ESSENTIAL EVENT INFORMATION 2025
RAT RACE 100: CASTLE TO CASTLE 2025
ARE YOU READY TO TAKE ON OUR FIRST EVER 100 MILE ULTRAMARATHON?
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This is our Essential Event Information Document, which contains a comprehensive round up of everything you need to know. In July you’ll be stood at the gate of Bamburgh Castle with 100 miles of adventure ahead of you as you weave your way along the stunning Northumberland coastline and cross the border into Scotland heading towards the iconic Edinburgh Castle. We can’t say that it will be easy, but we can promise you're going to have an incredible time on our first ever 100 miler and it will be worth every ounce of effort! With the unwavering support of our crew, volunteers and your fellow #ratracers we are confident you're going to cross the finish line victorious having achieved something spectacular.
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IMPORTANT UPDATE: We have recently added in an extra Pit Stop and and extra bag drop option for you vs what has been previously published on the website. This means we have enhanced the support available to you on the course and it has subsequently affected the naming of the Pit Stops only aka Pit Stop 5 which was previously at 60 miles is now at 48 miles. Pit Stop 6 is now the Dunbar Pit Stop and first sleep station at 60 miles which is unchanged in terms of service. This means the cut offs have altered slightly in terms of timings previously published, but the time available to you on the course is the same. We have also added in an earlier small bag drop option for you if you wish to access resupplies at Pit Stop 4 which is at 43 miles.
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Due to the scale and nature of Rat Race Events, changes to the course, structure and timings sometimes need to be made right up to 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 this EEI before travelling to the event.
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 This EEI was last updated on: 17/06/2025
PRE-EVENT ACTIONS:
REGISTRATION REMINDERS:
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Registration is open from 12:00-22:00 in Bamburgh Pavillion, The Wynding, Bamburgh NE69 7DB.
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Online Disclaimers must be completed before you register. You will be required to show your disclaimer completion confirmation email at the entrance of Registration before progressing to kit check.
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You will need to bring the key items listed in the Kit List section of this document for inspection at kit check. 
SKIP TO SECTION
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
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Online Disclaimer MUST be completed before Registration, you can do this HERE. You will be required to show your disclaimer completion confirmation email at the entrance of Registration before progressing to kit check and tracker collection.
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Registration is on Friday 18th July between 1200 - 2200 Bamburgh Pavillion, The Wynding, Bamburgh NE69 7DB. You must register between these times, there is no option to register on the morning of the event.
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Adventure packs will be posted out in advance of the event. UK residents should expect to receive their adventure pack around 1-2 weeks before the event. International participants will be required to collect their adventure pack from Registration. Please ensure you have your current address on your entry, you can update this by logging into your Rat Race account by 18th June. You must update your address within your specific RR100 entry within your account. You MUST bring your adventure pack to Registration with you on 18th.
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Starting time:  your bib number (provided in your Adventure pack) is an essential part of your participation in the event. You will need it to gain entry to the start venue and to gain access to the support available at our Pit Stops along the route. We will be setting everybody off together in a mass start at 0700. We encourage you to line up in accordance with how you plan to take on the event; IE faster runners towards the front, walkers towards the back. We will not be implementing start ‘waves’ on this occasion.
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Kit check  of key items at Registration. You will need to bring these key items with you and will only be able to progress to tracker collection when you have passed kit check. More information on the key items required can be found in the Kit List section.
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The transfer deadline is 18th June 2025. You can find more information on our transfer policy  HERE and submit a request via your RR account. We are unable to process any transfer requests or make any exceptions after the deadline has passed.​
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Top Tips: Read our blog HERE with answers to our most asked 100-miler questions.
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Trackers will be picked up at Registration. We will be using Open Tracking. Details on how to track and tracking link will be shared in the 1 week to go email.
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The start is at Bamburgh Castle at 0700 on the 19th July.
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Bag drops and toilets are available in the castle car park next to the start line on the morning of the event, this will be signposted, no cars can access this car park. Please ensure you bags are clearly labelled, bag tags will be provided in your adventure pack. See Bag section for more info.
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Spectator start line parking is available for £5 on the morning of the event and can be purchased through your account via your event entry. Parking passes will be in your adventure pack. Please follow the signage to ensure you are parked in the correct car park and not the long stay, weekend parking.
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Spectators must follow our guidance notes to avoid being turned away at key locations. 
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Waymarking: This event is fully waymarked. Please follow the waymarking at all times. If we need to change any parts of the route during the event, we will change the waymarking whilst the event is live. This is not possible for the GPX file, so even if you have the GPX file downloaded, the waymarking takes precedent on the day. We will issue the GPX file in the 1 week to go email.
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Road Safety: This event takes place on public paths, shared access trails and live roads. There are no closed road sections please always exercise caution.
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Route: We have strict arrangements and routings agreed with landowners and authorities, it is important that you follow all RR signage you see including instructions. If we ask you to close a gate behind you, you MUST take the time to do so.
LOGISTICS
HOW TO GET TO THE EVENT
If you are completing this event without a support team the best way to travel to this event is in a car and parking it in our car park at Bamburgh and using our post-event bus service back to the car park. It is not a location easily reached by public transport. If you are an international participant, we strongly recommend hiring a car from the airport and driving to the event and utilising this service.
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You can book parking and bus transport from your Rat Race account in your event entry, by scrolling to the bottom of your entry and adding extras.
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If you are planning to use public transport we have popped some guidance below.
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The nearest small train station is Chathill, please note this is still 6 miles+ from Bamburgh Pavillion. Berwick train station and Alnmouth station have more frequent services and are both approx 20 miles from Bamburgh. You can view train times and book tickets on www.trainline.com
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Local bus services will not get you to the startline in time, but you can view all the public transport options available to you on Friday on this website: https://www.rome2rio.com/ which can help you plan your journey.
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GETTING TO THE START​
You have three options for event morning, and this should tie into your finish line departure plan.
1) Rat Race spectator parking available to book through your Rat Race account or at Registration (subject to availability)
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If your support team are dropping you at the start line on Saturday and cheering you on as you start your adventure, they can book a spot in our event car park for £5. Please ensure they follow the signage for spectator parking. This is at Links Rd, Bamburgh NE69 7AX and it is a 800m walk to the start line.
2) Pre-booked Taxi
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Please be aware that Uber or similar on-demand services are NOT available in this location. If you are getting here without the help of supporters or your own vehicles, you will need to pre-book a taxi. Our Start venue is not close to any major transport hubs, so due to it’s location and the early start time, you MUST pre-book your taxi if you plan to arrive at this time. We have put some local taxi numbers below:
Covering Seahouses, Beadnell, Bamburgh & Surrounds.
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Parks Taxis based in Seahouses is 01665 720542. 8 Seater service.
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Barrons Minibuses 01668 219100
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Dial a ride - 01665 720955 or mobiles: 07919215910 & 07919215912
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Alnmouth & Alnwick
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Knights Taxi Alnmouth 01665 714555 (useful for journeys from Alnmouth Station)
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Petes Taxis Alnwick 01665 605199
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ABC Taxis 01665 603000
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C&R Private Hire 01665 602460
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Yellow Taxi - 01665 541250
Berwick upon Tweed
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Berwick Taxis - 01289 307771
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Woodys Taxi and Minibuses - 01289 309366
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3) Rat Race Long Stay Parking (available all weekend) available to book through your Rat Race account.
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If you wish to park up, leave your vehicle at the start line, then travel back to the start line after the event, we have 2 options for this. These must be pre-booked via your RR account and are available on a first come first served basis. You can book this parking in conjunction with a Rat Race bus ticket for £60 per person (includes parking for 1 car). Or you can book just the parking and make your own way back to the car park for £25 per vehicle. This is at Links Rd, Bamburgh NE69 7AX and it is a 800m walk to the start line. Please note all cars must be clear of this car park by 6pm on Tuesday 22nd July otherwise they will be towed by the local authority.
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Both car parks will open at 0500 on Saturday 19th July. You cannot access the car park any earlier than this and they are not available on Friday.
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GETTING AWAY FROM THE FINISH
There are 3 options available to you once you finish.
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1) Supporter Pickup
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The easiest way on those tired legs! Our finish line venue is easily accessible by road. Please note, there is no designated event parking for our finish line venue due to the city centre location. The nearest public car park to the finish line venue is the NCP Castle Terrace car park EH1 2EW.
2) Public Transport
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Uber and taxi’s will be widely available in Edinburgh City Centre. The train station is a 10 minute walk away.
3)Rat Race Coach Transfer back to Bamburgh
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​We have 4 buses from the finish line back to Bamburgh. These are available with pre-booking only, and spots are on a first come first served basis. Bus times will be departing Edinburgh on King Stables Road by Princes Street Garden at:
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Sunday 20th July 6pm
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Monday 21st July 10am
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Monday 21st July 6pm
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Tuesday 22nd July 10am
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We appreciate that your event may not go to plan and you end up finishing at a different time than you originally planned. If you miss your prebooked bus we will get you on the next one that has available seats. This may be the following day so you should be prepared to book accommodation if this happens to you or to find alternatives if you cannot wait. No refunds will be given in this instance for your bus ticket.
You can book your bus seat which includes weekend parking in Bamburgh from your account in your event entry.
REGISTRATION INFO
HOW TO GET THERE
Registration is at Bamburgh Pavillion on the 18th July ONLY between 1200 - 2200. There is no Registration available on the Saturday morning before the start. 
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The postcode for Registration is NE69 7DB, please park locally and considerately if travelling by car. There are many local car park options available, but this is a busy tourist area and you may have to park further away and walk to Registration.
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REGISTRATION STEPS
1) Adventure Pack - You will receive your adventure pack through the post 1-2 weeks before the event. International participants will need to collect their race packs in person on 18th July from the international pack pick up desk at Registration. 
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2) Disclaimer - Show your online disclaimer confirmation email at the entrance of Registration and receive your RR100 Castle to Castle Ultramarathon Rat Rag.  You can complete the online disclaimer now HERE, it takes 2 mins and we encourage you to do this now and certainly well in advance of the event to avoid any delays for you on the day.
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3) Mandatory Kit Check - We will need to see the some specific key items to allow you to proceed, please see the  KIT LIST SECTION  for a list of the kit we will be checking at Registration and ensure you bring all of the items to Registration with you.​
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4) Tracker Collection - You will be issued your tracker from Open Tracking. There will be a link available on the website closer to the event for you to share with friends/family so they can track your progress over the weekend. There is some important guidance on the trackers below so please do ensure you read this. 
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Registration complete!
INCIDENT CONTACTS DURING THE EVENT
1. For all incidents contact the Race Director or Medical Team
2.Failing this, in the event of a true emergency or serious incident call 999....then inform the Race Director or Medical Team
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NOTE: Emergency numbers are issued at Registration. Text or call back if you do not get through. DO NOT leave voicemails. The Rat Race phoneline is only active during this event.
PRE-ORDERED T-SHIRTS
If you pre-ordered an 2025 event tech t-shirt, these will be available for collection during Registration on Friday 18th July. These will NOT be at the finish line after the event, if you do not collect your pre-ordered t-shirt we can post this to you after the event but you will have to pay for postage. Please try to remember to pick it up at Registration, it will be clearly signposted.
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TRACKER
You will be issued with your Tracker from Open Tracking at Registration.
The trackers rely on GSM & satellite 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!). 
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.  
You must return this device at the end of the event there is a charge levied of £150 for any tracker that is not returned.
The tracking link can be found on the RR100 Castle to Castle Ultramarathon website closer to the event. 
BAG DROP & SLEEP STATIONS
We will move up to 5 bags for you at the Rat Race 100. You will drop all of these with us on the Saturday morning at the start line. If you have a support team they can bring your bags to you if you prefer, they can also take them from you when you are finished with them. You do not have to use this service but it's there if you need it. Note: supporters cannot access Pit Stop 4 so if you want to use the Dowlaw drop bag option you will need to leave that with us at the startline.
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IMPORTANT: Your drop bags/contents MUST be waterproofed as they will be exposed to the elements at various stages during their transport. Your bag labels will be provided in your adventure pack.
1) ​Sleep Station Bag up to 5kg and 15L
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You will choose in advance your designated sleep station, on the morning of the event you are responsible for putting your labelled sleep station bag on the correct van, they will be signposted to the 3 different sleep stations that you can choose between:
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Pit Stop 6: 60 miles
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Pit Stop 7: 73 miles
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Pit Stop 8: 82 miles
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Please note, sleep stations were previously advertised as being PS5, PS6 and PS7. They are now PS6, PS7 and PS8. We have not changed the sleep station locations further along the route, we have added an earlier Pit Stop so the subsequent names have changed.
You only need to drop this bag if you wish to factor a sleep break into your 100 mile attempt. You are not obliged to. If you do plan to sleep, we would recommend a power nap of no longer than 90 minutes - 3 hours max.
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Please note you cannot change your sleep station once you have dropped your bag off with us at the start. It cannot be transported to another location. This bag will only be transported onwards to the finish.
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Your Sleep Station bag should be a small backpack or duffel bag containing no more than:
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Sleeping bag
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Small pillow
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Rollmat ​
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Eye mask & Earplugs
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Reminder you have a second bag you can access at this location.
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​​​Sleep station facilities will be a warm room where you can find space to set up and get some shut eye. There are no beds provided so we recommend a good roll mat or thermarest style inflatable mat for comfort but it is personal choice.
2) Dowlaw Drop Bag (PS4 – 43 miles) up to 5kg and 15L
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This bag is intended as a small resupply bag of your nutrition or a spare pair of socks etc. This comes straight after the most technical and difficult section of the route as you go over St Abb’s head – if it’s wet you might appreciate new socks! We would recommend a dry bag of about 10L as an easily transportable option.
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3) Dunbar Drop Bag (PS6 – 60 miles) up to 5kg and 15L
Recommended items for here would be spare clothes, a change of shoes as the route from here is predominantly road, spare socks, toothbrush and toothpaste, a top up of snacks and nutrition.
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After you have finished with this bag we will transport it to the finish for you.
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4) Aberlady Drop Bag (PS8 – 83 miles) up to 5kg and 15L
Recommended items for this bag would be spare clothes, spare socks, a top up of snacks and nutrition. Maybe something to help push you through this last section!
After you have finished with this bag we will transport it to the finish for you.
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5) Finish line bag up to 15kg and 70L
We ask that these are duffel style vs hard suitcases. This will go straight to the finish from the start and it will be waiting for you in Edinburgh.
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Supporters may bring you additional items to the Pit Stops.
MANDATORY KIT LIST
IMPORTANT: Head torches are mandatory, so please do not put this piece of kit in any of your drop bags. They MUST be carried at all times.
MANDATORY KIT
Some of the kit listed is to help you have a safe experience and have the best chance of finishing. Some of this kit is to ensure that if you are unable to continue without our assistance, we can be confident of you having the equipment required to keep you as comfortable as possible whilst you wait for assistance. Spot checks are conducted throughout the event and you will not be able to continue if you are found to not be carrying the requisite items.
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MANDATORY KIT LIST
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Running pack/vest or other appropriate method of carrying your kit. We recommend our Great Glen bag that is tried and tested! 10-20L is a good size pack to aim for. Any smaller, you may struggle to fit all of the required mandatory kit. Any bigger, you are likely to be carrying too much!
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Running shoes or walking boots. The terrain along the route is predominantly trail from the start up until the 100km mark, then almost entirely road for the remainder of the course.
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Hydration bladder or bottles. A minimum 2L carrying capacity is required, 3L is recommended (IE a 2L hydration bladder and 2 x 500ml soft flasks.
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Basic first aid kit containing a triangular or conformable roller bandage, assorted adhesive dressings including at least 1 100mm x 90mm. Gauze or gauze bandage and paracetamol.
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Spare food to be carried with you, we recommend having at least 1000kcals.
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Survival bag, NOT blanket - BUY HERE
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Whistle - BUY HERE
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Reusable cup suitable for hot drinks at Pit Stops. We will not provide cups at Pit Stops - BUY HERE
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Insulating mid layer (eg light fleece, synthetic down jacket or similar)
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Full waterproof body cover, long sleeve jacket and full length trousers with taped seams - BUY HERE
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Additional full length leg cover if you are running in shorts (eg a pair of leggings, if you are wearing leggings you do not need to carry a second pair)
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Fully charged phone 
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Power pack and cable to charge your mobile phone/watch.
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Method of payment for local shops (card/cash/apple pay)
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Hat or Rat Rag (buff) and a pair of gloves
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Headtorch 
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Rear red light or reflective/hi-vis patch (10cm x 2cm minimum)
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Spare batteries for your headtorch or a back up light source
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RECOMMENDED KIT
This kit is not mandatory but more 'common sense' additions that we recommend to give you the very best chance of reaching Edinburgh! 
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Additional Warm layers – As you know, waterproof jacket, trousers and 1 warm layer are mandatory as a minimum. Depending on your pacing strategy and your susceptibility to the cold, it may be worth packing additional layers. This is particularly applicable to those planning on taking sleep breaks, as you’re likely to feel very cold after resting and then dragging yourself back up and out to go again after a broken sleep! Based on our experience on The Wall (70 miles) the most common reason that people retire is that they get too cold. Regardless of the weather through the day, you are likely to feel cold at 2am when you’re feeling tired. Make sure that you have a warm jacket that packs down small, it might be the piece of kit that helps you get to the finish. This is particularly prudent if you are planning to walk, the Test Pilots for this event who walked the whole thing in 46 hours in the height of summer with fantastic weather had down jackets on all through the night.
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Sunglasses
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Blister treatment kit. Our paramedics will prioritise live cases and they are not a foot care service, we recommend that you know how to treat your feet if hot spots and blisters do occur and that you are self-contained.
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Anti-chafe lubricant  - apply liberally and everywhere...
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Spare socks – have a pair in every drop bag just in case.
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Running / Trekking poles – These are totally optional, but they can be a huge help and they come highly recommended by us. Whether you are a runner, a walker, or somewhere between the two, and regardless of whether or not you have experience using poles right now, it is our advice that everyone should pack them. Poles can be extremely helpful in ‘Plan A’ situations, IE supporting you on the ascents, descents and helping with balance on any uneven ground, even when your body feels relatively fresh. Check our our blog post on the benefits of poles and technique pointers. Where poles can become a lifesaver is in Plan B situations. IE, if you were to become injured and you need the extra support, or even just to help counter the fatigue when your legs are the most exhausted they’ve ever been, and you may be nursing the onset of overuse injuries. The point is, even if you don’t use poles on a ‘normal run or hike’, remember, finding yourself 60 miles down with another 40 miles to go is not ‘normal’ for most people! You may discover a new found fondness for poles on a 100 miler…
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Headphones - when the going gets tough the tough listen to music! Please ensure these are NOT noise cancelling and that you can hear the environment, traffic and people around you. Headphones should be switched off or removed when you are running on roads​
CHANGES TO KIT LIST
IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES FOR THE EVENT THIS WILL BE COMMUNICATED BY EMAIL PRIOR TO THE EVENT​.​
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The emergency kit is important for several reasons:
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It helps you to help yourself should you have a problem.
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We are in this together and you may need to assist others if they have a problem.
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In the case of an incident our Race Control and Medical teams will make decisions based on the knowledge that you all have this equipment.
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Carrying the kit is a requirement for everyone and hence provides an equal and fair challenge.
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It is part of our risk assessment process that is shared with insurers. Your insurance may be invalid if you do not follow our advice.
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If your lack of kit preparation contributes to making an incident more serious, then you may be avoidably drawing resources from our medical team and the emergency services at the expense of others.
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Without the kit you will be unable to complete registration. If during the race you are not carrying the mandatory kit then you will be disqualified and deemed to have not completed the challenge.
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WATERPROOFS AND BIVVY BAG NOTES
Our kit list includes waterproof trousers and jackets with TAPED SEAMS as a minimum standard. See photograph of what a taped seam look like HERE so you know what our team will be checking. There is also a need for an emergency bivvy bag. Blankets are NOT acceptable as these do not meet the needs of having to survive when injured and immobile in bad weather while waiting for assistance.
REGISTRATION KIT CHECK - 18TH JULY
In order to complete Registration and receive your tracker, you will need to bring and show the following key mandatory kit list items to be checked. It does not have to be event ready and we recommend bringing it in a big bag for life or similar to pass through the station quickly:  ​
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Running pack/vest or other appropriate method of carrying your kit. 
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Waterproof Trousers and Jacket with TAPED or WELDED SEAMS as a minimum standard (see photograph for seam example)
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Bivvy Bag (NOT blanket)
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 Insulating layer merino or synthetic similar e.g. a mid layer style top, a jumper or fleece style garment designed to keep you warm over a tshirt or baselayer.
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Hat suitable to the conditions (a Rat Rag is OK). 
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 Headtorch & rear red light or reflective/hi-vis patch (10cm x 2cm minimum)
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Adventure pack - This will be posted to UK residents 1-2 weeks before the event. . International participants will need to collect their race packs in person on 18th July from the information/help desk at Registration.
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You will NOT be able to proceed to tracker collection until the Reg team have checked all of these items. Please note the entire mandatory kit list is just that, mandatory. We will be checking key items but you MUST carry the full kit list with you at all times. The event team reserve the right to check you are carrying the full kit list at any point during the event.
USE CODE 15RR25 FOR AN EXCLUSIVE 15% DISCOUNT ON ALL FULL PRICE KIT (MERCH EXCLUDED) AT WWW.RATRACESTORE.COM
EXPIRES 17TH JULY
OUT ON THE ROUTE
WAYMARKING
You will be shown examples of our waymarking at the start line briefing. This is predominantly hi-vis ORANGE arrows with the RR logo on, in addition you may see large hi-vis orange and yellow information signage or race tape. This will always have the RR logo on, please do not follow any signage that doesn't.
Remember, always follow the Rat Race waymarking, even if there is some deviation from the GPX file.
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YOUR SAFETY ON ROADS
When running on public roads you should face oncoming traffic and travel in single file (on the right-hand side). However, should you be approaching a blind bend or rise, carefully move over to the other side of the road temporarily to ensure that you are not approaching any traffic on the same side as a blind bend. Our signage and marshals will occasionally direct you to do this too, please follow their instructions. Should there be two-way traffic we ask that you stop to allow the car to pass you, ensuring you do not force the car behind you into the path of oncoming traffic. If there is a path available, please use it.
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HI-VIS CLOTHING
For the entirety of the event we ask that you do not wear dark or dull colours, or colours that blend with vegetation such as hedges. If you've got a jazzy pair of leggings or shorts, throw them on! For an event of this distance that takes you through the night, wearing brightly coloured clothing will enhance your safety on public roads. Please ensure you have reflective/hi-vis items ready for and road or night stages of the event, this will be checked as darkness falls.
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RUNNING IN THE DARK
A little achluophobia (fear of the dark) is very normal in an ultra, it's common to feel a bit tired and emotional as the sun goes down and the batteries are running low. You may feel more vulnerable than usual when running on your own so we whole heartedly encourage you to strike up a conversation with a fellow #ratracer and make a new friend! We advise buddying up from whichever Pit Stop you are passing as dusk approaches.
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LITTER
Please help us leave this beautiful part of the country litter free by ensuring you have a pocket ready for your on the move rubbish which you can then dispose of at the next Pit Stop. We will gladly take this from you, if you see a discarded gel or sweet wrapper we ask that you pick it up on behalf of your fellow #ratracer who we are sure dropped it by accident.
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DROPPING OUT
Once you have started, if you wish to drop out of the event at any point you must contact the Race Team or a Pit Stop Manager to inform them of your decision to do so, even if you do not need further support from us.
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If you do not have your own pick-up option (EG a support crew with you) we will arrange to collect you and move you forward along the course. We cannot move you backwards. Please also note that moving you forwards may involve wait times and additional stops due to logistical reasons. Our event team are unlikely to be able to move you onto the finish line immediately. Anyone withdrawing from the event will need to go to the finish line if you have left bags with us, as this is where all bags are moved forward to.
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Race Team contact numbers are supplied at Registration.
In all instances you MUST return your tracker to us before leaving the event.
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IMPORTANT NOTE! Any uncollected bags can be collected from Rat Race HQ, Hurstwood Business Centre, Thirsk Industrial Park, York Road, Thirsk, YO7 3BX from Thursday 24th July onwards.
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If you need us to post your bags to you, this will incur a postage and admin fee surcharge of £20.
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COURSE ETIQUETTE AND LIVESTOCK
Please ensure all gates are closed behind you and never climb over locked gates. This is to ensure livestock do not escape fields so please do not leave it open for the next runner unless they are close enough as to pass through with you. There are very few fields with cattle on the route but when you encounter them please do not disturb them and observe the following points: If you are the first person to enter the fields please stop running and be prepared to slow to a walk. Do not pass between calf and cows or cause them to separate from their herd. Stay away from lone calves and never run straight towards a cow. Avoid sudden movements and high-pitched loud noises. Although gentle singing and talking will let cows know you are there. Follow other participants and create a predictable route, be aware that dogs can startle livestock so keep a look out for other walkers who may be in your vicinity.
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PIT STOPS
PITSTOP LOCATIONS​​​​
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START 0 MILES BAMBURGH CASTLE
PS1 10 MILES FENHAM
PS2 22 MILES BERWICK
PS3 33 MILES EYEMOUTH
PS4 43 MILES DOWLAW
PS5 48 MILES COCKBURNSPATH
PS6 60 MILES DUNBAR
PS7 74 MILES NORTH BERWICK
PS8 83 MILES ABERLADY
PS9 93 MILES MUSSELBURGH
FINISH 100 MILES! EDINBURGH CASTLE​​​
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WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE PIT STOPS
At Rat Race we are famous for our excellent Pit Stop support and we pride ourselves on that! The Pit Stops at RR100 Castle to Castle Ultramarathon will be no different and our aim is to keep you as well fuelled as possible to help you get through those 100 miles.
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Pit Stops are the points where you can grab a snack, interact with the Rat Race team, request medical attention, access drop bags and also see your own supporters if you have them.
On the Rat Race 100 we will have 2 classifications of Pit Stops.
These will be SIMPLE or ENHANCED. SIMPLE Pit Stops will have the following available at them:
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Water
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Juice
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Hot drinks
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Sweet grab and go snacks
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Salty grab and go snacks
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Fruit 
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Toilets (indoor or Portaloos)
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ENHANCED Pit Stops will have all of the services available at the SIMPLE Pit Stops but they will have enhanced food offerings which will vary by location. Examples of enhanced food selections include porridge pots, noodles, soup, hot catered food, sandwiches, pizza, sausage rolls etc to help keep you fuelled on this adventure.
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SPORTS NUTRITION/GEL PRODUCT
Our Pit Stops are well stocked and they will focus around ‘real’ foods and snacks. We will not provide specialist sports nutrition products as we know that everyone’s choices vary here. You will have your own that you have trained with and the last thing you want to do in an ultra is try an untested gel and suffer the consequences! If you do wish to use gels or similar sports nutrition products, you should plan to bring your own and be self-contained. Don’t forget, we offer our drop bag service, so if you wish to lighten your load by sending a stash forward, we have support in place to help you with that.
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SALT & ELECTROLYTES
Everyone should plan to bring their own salts / electrolytes. We will provide salt at the Pit Stops and if you haven’t tried Rat Race’s famous salted oranges yet, this could be your new favourite adventure snack! However, we won’t be providing salts or electrolytes in the form of to-go supplements. IE if you want salt tabs, capsules, or electrolyte drinks mixes (and we would encourage you to use these on a challenge as arduous as this) you will need to supply these yourself. ​
Dietary Requirements and Allergies
We aim to cater as much as possible to a wide variety of dietary needs, every Pit Stop will have options for vegetarians and vegans, plus we have a box of gluten free/dairy free snacks for those with intolerances that are kept separate please ask our staff for more info when you arrive. While every effort is made to keep these snacks separate, we cannot guarantee there is no cross contamination from allergens such as gluten/peanuts due to the nature of the Pit Stop during a live event.
​SUPPORT BETWEEN PIT STOPS
The longest you will go between Pit Stops on the Rat Race 100 is around half marathon distance (13 miles). We advise you to complete the majority of your training runs and hikes carrying the mandatory kit so that when the event come around, you are accustomed to using it and comfortable carrying it with you. This includes water, snacks and the rest of the mandatory kit list. We have a mandatory minimum of 2L fluid, but we recommend 3L. If you make sure that you cover these distances regularly in training carrying the mandatory kit, water and snacks, you will be well prepared come event day (or days!). ​
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It will sometimes be possible for you to obtain additional support between our Pit Stops. If you have your own supporters, you are of course welcome to ask them to meet you at certain points along the route, whilst respecting all local access rules and being courteous of local residents.
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Additionally, there will be times when the route passes extra opportunities along the way, e.g. shops and cafes. If you do make use of these facilities, please bear in mind that you will technically be off-route whilst making these stop ins. This shouldn’t be a problem unless you find yourself at the back of the event. IE, you don’t want the arrows to be cleared away ahead of you whilst you’re sat having a pub lunch, for example!
PACING GUIDELINES
We understand that you are likely to be arriving at the start line with a goal in mind. That might be sub-24 hours, sub-30 hours, sub-48 hours, or anywhere in between!
We have included 3 pacing schedules below to help you achieve your goal. These schedules tie into the 3 training plans that we shared back in February in the lead up to the event. The schedules are aligned to the exact Pit Stop locations, distances, terrain and difficulty of this specific course.
You can find the pacing tables HERE.​​​​​​
CUT OFFS
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RR100 Castle to Castle Ultramarathon is for everyone. It is designed to accommodate everyone from experienced 100 mile runner veterans, through to first timers covering the distance and setting out to walk every step of the way.
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We have designed this event so that it can be completed at 2.5 mph, which still leaves 8 hours lay time to take into account Pit Stop visits and even a good nap or two. Our cut offs are as generous as we can make them and they reflect that we really do want to see every one of you cross the finish line in Edinburgh.
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Cut offs are enforced, as this is a crucial part of our safety planning for the route, our logistical planning with all of the venues who kindly agree to host us, and finally, to look after the welfare of all of the crew who work day and night to support your efforts.
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Cut off times are applied to your departure time from the Pit Stop, NOT your arrival time into the location. There are NO cut offs times enforced from Pit Stop 1 – 6 to allow everyone to do as much of the course as possible. The cut off times for each stop are detailed below.
PS1 - 11.15 (19TH)
PS2 - 16:15 (19TH)
PS3 - 21:15 (19TH)
PS4 - 03:30 (20TH)
PS5 - 06:00 (20TH)
PS6 - 12:00 (20TH)
PS7 - 18:25 (20TH)
PS8 - 22:45 (20TH)
PS9 - 03:30 (21ST)
FINISH - 0700 (21ST)
PITSTOP BY PITSTOP BREAKDOWN​​
PIT STOP 1 / FENHAM
Pitstop classification: Simple
Distance: 10 miles
Postcode: TD15 2PL
Distance to next Pit Stop: 12 miles
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PIT STOP 2 / BERWICK UPON TWEED
Pitstop classification: Enhanced
Distance: 22 miles
Postcode: TD15 1EE
Distance to next Pit Stop: 11 miles
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PIT STOP 3 / EYEMOUTH COMMUNITY CENTRE
Pitstop classification: Enhanced
Distance: 33 miles
Postcode: TD14 5DE
​Distance to next Pit Stop: 10 miles
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PIT STOP 4 / DOWLAW FARM SIMPLE
Pitstop classification: Simple
Distance: 43 miles
STRICTLY NO SUPPORTERS HERE
Distance to next Pit Stop: 5 miles
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PIT STOP 5 / COCKBURNSPATH (VENUE TBC)
Pitstop classification: Enhanced
Distance: 48 miles
Postcode: VENUE TBC
Distance to next Pit Stop: 12 miles
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PIT STOP 6 / DUNBAR LEISURE CENTRE HOT FOOD CATERING
Pitstop classification: Enhanced
Distance: 60 miles
Postcode: EH42 1EU
Distance to next Pit Stop: 14 miles
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​​PIT STOP 7 / NORTH BERWICK (VENUE TBC)
itstop classification: Enhanced
Distance: 74 miles
Postcode: VENUE TBC
Distance to next Pit Stop: 9 miles
​​PIT STOP 8 / ABERLADY VILLAGE HALL
Pitstop classification: Enhanced
Distance: 83 miles
Postcode: EH32 0RA
Distance to next Pit Stop: 10 miles
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PIT STOP 9 / MUSSELBURGH (VENUE TBC)
Pitstop classification: Simple
Distance: 93 miles
Postcode: VENUE TBC
Distance to the FINISH: 7 miles
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THE FINISH
We are set up at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens, right at the base of the Epic Edinburgh Castle, ready to welcome you warmly across the finish line and congratulate you on this epic achievement! After crossing the ultimate finish line, we will have a small, heated marquee, toilets, our medical team should you need them and some locally provided hot food and drinks (vegan and veggie options available).
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We encourage you to think about what time you are aiming to finish and book a local hotel room if necessary so that you can get a shower and some well-earned rest, we do advise explaining what you are doing to them to let know that you may arrive earlier or later than planned. Our shelter space at the finish line will be limited and it is not set up for you to stay for an extended amount of time and it is not going to be a comfy place to sleep! Our team are there to celebrate your efforts and our facilities are there to help promote your initial recovery. Beyond that, we recommend that you have a plan to get to a full meal and a bed as soon as possible. Supporters are encouraged to help with this. If you don’t have supporters joining you, taxi’s and Ubers will be available at all hours in Edinburgh.
SUPPORTER INFORMATION
SUPPORTER ACCESS & SUPPORT RUNNERS
We understand that you may have people attending the event who wish to support you throughout your adventure. A support team is not necessary to take part in the Rat Race 100 but for those who are using a support team here are the rules and guidelines of how you can interact with them below.
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Supporters and any planned support runners must be self-contained in their own vehicle, and you cannot have more than one designated support vehicle. You must pick up a pass at Registration for your support vehicle so our crew can identify you during the event, this does not gain you any privileges but allows our team to understand that you are a support vehicle.
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Supporters cannot access event resources such as Pit Stop food, medics, toilets, sleep stations for their own use.
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Supporters may not access Pit Stop 1, 4 and 5 due to limited vehicle access. They can interact with you at all other Pit Stop locations.
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Support runners may join you from PS6 and run with you as much as you require until the finish area in Princes Street Gardens. Once you enter the finish area support runners will be directed to the spectator area of the finish line to allow runners to run the final 100m alone.
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​ Support runners must join and leave the course at Pit Stop locations only.
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Support runners should plan to carry the mandatory kit, especially if they are running through the night.
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Support runners should be confident, self-supported and not rely on any Rat Race event medics, food, water or resources. Any attempt to access event resources will be denied by staff, our focus must remain on the paying participants, and we will not divert any resources to assisting support runners. If a support runner needs assistance or picking up they MUST rely on their support team to pick them up, they will not be able to access the sweeper bus service.
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You may only have one support runner with you at any time on the course. We have permissions in place for a certain number of runners on the route with local authorities and we cannot exceed this.
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Supporters must avoid driving the route where possible, they should use main roads, in particular the A1, that runs alongside to move between Pit Stop locations.
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Parking advice: There is no parking available at PS2 and PS3, so please park appropriately nearby and walk to the Pit Stop. PS6 there is a leisure centre car park, if this is full please park appropriately nearby and walk in. PS7 parking info tbc, PS8 there is no parking available at the Pit Stop please park appropriately nearby in the village being considerate of residents and driveways. PS9 parking info tbc.
PITSTOP LOCATIONS​​​​
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START 0 MILES BAMBURGH CASTLE
PS1 10 MILES FENHAM
PS2 22 MILES BERWICK
PS3 33 MILES EYEMOUTH
PS4 43 MILES DOWLAW
PS5 48 MILES COCKBURNSPATH
PS6 60 MILES DUNBAR
PS7 74 MILES NORTH BERWICK
PS8 83 MILES ABERLADY
PS9 93 MILES MUSSELBURGH
FINISH 100 MILES! EDINBURGH CASTLE​​​
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VOLUNTEERS AND MERCH
GOT A SUPPORTER WHO WOULD LOVE TO JOIN THE CREW?
We're on the lookout for volunteers to help bring this epic undertaking to life! Volunteers help contribute to the amazing, friendly atmosphere you'll find at RR100 Castle to Castle Ultramarathon and they will have an incredible day (or night!) supporting our #ratracers to boot. ​
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As a volunteer you will receive:
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£50 cash travel contribution
£150 event credit or a Rat Race duffel bag
Access to hot drinks/snacks/food
A fun day out! 
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AVAILABLE SHIFTS
You can sign up to any available shift here and the Rat Race team will be in touch ahead of the event to answer any questions you may have and give you your briefing documents.
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ORDER YOUR MERCH
Pre-order your RR100 Castle to Castle Ultramarathon finisher hoodie and the legendary finishers t-shirt with your name on it! A very limited number of general RR100 Castle to Castle Ultramarathon hoodies and tees will be available to buy at Registration and at the finish line, secure your choice of design and size in advance.
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Finisher named hoodies and t-shirts are produced after the event and are exclusively pre-order only.
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ANY QUESTIONS?
CUSTOMER SERVICE
If you have any questions not answered in here please do reach out to us on events@ratrace.com and our friendly team will get back to you as soon as we can!
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TRANSFER ENQUIRIES
If you need to withdraw from RR100 Castle to Castle Ultramarathon and go through our transfer process this closes on the 18th June. After this time we cannot process any transfer requests. For all the information regarding transfers please click here.
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To submit a transfer, log into your RR account, select your Castle to Castle entry under the 'Your Entries' tab and select transfer. For mobile device uses, you may need to scroll to the bottom of the page to see the 'Transfer' option.
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