically carrying some of what you need, the likelihood of getting you on the start-line increases dramatically, vs those who entire event kit is in their hold baggage, making its way around a carousel in the wrong airport far, far away.
MANDATORY KIT LIST
MANDATORY KIT LIST
Some of the kit listed is to help you have a safe experience and have the best chance of finishing every day. Some of this kit is to ensure that if you are unable to continue without our assistance then we can be confident of you having the level of equipment required to keep you as comfortable as possible whilst you wait for that assistance to arrive. Some of it is simply to keep you from freezing or boiling alive in the heat! It is serious stuff so please do take everything we ask with you. 
Your kit should be packed into 2 bags.
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Overnight Bag – This is your large hold luggage style bag. This should be no bigger than 120L / 23KG. This should be a soft waterproof or water resistant duffel bag, NOT a hard suitcase.
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Trek / Run Bag – This should be a 10-20L backpack, big enough to carry everything you need for the run stages and the mountain trek sections. This must be big enough to contain all mandatory kit.
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The full mandatory kit list can be viewed below, please check well in advance on kit. We have devised the mandatory kit list for your protection and safety, and we will not be able to make any exceptions on required items.
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RUNNING/HIKING KIT​​
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Running / trekking pack, minimum 10L
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Running trainers or Lightweight boots – good grip is essential.
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Ample socks / underwear
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Shorts & T shirts
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Long loose-fitting layers – useful for fending off leeches!
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Warm layers (tights / micro fleece etc) for mountain day
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Waterproof jacket
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Waterproof trousers
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Beanie & light gloves
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Sun hat & sunglasses
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Trek or Running Poles
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Salts and electrolytes
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Personal snacks
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Survival bag
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Footcare kit – anything extra you may need for this that is not already covered in health & hygiene sections
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GPS Navigation enabled running watch (owned, or hired from RR)
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GPX files downloaded to watch and mobile
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Minimum 2L fluid carrying capacity. Ideal setup = 1 x 2L bladder for water, 2 x 0.5L soft flasks for energy / electrolyte drinks mixes and 1 x reusable cup for drinks at Pit Stops.
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SLEEPING​
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Sleeping bag - 2 seasons is fine, there will be additional blankets
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Ear plugs - these are important!
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Eye mask​
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GENERAL​
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Head torch and spare batteries
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Power pack and charging cables
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Local sim or roaming package
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Sunglasses
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Pen knife or multi-tool
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Gaffa tape
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Snacks/treats
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Drybags or varying sizes to organise and separate kit
KOTA KINABALU KIT CHECK
We would have undertaken another webinar Q&A in advance of travelling to Borneo. However, we will reserve the right to inspect some or all of your kit upon arrival in Borneo.
As a minimum we will be checking:
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Sleeping bag
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Waterproofs
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A working headtorch
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A first aid kit containing the minimum mandatory items (see relevant section)
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Suitable footwear
There is not instant access to sports shops in Kota Kinabalu and the ability to ‘fill in any gaps’ is therefore heavily reduced; however, we can assist in the event of major kit catastrophe
FIRST AID
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Our minimum spec for mandatory medical kit (to be carried at all times) is as follows:
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· 1 x triangular bandage
· 1 x crepe roll bandage
· Gauze or similar absorbent dressing
· Small set of scissors
· Pain Killers (paracetamol)
· Steri-Strips
· Antiseptic (spray or cream)
· Assorted plasters
· Rubber gloves
· Prescribed medication
· Zinc oxide tape
· Personal footcare kit (K tape, Compeed – various sizes and non-
adhesive dressings
· Lube stick
· Sudacrem
· Sun cream
· Lip Balm with SPF
· Vitamins
GENERAL CLOTHING
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General Clothing
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Casual clothes for the evenings and travelling
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Shorts / T Shirts for daily wear
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Swimming costume
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Fleece
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Down or synthetic Jacket – it is generally hot, but you should have a lightweight down jacket for the morning and evening on the mountain – it will get cold!
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Thermal top and leggings
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Beanie
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Underwear & Socks
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Trainers or boots
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Flipflops or sandals to air your feet
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Sunhat
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Outfit for a meal out/celebration
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​HYGIENE
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Travel towel​
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Washbag
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Toothbrush & pasta
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Shower gel
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Alcohol gel
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Tissues and lighter
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Wet wipes
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Rubbing alcohol (small 50-100ml for footcare)
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Nail brush
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Bin bag/dry bag to contain personal litter if required
ITINERARY
The days below are counted from ‘arrival and meeting day’, which is the day we pick you up from the airport and drive to Kota Kinabalu.
DAY ONE / MEETING AND TRAVEL DAY
Saturday 22nd March 2025
We will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to our accommodation. The day is your own to rest and explore the city, before coming together for a sunset, waterfront dinner in the city that same evening.
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Meals: Dinner will be provided.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kota Kinabalu, Twin Bedrooms
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DAY TWO / REG, GEAR PREP, BRIEFING AND OPTIONAL ISLAND TOUR
Sunday 23rd March 2025
After breakfast we'll go straight into our adventure briefing and registration process. Today is a good chance to get used to the heat and humidity you'll be running or trekking in over the next 4 days. In the afternoon there's an opportunity to go to Manuken Island for a very light walk, wildlife spotting and a spot of snorkelling for those who are up for a bit of exploring. This will be a leisurely paced afternoon, with the prime objectives being acclimatisation and local exploration.
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Meals: Breakfast and dinner provided
Accommodation: 2nd night in Hotel in Kota Kinabalu, Twin bedrooms
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DAY THREE / THE ADVENTURE BEGINS
Monday 24th March 2025
Here we go! Our journey to Mount Kinabalu begins with an early alarm call and a vehicle transfer from our city centre hotel to the trips starting point on the coast. Once we arrive at our starting point, there's time for a quick 2nd breakfast before setting off on foot on what will be an absolute whopper of a day! Starting from sea level we will hoover up 58km on road. With over 900m of elevation it's a bit of a beast as we march towards the jungle.
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This day has good vehicle access throughout, so you can expect plenty of the famous Rat Race Pit Stops with cold drinks, fresh fruit and a few other goodies.
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Meals: Breakfast, pit stops, lunch and dinner provided
Accommodation: Mountain Foothills, Dorm Style Rooms
Distance: 12 miles/20km
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DAY FOUR / INTO THE JUNGLE (17KM)
Tuesday 25th March 2025
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If you know the jungle you know not to be fooled by the 'short' distance. Today is just 17km but the terrain is entirely off-road, tricky, technical and slippery underfoot. Today we'll rack up anther 1200m of elevation and in the Test Pilot event this took our #ratracers nearly 7 hours to get through!
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You will see that poles are on the kit list, and they can be particularly useful on Day 2, given that there are several slippery, steep sections.
Accommodation: Mountain Foothills, Dorm Style rooms
Meals: Breakfast, pit stop lunch, dinner
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DAY FIVE / THE ASCENT CONTINUES (32KM)
Wednesday 26th March 2025
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An early start today (but not as early as tomorrow!) as we set off on our punchy 32km route with a whopping 2800 m (yes, metres!) of elevation gain to go from 1000m above sea level to over 3000m!
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​The route today can be divided into 2 distinct parts. Part 1 is 17km almost entirely on road from the accommodation to the entrance of the National Park. This is to be completed as a run or a fast walk.
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Part 2 is within the National Park and sees us take on 5km on road before turning onto the 'proper steep' ascent on the mountain trails. Once of the mountain trails, we will ascent all the way up to the final Mountain Hut accommodation.
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By the end of the day, the summit is now firmly in our sights and tomorrow we'll set off in the dark to reach the summit at sunrise.
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Accommodation: Mountain hut, dorm style
Meals: Breakfast, pit stop lunch and dinner
DAY SIX / SUMMIT AT SUNRISE AND VIA FERRATA (14KM)
Thursday 27th March 2025
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After a 2am wakeup call and with our headtorches strapped on we will begin our final push to the summit just in time for sunrise. Fingers crossed that we are blessed by the weather gods for a glorious summit view!
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After the obligatory photos on the top of the highest mountain in Malaysia we will descend to the world's highest Via Ferrate for an adrenaline filled activity and a once in a lifetime opportunity to tick this off your list. All equipment is provided and with local guides on hand no previous experience of this is needed, just a keen sense of adventure! We will then continue our descent back to the edge of the park and our glorious finish line. After we've kicked off the celebrations here, we'll jump aboard our transfer vehicles to continue the party back at our beach resort hotel.
Meals: Basic breakfast, pit stop lunch, celebration dinner
Accommodation: Twin bedrooms, beach resort
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​DAY SEVEN/ HOME TIME
Friday 28th March 2025
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After a final breakfast together, we will arrange early morning transfers to Kota Kinabalu airport for this who are heading home. If you are looking to relax and catch up on some sleep ahead of your journey home, we would recommend booking another night at our resort to recharge those batteries after this epic adventure (extra nights can be booked by contacting us on office@ratrace.com.
Accommodation: N/A
Meals: Breakfast provided
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MEDICAL OPERATION & PARTICIPANT SAFETY
MEDICAL OPERATIONS
Trailmed are the official medical provider for Rat Race and they provide specialist advice and support for all of our events. We will be joined by a Trailmed Medic for the duration of our trip. However, the support they give us starts well before that and we ask that you all complete the below form to allow our medical provider get to know you. Please complete your medical declaration via this link
If you have any medical concerns about your participation in this event, you can discuss this with the Trailmed team by reaching out to them at office@trailmed.co.uk. It is imperative that we all keep our health standards at a high level and to be open and honest about possible issues before they become a problem. We will be taking an advanced medical kit with us, including emergency care kit plus various tapes, lotions and other items to assist in possible hiking/running-specific injury and preventative care. Please seek advice from your own doctor regarding inoculations for Malaysia. You can find guidance on the Gov.uk website here.
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MEDICAL PRE- SCREENING
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We have invited you to have a medical screening process, which can be completed via the link here. Please complete this as soon as possible – and certainly please, no later than 22nd January 2025. If you do have any condition that you feel we should know about, however small you feel it may be, please do share this with our Medics. Experience has shown that early pre-screening can assist both us and you greatly in enabling the care you need pre and during the trip. If you do not share information on conditions which are likely to affect your participation or decide to share them very late in the process, we are all under pressure and we will always reserve the right to cancel your participation if we feel there is a medical issue that may affect yours, or others’ safety. So please, do share anything and everything you feel our team should know about, at the earliest opportunity.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS AND MEDICAL INFORMATION:
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We are very fortunate to have an excellent Medical Director providing oversight, planning and screening on all of our international trips, who in turn engages seriously professional and qualified staff to join you on the trip. Rat Race also conforms and has been audited to the rigorous BS8848 standard of expedition management. This means our approach to all things safety and medical is extremely thorough and it is designed throughout with your best interest at heart.
Your medical screening details will be sent direct to our medical team and under medical confidentiality rules, this will only be shared with our medics and no-one else. If they decide this is info that is in the best interests of everyone for us as organisers to be privy to, they will seek and gain your consent before doing so. It is therefore important you complete the link to the medical survey only which can be found HERE; do not send Rat Race medical information direct. If you have any queries at all on the medical side of things in relation to this event, you can email our Medical Director, Dr Patrick Musto and his team directly and confidentially on office@trailmed.co.uk and he will assist.
GENERAL SAFETY AROUND VEHICLES
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This event takes place on the trail there are some points that we crossroads or run for sections along the roads. Whilst traffic is extremely light!), there are still vehicles. We do of course have our own event vehicles operating and you may therefore come across our own vehicles or others. Vigilance must be taken at all times.
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LITTER
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We want to show that this event has exemplary control of littering. Please help us achieve that. Pack your litter into your pack, pockets or nearby bin bag (trash sack) at a vehicle. No exceptions. Borneo is a beautiful environment, and our absolute commitment is to keep it that way.
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EMERGENCY PROTOCOL
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In the event of a true emergency or serious incident you will be notified of protocols at the orientation in Kota Kinabalu. If you are with an injured party whilst on the route, stay with the casualty and await assistance. In the event of a non-emergency incident but for which action is requested from the organisers, then you should place a call (we will give you numbers) or if no phone reception, you should send a message forward to the next Pit Stop with another participant if possible and/or await an event crew member approaching via vehicle/or on foot from behind. This might be medical, logistical or kit/ equipment breakdown as examples. We politely ask that you stop and help someone that is in difficulty – you will be the first person to find them – remember to take note of time, place (number of km, or minutes/ hours from last Pit Stop) and participant number/ name at the incident site. Remember we are all in it together and we are in effect one big team.
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MUSIC PLAYERS
While these are allowed, please control their volume according to your environment. Always use your judgment when listening to music or audiobooks. Please also be aware that if you cannot hear general voice levels you might miss instructions or warnings from crew, other participants or approaching vehicles. We suggest that you run the leads behind you so that persons or vehicles approaching from behind might be able to see that you are wired for sound.
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EVENT BIB
Ensure your Bib is attached to some of your clothing and visible at all times.
INSURANCE FOR YOU AND YOUR EQUIPMENT
We have asked that you have in place Travel Insurance cover and specified Evacuation cover to last for a minimum period of the event from 22nd to 28th March 2025 duration, for the days you are with us on the published itinerary. Evacuation and medical expenses cover should total no less than $500 000. We recommend that participants have insurance to cover damage, loss, theft, injury and non-attendance. Rat Race cannot accept any responsibility for the loss of, theft, or damage to any Participant property or the circumstances of Participant non-attendance. Within the 12 week departure window, we cannot provide any transfers and in all cases, we cannot entertain requests for refunds. We respectfully remind all participants that unforeseen circumstances preventing attendance is what travel insurance is designed for and is the reason for this as a strong recommendation on such undertakings. You should submit copies of your insurance via the Event Details Form. Alongside this, we ask that medical screening is completed, plus an online waiver. Please see the actions list at the bottom of this document for details.
Some suggested providers are as follows:
For UK and Channel Island residents Rat Race’s own insurer brokers have a brand-new product:
https://www.mannbroadbent.co.uk/sports-travel-insurance/.
Note: This is Rat Race’s UK-based insurance broker, specialising in the leisure insurance market. This is a specialist sports travel cover product; however Rat Race is neither an insurance broker or underwriter. We can recommend Mann Broadbent wholeheartedly as good people to deal with, but please remember that this is not a ‘Rat Race product’ and we have no say whatsoever on claims decisions made by the insurers, in the event that you raise such a claim via one of these policies.
Other Providers:
www.battleface.com
Note: We have no relationship with any of these providers, but previous customers have found them reasonable to deal with regarding some of our similar Bucket List challenges.
Note: For all insurance, please remember that cover is offered based on several factors, (the nature of the event disciplines being one of them), but your own insurance profile, age, health and other details form a big part of this. As such, we are always happy to provide details to insurers in support of cover requests from customers, but we cannot influence their decisions as to whether to offer cover to individuals.
SUN & HEAT
Please carefully review our Sun & Heat safety guidance issued by our medical partner Trail Med.
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POOR WEATHER CONTINGENCY
The weather will be monitored leading up to event and on the itinerary days. There are itinerary options if the weather is not on our side. You will be kept informed of any changing scenarios. The event will proceed in many conditions, but if it is deemed unsafe to continue due to weather conditions, the event will be halted at the current accommodation. If required, we will await more favorable conditions to re- commence. This may result in some stages being cut short in order to achieve daily mileages within the time available. In all cases, the decision of the Expedition management team is final in this matter.
EVACUATION PLANNING
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You have already been made aware that this is a serious undertaking in remote terrain. We have vehicles in support throughout the trek, there are some locations to which we can get a vehicle but in general, these are far less accessible. Whilst helicopter evacuation is possible for the most serious of matters, it is not always a-given that a helicopter can fly (night, weather, wind, lack of landing spot or winch capability). You need to be fully aware therefore that an evacuation from the event where vehicle access is not possible is an extremely serious undertaking. In the event that such an undertaking is deemed to be required, it may be that YOU become part of the safety system. We will reserve the right at all times to call upon members of the Event, alongside crew, to assist in any evacuation activity whatsoever required in order to remedy the situation as quickly and decisively as possible. This may involve diverting off the route, assisting with casualty-bearing and load-carrying, or other duties.
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You should also know that the evacuation time at certain parts of the course could be considerable. It is important that we state unequivocally that we cannot remove all risk from such an undertaking, nor would we state such. You are entering an area where the remoteness of the undertaking and the slowness of possible evacuation could result in Death. Mitigation of such scenarios is our number one priority. Your ability to reduce the risk posed by trauma is key: Taking your time, particularly on steep descents, descending rough ground in a carefully controlled manner is all part of this mitigation against injury. Your use of trekking poles for example will also help on the trekking section. You must take your time, undertake each event phase very much with a clear understanding of the environment you are in and come to the table with a team mentality on this one. That way, we will stay safe, and we will mitigate and reduce the risks outlined above.
Participant Safety Advice
1. General safety around vehicles – We will be travelling back and forth to accommodation. The transport has been checked before use. There is movement on roads please be vigilant throughout.
2. Litter – We want to show that this event has exemplary control of littering. Please help us achieve that. Pack your litter into your pack, pockets or nearby bin bag. No exceptions. We have a clear leave no trace policy. This needs to be adhered to throughout the whole trip. Failure to do so will jeopardise future trips.
3. Weather – Borneo is normally hot and humid, and we expect to experience this weather the majority of the time. Please be diligent with your fluid, salts and electrolyte intake. In addition, be sure to pace yourself as best you can and inform the team if you are struggling with the heat and / or feeling unwell. Please read the separate heat advice document that we share with you.
4. Altitude – It is likely that we will all feel the effects of altitude at some point. Please read the attached handbook and as always, let a member of the team know if you are feeling unwell at any point on the trip.
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OTHER ADMIN MATTERS
EVENT ETHOS:
‘RACING’ AND OUR FINISH TIMES SERVICE
Completing not competing. Rat Race’s ethos has always been about inspiring folk to undertake challenges in awesome outdoor locations. Borneo Sea to Summit is just that, taken to an epic level. This is not a formal race environment and there are no winners and losers. We do not award prizes for the fastest folk. There will be no splits. Indeed, there will be no timings. Rat Race totally appreciate the incredible commitment of those taking on the challenges we lay down and each participant is as important as the next regardless of how fast you can cover the distance. This is akin far more to an expeditionary undertaking than anything else.
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In delivering this unique challenge we prioritise factors such as safety, camaraderie and environmental concerns. Respecting the wishes of local stakeholders with our route management and litter policies is vital in being able to bring folk together for this unique experience. Safety above all else is paramount, as you will fully appreciate. To reasonably balance all these factors, we emphasise that the event is not a formal race environment, rather it is a challenge in the great outdoors where great folk come together with a common purpose.
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LOCAL PAYMENTS
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Most locations in Borneo take credit and debit cards. Having some local currency is a good idea however. When we are staying in hotels, you may charge incidentals to your room if the hotel has that facility. All room accounts should be settled prior to leaving the accommodation in each location. If hotel room bills remain unsettled Rat Race will reserve the right to charge your nominated card, plus a $20 admin charge per unpaid bill.
Comms coverage and data
Mobile signal and / or wifi may be patchy at times. It is not likely that you will have consistent access to this. Finally, we have included an action check-list so you may tick off the preevent jobs arising from this Essential Event Information document.
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CHECK LIST
• Please complete the Participant Information Form ​
• Please complete the Medical Declaration Form
• Please check all entry requirements – it is your responsibility.
• Photocopy all of your documentation to bring with you
• Bring a copy of your insurance details​
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CONTACT DETAILS AND ACTIONS CHECK LIST
1.) For ALL pre-event email correspondence prior to departure:
james.campbell@ratrace.com - Challenge-based questions, kit, training, route, prep . My mobile number will be shared and a WhatsApp group will be setup closer to the event date.
office@ratrace.com - Admin-based questions
office@trailmed.co.uk - Medical-based advice or discussion on medical conditions in confidence
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2.) For specific arrivals and pre-trip issues to Borneo in the immediate day’s pre-arrival – We ask that you use email in the first instance and assistance shall be provided by a team member best placed to assist. You will also be issued phone numbers for this arrivals period which will be issued much nearer the time.
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3.) Emergency correspondence from people who need to get in touch with you (i.e. from those who need to contact you) IN EMERGENCY ONLY while you are embarked on the event: events@ratrace.com
The originator should quote ‘Emergency correspondence for (yourname)’ in the email title and they must provide a phone number for return comms. This will be patched through to our crew’s mobile phones, (or satellite messaging platform if we are out of reception) from our office and a satellite phone will be made available for you to return the comms to the originator. We would aim to provide a suitable response period of within 24 hrs for this service to the originator. Please, please, please do tell your family and supporters not to contact us about Tracker Emergencies!
FINAL CHECK LIST
Submitted no later than the 22nd January 2025
Submitted no later than the 22nd January 2025
1830 UK Time - Thursday, 13th February 2025
That’s it. Pheeeww! See you in Borneo.
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James Campbell
Rat Race Event Manager