ESSENTIAL EVENT INFORMATION 2023
CROATIA MULTISPORT
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THIS INCREDIBLE DESTINATION FOR WHAT IS CERTAIN TO BE A FANTASTIC ADVENTURE THIS APRIL.
This is our Essential Event Information Document, which contains a comprehensive round up of everything you need to know before you embark on this exciting journey through the Adriatic.
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 (+1)
PHONE CODE
+385
LANGUAGE
Croatian / English
CURRENCY
Euros (€)
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
• Online form to be submitted by 31st March 2023.
• Medical forms must be filled out by 31st March 2023.
• Snacks: you will need to bring 3 days’ worth of scooby snacks PLUS a day’s contingency. See section below for what we provide for you. Your own snacks are to augment what we provide and make sure you always have something that you fancy.
• Trackers: Please remember that GPS tracker accuracy is not always a-given; you should particularly note this if sharing live links with supporters. Trackers are not part of our event safety system.
• Kit: You will need to bring ALL kit that is on the kit list for you to take part. If your kit is not sufficient, we 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 and a Q&A webinar just before we depart. If in any doubt on kit specifically, please get in touch with us at expeditions@ratrace.com and we can help.
• Insurance: You need insurance. If you are bringing your own bike, please ensure it is insured against loss, theft and/ or damage. You will need a medical repatriation and evacuation policy that has a minimum of $500 000 trip cover on it. You will have to 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.
• Live events decision making: When we are in Croatia, in all cases whilst on the trip, the Event Directors decision is final. They are always acting in the combined interest of the safety of the individual and the group, as their paramount concern.
KEY INFO
PERSONAL DOCUMENTATION
Please use the following as a checklist on what you will require for this trip.
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
TRIP MEETING POINT AND END POINT
The dates of the trip are fixed as 27th April – 2nd May 2023. These are the dates on which the itinerary commences and finishes.
Pick up: You will be picked up at Dubrovnik International airport on the 27th April at 1pm. We will have a list of people we are expecting to pick up, we will wait for everyone to arrive after landing that morning. You will be taken to your accommodation on the island of Korcula, this is a drive of approximately 3hours, so pack a book or bring something to keep you entertained! If you are arriving before 27th please make your own way back to the airport in time for the transfer.
Drop off: You will be dropped back to Dubrovnik International airport on the morning of the 2nd May at approximately 10am. This is where our itinerary ends. If you are staying on to explore Croatia, then we will wave you goodbye after our final breakfast together.
WEBINARS
We will do general Q & A webinar on March 15th. 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.
TRAINING AND PREPARATION
Our Croatian event is a substantial undertaking. It is approximately 175km of varying terrains across 4 sporting disciplines. It is a beautiful place, but it will pack a punch daily. For day 1 you can run or hike this, if you aim for a pace of 3mph/5kph you will have plenty of time to finish each day and enjoy sunset with a celebratory drink in hand. Training should now be focusing on consecutive days of hiking and biking. Do not avoid hills as hill strength will be the key to success. If you don’t have access to multiple hills, find one hill and do some hills repetitions to strengthen the legs. If you can get some sea kayaking in between now and then that will help for event day 3. 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 equipment available.
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 that you are planning 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
There will be 30 - 35 participants in the event. In general, we will provide lead and sweep staff (and other support vehicles and/or runners, hikers, bikers, kayakers throughout the course). We will establish pit stops along the route, very roughly equidistant between one another and usually a minimum of 3 of these stops per day. You go at your own pace, run/hike/bike with others, or on your own, whatever you fancy.
The SUP and kayak stage will be conducted slightly differently with members of the team going in small groups with one instructor. The groups will consist of 10-12 people per group. Along with an instructor for support in addition to our safety boats. Here we will need you to stay with your group, on the kayak stage we will endeavour to split you roughly by ability and speed.
We will not stop you unless you look unlikely to finish in daylight. As such, there are no formal cut-off times as the daily stages could be influenced by weather or other factors as judged appropriate by the event team. However, unless we think you’re going to run out of daylight to finish the stage, we will not cut you off. That is our pledge to you. For your part, just keep moving forward.
REGISTRATION
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 in person on the 28th April.
We will provide you with a safety procedure to follow in case of an 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.
TRANSPORT AND ACCOMMODATION
ACCOMMODATION
Nights 1, 2 & 3: Aminess Hotel, Kucula
Night 4: Hotel Osmine
Night 5: Dubrovnik City Hotel
FOOD AND BEV
The inclusive meals are outlined below as per the website itinerary information:
27th April – no meals included
28th April – breakfast included
29th April - ‘grab and go’ breakfast, pit stops throughout the day, evening meal
30th April - ‘grab and go’ breakfast, pit stops throughout the day, evening meal
1st May - ‘grab and go’ breakfast, pit stops throughout the day, evening celebration meal
2nd May – breakfast included
For day 1 & 2 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. At pit stop 2 there will typically be some more savoury items and ‘lunch’ items such as wraps and bread where you are able to eat something more substantial.
For day 3 whilst you are on the kayaks you will be given snacks and water to have in your kayak to eat when you wish, there will also be a pit stop set up on the island of Sipan with some more substantial food and drinks.
You should look to augment these pit stops with your own snacks 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 Dubrovnik, 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.
ABLUTIONS AND HYGIENE
We are staying at quality accommodation throughout which will provide good shower facilities. However, whilst on the event course there will not be toilets available at each pit stop. Therefore, 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.
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 route, please bring nappy bags to contain used toilet roll and dispose of where at a pit stop or at the hotel.
ALONG THE ROUTE
Our route will take a trail from the Western end of Korcula island to the East on foot, ending the day back in Korcula Town. Our second day will involve three sports, a SUP across to Orebic, before hopping onto bikes to start winding your way up the coast to the village of Ston, here you will put your trainers on for the last 10km of the day as you head over the famous Ston walls, best known as Kings Landing in the Game of Thrones. The final day involves an epic kayak journey from the start of Broce Canal, paddling to the island of Sipan, for some respite as you stretch your legs and hike over to Suradad for some refreshments. Your kayaks will be waiting for you to complete the last stage of the journey to finish in Dubrovinik.
You must remain open to the possibility that our plan may change due to unforeseen factors, such as the weather and diversions. So, while Plan A is Plan A, it is not inconceivable that we may deploy Plan B, C or D if we deem it necessary for your safety.
ROUTEFINDING
We will NOT waymark the route. Unless the route must be diverted due to an obstruction or last minute change.
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.
If you wish to rent a Coros GPS watch from us, that is also possible at a cost of £50. This will have the GPS 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 Coros Pro.
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 there are no on the ground changes and we therefore do not end up with version control issues that are hard to resolve.
TRACKING DEVICE
At registration in Korcula 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.
Tracking will go live on the morning of the first event day (i.e. the start of the event) at 0700 local time.
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.
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.
The tracking website for family and friends is: www.opentracking.co.uk
Looking after your GPS kit and your tracker:
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.
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.
1.) Online enrolment, acceptance of terms and conditions, payment: COMPLETE
2.) Submission of online event details form and medical form (by 31st March) and online waiver all pre-event.
3.) Physical registration in Korcula on 28th April. You will complete a final physical kit check with our event team, do a short paperwork exercise including checking your insurance company contact details, present some ID and do a medical interview. You will also receive your numbers 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 Rat Race team that will be with you every step of the way throughout the event.
EVENT REGISTRATION PACK
In Korcula, there will be one adventure pack issued per person. This will contain:
Run/Trek number: please wear this so that it is always visible.
Bike number: please attach to the front of your bike.
Baggage labels: these will be for your overnight bag and your running/trekking pack.
Tracker
ID
By entering this event you agreed that you have entered in your own name (not nickname) and will bring photographic ID to event registration in Korcula 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.
MANDATORY KIT LIST
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 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. Some of it is simply to keep you from perishing. It is a serious list, and we know everyone knows this, but we ask that you please do work with us on this. Please do not skimp on kit. As we have pointed out in the webinar thus far, the weather in Croatia in April is changeable. Spare sets of kit will be worn, you will get wet, and you will want to get dry and comfortable again. As such, do not skimp on kit!
AVOIDING KIT CATASTROPHE IN TRANSIT
It is not impossible that your gear may not arrive with you into Dubrovnik. In general, the longer you are in Dubrovnik, 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 bikes do not arrive, it does not necessarily spell certain doom. There are sports and bike shops in Dubrovnik. We will have at least 1 medium and 1 large spare bike, to cover disaster relief on these things. 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 waterproofs, something to wear top and bottom, swim kit, sports bra (if needed) and 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.
PIT STOPS
Our provision will be made available to you three times on the route daily at our pit stops. Each pit stop will feature a vehicle, 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.
General note on food – trail snacks.
Please pack your own hearty supply of snacks and electrolytes that you enjoy on the trail. These can be stored in your day packs and topped up each night when you are reunited with your overnight bags.
KAYAKS AND SUPS
SUPS, and Kayaks are provided along with buoyancy aids, leash, paddles, and cags (waterproof/windproof top) if you would like one.
All kayaks on the event are doubles. They are sit-on top kayaks with a deep hull and therefore a deep seat. They are designed for the Croatian waters and will be comfortable for your journey to Dubrovnik.
BIKES
There is bike hire available for this event. If you have decided that you do not want to bring your own a bike can be hired through this link HERE.
If you are bringing your own bike please keep it in the bike box until we reach Korcula where you will be able to assemble it. If it is within a bike box it is easier to transport.
BAGS
There are 4 bags you need for this events:
1.) DAYPACK FOR RUN/HIKE STAGES
You will use this bag to carry food, water and other supplies during the foot stages. 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. (This bag could also be worn during the cycling stage).
2.) PIT STOP BAG
You will have access to this bag at pit stop 2 on each day. This just needs to be a very small bag (10litres) that has some spare things in such as electrolytes, spare socks, sun cream etc.
3.) TRANSITION BAG
Used at various locations where you need to transfer from one sport to another. More information on transition locations below.
4.) 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 run, bike, sup or kayak stages. It must be one bag (not a series of bags). 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.
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. 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. Some of it is simply to keep you from perishing. It is a serious list, and we know everyone knows this, but we ask that you please do work with us on this. Please do not skimp on kit. As we have pointed out in the webinar thus far, the weather in Croatia in April is changeable. Spare sets of kit will be worn, you will get wet, and you will want to get dry and comfortable again. As such, do not skimp on kit!
GENERAL
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Casual clothing for use in evenings at hotels and transit stages
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One set of clothes for the celebration meal, these can be as casual or smart as you like.
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General ‘overnight’ bag (holdall, duffel) for spare kit – pls don’t bring a hard suitcase – ensure all bags are soft (much easier for managing in vehicles)
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Towel – travel micro towel or full-size
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Underwear and socks for each day
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Power bank for mobile phone and/ or GPS unit
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International plug adaptor
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Personal toiletries and medication
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Either a GPS handheld device or Smartphone capable of following a GPX file (phone with Outdoor Active App is recommended – see section on ‘route finding’ below) OR a GPS watch for following the route
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In all cases, participants must carry a Smartphone (so if using a watch for following the route, you must also have a Smartphone in your kit)
FOOT STAGES
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Trail running footwear
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Shorts/leggings
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T-shirts
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Ultra vest or small daypack
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CAT 3 sunglasses
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Bladder or bottles/ soft flasks (aim to be able to carry a MINIMUM of 1.5l)
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Hat – cap or wide brimmed are fine
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Socks
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Buff or similar neck gaiter
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Blister care kit
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Scooby snacks of choice*
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Power pack and cable for recharging phone, in waterproof bag (ziplock or dry bag)
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Headtorch
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Salt tablets and dissolvable electrolytes for water. Please bring salt tablets and some electrolyte mix for drinks. You will 100% need these on this trip and they are MANDATORY
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First Aid kit (small personal kit with a triangular bandage, steri strips and an adhesive dressing as a minimum). Also include any personal medication
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Trekking poles – totally optional
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Dry bag or small zip lock bags: Very useful for general gear storage/ organisation/ protection – especially on the kayak but also in general for your day pack (zip locks are also good for doing your business and disposing of the toilet paper if caught short)
BIKING STAGE
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A bike (your own or rented)
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Helmet
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Biking Gloves
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Bike jersey
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Paddled shorts/bib
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Gilet or extra layer
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Biking shoes or trainers
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You can bring your own peddles to add the bike if you would like
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Water carrying capacity for a minimum of 1.5l. This can be in a backpack or on bottles in bottle cages. The rental bikes have bottle cages attached.
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BIKE SPARES: Our minimum spec for mandatory spare bike kit is outlined below. Items with an * need to be carried whilst riding: 2 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyre * / Tyre levers* / 1 x puncture repair kit* / Bike multitool* / Small pump*
*For rental bikes, you will be issued with a spares kit.
KORCULA KIT CHECK
We would have undertaken a webinar Q&A in advance of travelling to Dubrovnik. However, we will reserve the right to inspect some or all of your kit upon arrival.
As a minimum we will be checking:
• Helmet for biking
• Gloves for biking
• Bag for foot stages including water carrying
• Waterproofs for water stages
• A working headtorch
• A first aid kit containing the minimum mandatory items (see relevant section)
• Suitable footwear for the foot stages and water stages
There is not instant access to sports shops in Korcula and the ability to ‘fill in any gaps’ is therefore heavily reduced; however we can assist in the event of major kit failure.
If in any doubt, 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.
SUP AND KAYAK STAGES
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Sun Hat
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Wicking Top – long or short sleeved
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Sunglasses
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Quick Drying leggings
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Water shoes/sandals
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Swimming Shirts / Bikini
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Kayaking gloves - optional
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Waterproof top and bottoms
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Wetsuit – Completely optional
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Kayak, paddle and buoyancy aid will be provided.
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One set of clothes for kayaking as suggested above. Swimming shorts/costume/bikini, leggings and a long-sleeved T-shirt/rash vest would be adequate.
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Our advice at this stage is to paddle in comfortable wicking garments. You will be completing 1 x SUP and 1 x kayak leg and a run/ trek leg between these, so clothing that is comfortable in the boat and on land is suggested for event day 3.
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A drybag will be useful to collate your bits n’ bobs into on the kayak day.
FIRST AID
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1 x triangular bandage
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1 x crepe roll bandage
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Gauze or similar absorbent dressing
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Small set of scissors
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Pain Killers (paracetomol)
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Steri-Strips
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Antiseptic (spray or cream)
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Assorted plasters
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Rubber gloves
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Prescribed medication
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Zinc oxide tape
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Compeed – various sizes
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Lube stick
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Sudacrem
MANDATORY KIT
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Bike
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Helmet
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Gloves
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Water shoes/sandals
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Running vest/bag
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Capacity to carry 1.5l of water
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GPS device
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First Aid kit
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Waterproof top and bottoms
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 Korcula.
DAY ONE / MEETING AND TRAVEL DAY
27th April 2023
Meet at Dubrovnik International airport at 1pm. We will load up luggage and travel approx. 3 hours to Korcula.
Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Mendoza
DAY TWO / REG, GEAR PREP AND BRIEFING
28th April 2023
We will have breakfast and then get stuck into a morning’s worth of registration activities. Afterwards there will be time in the afternoon to stretch your legs and explore the charm of Korcula, relax, prep kit or head out on the optional kayak refresher.
Meals: Breakfast provided
Accommodation: Twin and shared rooms in hotel accommodation
DAY THREE / CROATIA MULTISPORT BEGINS!
29th April 2023
We will make our way to the Western side of Korcula island where the start of our adventure awaits. A 55km foot stage traversing the entire length of the island. After meandering through olive groves, dusty lanes and quirky villages you will finish back at your accommodation for a well-deserved beer and rest.
Meals: Breakfast, pit stops, and dinner provided
Accommodation: Twin and shared rooms in hotel accommodation
DAY FOUR / SUP, BIKE & HIKE
30th April 2023
A bright and early start, another great breakfast before heading out on your SUP to paddle 3km across the water to the port of Orebic, here you will transition into onto bikes for a 70km cycle in the hills overlooking the Adriatic sea, finally you will put your trainers on to stomp the walls of Ston.
Meals: Breakfast, pit stops, and dinner provided
Accommodation: Twin and shared rooms in hotel accommodation
Distance: 3km SUP, 70km Bike, 10km hike/run
DAY FIVE / KAYAK, HIKE , KAYAK
1st May 2023
we will be up before the sun for our last day of adventure! Coffee in hand, we will transfer you back to the end of yesterday’s foot stage. Here you will jump into your kayaks at the start of the Broce canal and begin your paddle into the Adriatic Sea by the tide. We will head for the island of Sipan and come ashore to run/hike its length. After a pitstop of local treats you will get back into your kayaks for the final push to our stunning finish line in Dubrovnik. The evening will see us celebrate our epic journey together.
Meals: Breakfast, pit stops, and celebration dinner provide
Accommodation: Twin and shared rooms in hotel accommodation Distance: Kayak 27km, run/hike 10km
DAY SIX / DEPARTURE DAY
2nd May 2023
After a final breakfast together, we will transfer you back to Dubrovnik International airport, or you may have chosen to stay on to explore Croatia for longer. This is where we will say our goodbye.
Meals: Breakfast provided
Accommodation: N/A
PARTICIPANT SAFETY ADVICE
GENERAL SAFETY AROUND VEHICLES
This event takes place on the trail and open roads. There are vehicles, this is not a closed road event. Vigilance must be always taken.
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 (trash sack) at a vehicle. No exceptions. Croatia is a beautiful environment, and our absolute commitment is to keep it that way.
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.
EMERGENCY PROTOCOL
In the event of a true emergency or serious incident you will be notified of protocols at the orientation in Korcula. 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.
OTHER ADMIN MATTERS
LOCAL PAYMENTS
Most locations in Croatia take credit and debit cards. Having some local currency is a good idea. 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.
EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY
The event is very lucky to have secured the services of Leo Francis as official event photographer. He has worked on several of Rat Race’s international events before, meaning not only is he an excellent photographer but he also really ‘gets’ these types of events.
For this challenge, we are doing photography a little different than run-of-the-mill standard event photography, but an entirely standard approach for us and it’s tried and tested – to 1000s of customers’ satisfaction. Instead of Leo shooting and you then you select a number of photos post-event from a fairly unwieldy and piecemeal selection (leading to a lot of wastage in the shots and hours spent spreading the editing thinly across ‘anything and everything)’ we want the service to be as personal as possible. We think that something this epic deserves that.
Leo will therefore be offering a one-price, advance purchase arrangement. He will shoot you in action and provide an amazingly varied series of shots of you out there doing your stuff; plus, a selection of general event photos, provided as a digital album. He will also include individual portrait shots of yourself, working with him directly to create some special shots.
The price for this service is £125 (is this correct). If you would like to use this service, please tick the box in the form in the email and you will be sent an invoice. The service is available for participants and crew. The crux here is that he will ONLY shoot those who sign up to the service in advance, ensuring he is concentrating on those who have taken the plunge. This ensures that he can 100% focus on the job in hand for those who wish to purchase; and avoids the wastage of hundreds of shots on the edit-room floor. For clarity, Leo is doing this at his own risk and all proceeds of photo sales go to him. We believe this is an excellent service, at a very keen price, from a class photographer. It is of course not in any way compulsory.
CONTACT DETAILS AND ACTIONS CHECK LIST
1.) For ALL pre-event email correspondence prior to departure:
expeditions@ratrace.com for challenge-based questions, kit, training, prep office@ratrace.com for admin-based questions
office@trailmed.co.uk for any medical-based advice or discussion on medical conditions in confidence
2.) 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!
3.) A WhatsApp group will be created a few days before departure. This will be the main point of contact leading up to the event itself.
COMMS COVERAGE AND DATA
You will most likely have phone reception in Croatia. There should be WiFi for the majority of accommodation.
FINAL CHECK LIST
Submit insurance details and complete online waiver to be submitted by 31st March 2023.
Medical forms must be filled out by 31st March 2023.
That’s it. Pheeeww! See you in Croatia…
Abbi Naylor, Event Director
Rat Race Head of Expeditions