ESSENTIAL EVENT INFORMATION 2025
This document was last updated on: 06/03/2025
WELCOME TO SPAIN SEA TO SUMMIT
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We hope you are getting excited to what is going to be an event to remember in Spain this June.
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This is our Essential Event Information Document, which contains a comprehensive round up of everything you need to know before you join us on this incredible adventure.
FILES AND DOWNLOADS:
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 events@ratrace.com
SKIP TO SECTION
TIME ZONE
GMT (+1)
PHONE CODE
+34
LANGUAGE
Spanish
CURRENCY
EURO
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
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Online Form to be submitted by 10th April 2025
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Medical Forms must be filled out by 10th April 2025
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Snacks: you will need to bring 2 days’ worth of scooby snacks PLUS a day’s contingency. See section below for what we provide at pit stops. Your own snacks are to augment what we provide and make sure you always have something that you fancy.
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Kit: You will need to bring ALL kit that is on the kit list for you to take part in the trip. If your kit is not right, the Event team will reserve the right to prevent you starting the event. Don’t worry, there are several more touchpoints before departure to ensure this does not occur. Firstly, the comprehensive kit list is provided with this document, a Q&A webinar just before we depart we depart. If in any doubt on kit, please get in touch with us at events@ratrace.com and we can help.
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Insurance: You need insurance. You will need a medical repatriation and evacuation policy that has a minimum of $500 000 trip cover on it. You will submit this to us pre-event and we will ensure we have the correct number to call your insurer if we need to evacuate you or provide serious medical attention. We also highly recommend a policy that covers you for curtailment and non-attendance.
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Live events decision making: When we are in Spain, 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
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TRIP MEETING POINT AND END POINT
The dates of the trip are fixed as 5th June – 9th June 2025. These are the dates on which the itinerary commences and finishes.
Pick up: You will be picked up at Malaga International airport on the 5th June at 12pm. 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 at the coast, this is a drive of approximately 2.5 hours. If you are arriving before the 5th please make your way back to the airport for the transfer.
Drop off: You will be dropped back to Malaga International Airport on the morning of the 9th June at approximately 10am. This is where our itinerary ends. If you are staying on to explore Granada, then we will wave you goodbye after our final breakfast together.
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STYLE OF TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION
We are a very small group on this Sea2Summit trip. This means that the style of travel and support will vary for the differing phases of the event .
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DAY ONE: THURSDAY
Check into our hotel. Registration, dinner and briefings (and hopefully an early night!)​
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ACCOMMODATION: Beach-side Hotel with twin rooms
MEALS: Dinner​​
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DAY TWO: FRIDAY​
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Today we have a very early start around 0200 to help avoid some of the heat of the day. We have a short transfer to Playa La Rabita where our sea to summit adventure begins. After around 10km we'll enter a beautiful gorge where we follow a dry river bed before ascending out of the gorge and connecting with quiet roads and trails to finally reach Trevelez. These trails will be challenging, less travelled and dusty. Even though we start early it could still be 15 + degrees C when we set out. We have 45km to cover today and it will feel like you have earned every single kilometre at days’ end. A good meal and some rehydration in the village will set you up nicely for day 3: To the summit!
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ACCOMMODATION: Cosy mountain hotel with twin rooms
MEALS: ‘Grab n’ go’ breakfast, Pit Stop support whilst on the route, dinner in la Trevelez
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​​DAY THREE: SATURDAY ​
Today is another big day with over 20km and nearly 2000m of ascent to cover. We'll start in darkness and travel together as a guided team. Depending on the weather and underfoot conditions we may remain together as a guided team, or there may be an opportunity to split into smaller groups. After reaching the summit of Mulhacen (the highest point of Western Europe outside the Alps) we'll all descend on a different trail to return to our hotel in Trevelez for a hearty meal and a great night's sleep.
ACCOMMODATION: Cozy mountain hotel in La Trevelex
MEALS: ‘Grab n’ go’ breakfast, packed lunch and other snacks (distributed before we leave the hotel), Pit Stop support, Dinner.
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​​DAY FOUR: SUNDAY ​
After a leisurely breakfast, we will get into transport to head to our hotel in Granada. All that is left to do is to relax and enjoy a celebratory meal and drinks."
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel with twin rooms
MEALS: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner and a round of drinks on us in Granada.
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​​DAY FIVE: MONDAY​
We will have breakfast and the transports will leave at approximately 10 am to return to Malaga airport for those who wish. Or you may choose to remain in Granada or the local area and soak up the attractions of this stunning part of Spain.
FOOD
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GENERAL NOTE ON FOOD - TRAIL SNACKS
The meal plan above gives us breakfast and dinner each day, plus our renowned pit stop support food. Please pack your own supply of snacks that you enjoy, or you think you would prefer if you are fussy. Please also bring electrolytes and salt tablets, it is going to be hot, these will be 100% needed to replenish your salts. These can be stored with your ‘grab-bag’ in the support vehicle on Day 2 so you can stock up your own backpack and access regularly.
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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 buy 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
Your accommodation within the itinerary will have shower facilities. You should keep to a high level of personal hygiene by also using wet wipes 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.
ALONG THE ROUTE
This is a small and very well supported event. We will be working closely together to support each other and complete our aim to get from Sea to Summit.
Day 2 is an extremely long running day in the heat with an early start. You will be supported by vehicles throughout the duration of the day. You will need to carry a running pack with essential kit and the ability to carry 2 litres of water.
Day 3 is classified as the ‘mountain day’. The mountain comes with its own additional challenges. We want you to journey from Sea to Summit at your own pace. However, the safety team will be constantly monitoring all elements of the route and team dynamics. They may have to put additional precautions in place for the journey to remain at a safe level. This could be having smaller groups to hike together on the ascent for example.
The event is supported by a great crew of mountain guides, safety staff, and medically trained staff. The route will NOT be waymarked and you will need to use a navigation aid to complete the route. We recommend using a GPS compatible sports watch with mapping functionality as the easiest way to follow the route. You should also have a suitable app downloaded on your phone that can upload a gpx file (e.g. Outdooractive) or a separate handheld gps device. We strongly recommend that you are well-practiced navigating using your chosen device before arriving at the event. You should also carry a power bank and cable for your watch and phone.
This event is arduous, please give yourself the best chance of success by staying well hydrated, fed and getting lots of sleep in the week leading up to the event. The early mornings will take their toll if you do not get enough rest, save the holiday drinking mode until the last night when we will happily join you dancing on the tables.
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ROUTEFINDING
We will NOT fully waymark the route. Except, for a small sections when our guide at the front thinks it is appropriate to do so or the route has to be diverted due to a diversion 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.
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If you wish to rent a GPS watch from us, that is also possible. At a cost of £35. This will have the GPS already downloaded and you will get tuition of how to use the watch on registration day. You can rent a GPS watch from us via the 'Add Extras' part of your entry portal.
As stated above, you will get to know your devices intimately on this event. We will also make available route GPX files for you to upload onto your own devices as you see fit. These files will be provided much closer to the commencement of the event, once we are satisfied, we have the final version to share. Experience has shown that we will never share the file until it is the final, final, final version. Or else we end up with version control issues that are hard to resolve.
TRACKING DEVICE
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At registration you will be issued with your tracker, (in a ziplock bag (with your name on) inside a small dry bag ). It is your responsibility to look after the device. This device not only allows those at home to follow you on the route, but it also acts as a tracker for us too, meaning we can see where you are throughout the event. Tracking will go live on the morning of the first event day (i.e. the start of the event at 2am.
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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!).
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It is REALLY important that you ensure anyone watching at home knows this, for their own peace of mind and for our own safety systems. Experience shows that if someone watching at home does not understand this, they can sometimes unwittingly commence full rescue missions by panicking, calling in the cavalry and sparking confusion for us as organisers. As such, it really is a very important point to note. 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.
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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.follow.me.cz
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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 a charging cable and other accessories, and it will be your responsibility to keep the devices charged and functional during the event.
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You must return all devices at the end of the event and until then, you keep them with you.
EVENT INSTRUCTIONS
EVENT REGISTRATION PACK
There will be one event pack issued per person. Your Event Pack will contain:
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Personalised race bib with name and number – You should try and wear this over all clothing so that it is always visible.
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Baggage labels – these will be for your overnight bag, your Pit Stop bag and your race bag.
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Tracking Device
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. The kit list is very detailed and comprehensive please have a re-read. It is serious stuff so please do take everything we ask with you and discuss anything you are missing with the Expedition Manager.
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MEDICAL
​We have a dedicated medic accompanying us throughout the Sea to Summit route. All Rat Race staff also have a very high caliber of Emergency First Response training and are there for you, along with the medic in case of an incident and assistance is required.
It is imperative that we all keep our health standards at a high level and to be open and honest about possible issues before they become a problem. We will be taking an advanced medical kit with us, including emergency care kit plus various tapes, lotions and other items to assist in possible running and hiking specific injury and preventative care.
Please bring a personal first aid kit as suggested on the kit list as our supply will quickly become exhausted if we all need the same general medicines.
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PERSONAL MED KIT
​Our minimum spec for mandatory medical kit (to be carried at all times) is as follows: 
 
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1 x triangular (or comfortable roller) bandage 
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Gauze or similar absorbent dressing 
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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  
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PRE-SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE
​We have invited you to have a medical screening process, which can be completed via the link HERE. Please complete this as soon as possible – and certainly please, no later than 10th April 2025. If you do have any condition that you feel we should know about, however small you feel it may be, please do share this with our Medics. Experience has shown that early pre-screening can assist both us and you greatly, in enabling the care you need pre and during the trip. If you do not share information on conditions which are likely to affect your participation or decide to share them very late in the process, we are all under pressure and we will always reserve the right to cancel your participation if we feel there is a medical issue that may affect yours, or others’ safety. So please, do share anything and everything you feel our team should know about, at the earliest opportunity.  
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IMPORTANT NOTE
​We are very fortunate to have an excellent Medical Director providing oversight, planning, and screening on all of our international trips, who in turn engages seriously professional and qualified staff to join you on the trip. Rat Race also conforms and has been audited to the rigorous BS8848 standard of expedition management. This means our approach to all things safety and medical is extremely thorough and it is designed throughout with your best interest at heart.
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Your medical screening details will be sent direct to our medical team and under medical confidentiality rules, this will only be shared with our medics and no-one else. If they decide this is info that is in the best interests of everyone for us as organisers to be privy to, they will seek and gain your consent before doing so. It is therefore important you complete the link to the medical survey only. Do not send Rat Race medical information direct. If you have any queries at all on the medical side of things in relation to this event, you can email our Medical Director, Dr Patrick Musto directly and confidentially on office@trailmed.co.uk
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LITTER
​We want to show that this event has exemplary control of littering. Please help us achieve that. Pack your litter into your pack, pockets or nearby bin bag. No exceptions. We have a clear leave no trace policy. This needs to be adhered to throughout the whole trip.
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HEAT & SUN
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​We have put together a guide with can be viewed HERE.
INSURANCE
INSURANCE FOR YOU AND YOUR EQUIPMENT​​
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We have asked that you have in place Travel Insurance cover and specified Evacuation cover to last for a minimum period of the event duration, for the days you are with us on the published itinerary. Evacuation and medical expenses cover should total no less than $500 000.
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We recommend that participants have insurance to cover damage, loss, theft, injury, and non-attendance. Rat Race cannot accept any responsibility for the loss of, theft, or damage to any Participant's property or the circumstances of Participant non-attendance. Within the 12-week departure window, we cannot provide any transfers, and, in all cases, we cannot entertain requests for refunds. We respectfully remind all participants that unforeseen circumstances preventing attendance is what travel insurance is designed for and is the reason for this as a strong recommendation on such undertakings.
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NOTE ON INSURANCE
Mann Broadbent are Rat Race’s UK-based insurance broker, specialising in the leisure insurance market. This is a specialist sports travel cover product. However, Rat Race is neither an insurance broker or underwriter. We can recommend Mann Broadbent wholeheartedly as good people to deal with, but please remember that this is not a ‘Rat Race product’ and we have no say whatsoever on claims decisions made by the insurers, if you raise such a claim via one of these policies.
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https://www.mannbroadbent.co.uk/sports-travel-insurance/.
Other providers:
www.battleface.com
We have no relationship with any of these providers, but previous customers have found them reasonable to deal with regarding some of our similar challenges.
For all insurance, please remember that cover is offered based on several factors, (the nature of the event disciplines being one of them), but your own insurance profile, age, health, and other details form a big part of this. As such, we are always happy to provide details to insurers in support of cover requests from customers, but we cannot influence their decisions as to whether to offer cover to individuals.
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KIT LIST
DAY 2: RUNNING OR LIGHTWEIGHT TREKKING BELOW TREVELEZ
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Trail running footwear
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Shorts
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T-shirt
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Ultra vest or small daypack
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Bladder or bottles/ soft flasks with a minimum capacity of 2 litres
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Hat – cap or wide brimmed are fine
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Socks
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Ankle gaiters (optional)
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Scooby snacks of choice.
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Handheld device capable of loading and following a gpx route (e.g. Mobile phone with Outdooractive app or a dedicated handheld gps device)
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GPS watch with ability to follow a gpx route (this can be rented from Rat Race
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Headtorch, waterproof to IPX7 standard, minimum 150 lumens + spare batteries or second headtorch.
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Salt tablets and dissolvable electrolytes for water are mandatory. Please bring salt tablets and some electrolyte mix for drinks. You will 100% need these on this trip
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​Sunscreen and sunglasses
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Personal medications
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Bivvy bag
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Power bank and cables for your watch and handheld navigation device/phone.
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Small personal first aid kit and blister care kit.
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Lightweight waterproof top and bottom
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Lightweight fleece
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Toilet kit (paper, nappy bags, antibac)
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DAY 3: TREKKING/ MOUNTAIN STAGE TO THE SUMMIT ABOVE TREVELEZ
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Trail running/walking footwear or lightweight boots – ideally with ankle support
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Trail running/walking apparel – lightweight trekking trousers, technical wicking tee/ base layer, long-sleeved wicking layer, mid-layer (e.g. microfleece)
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Waterproof upper body and leg cover (yes, waterproofs, however unlikely it may be that we use them)
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Buff or similar neck gaiter, and sun hat/cap
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Gloves - lightweight and medium
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Warm hat
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Spare base and mid layers
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Socks
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Blister care kit
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Bivvy bag
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First Aid kit (small personal kit with a triangular bandage, steri strips and an adhesive dressing as a minimum)
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Water bottle, and/or cup OR Hydration system for rucksack –
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Trekking poles
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Headtorch, waterproof to IPX7 standard, minimum 150 lumens + spare batteries or second headtorch.
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A rucksack that is sized to hold this kit. We are suggesting 30l but ultimately, it’s up to you. If the gear fits, the bag is OK!
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Due to other accessories a rucksack with expandable features and straps is very helpful. Your call.
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Dry bag is always very useful for general gear storage/ organisation/ protection.
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Ditto small zip lock bags (especially for doing your business and disposing of toilet paper on mountain)
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Minimum 2L water carrying capacity
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Toilet kit (paper, nappy bags, anibac)
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Handheld device capable of loading and following a gpx route (e.g. Mobile phone with Outdooractive app or a dedicated handheld gps device)
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GPS watch with ability to follow a gpx route (this can be rented from Rat Race)
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Sunscreen and sunglasses
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Personal medication
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Power bank and cables for your watch and handheld navigation device/phone​​​​
​​​​GENERAL
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Casual clothing for use in evenings at hotels and transit stages – you will be able to leave a second ‘overnight’ bag with us when you depart on the route, in the support vehicle so you have warm/ spare/ casual/ dry clothes available when we interact with the support vehicle, so you do not need to carry this with you at all – see below where we reference the ‘vehicle bag’
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General ‘secondary’ bag (holdall, duffel) for spare kit
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General trekking trousers and robust outdoor footwear are recommended just given the type of destination
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Towel – travel micro towel or full-size
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Bandana, Buff or similar
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Multitool or penknife
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Reading material
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Power bank for mobile phone
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International plug adaptor
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IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES FOR THE EVENT THIS WILL BE COMMUNICATED IN THE PRE-EVENT DOCUMENTATION
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Carrying this kit is a requirement of the Event and forms part of our planning in ensuring reasonable measures are put in place to keep you safe should anything go wrong during this adventurous endeavour. We ask you not to take short cuts or ‘second guess’ our advice. For instance, the carrying of waterproofs is required even though this is a warm environment, as these items can prevent cooling down too fast if you get injured in a location that is very exposed to wind or when it is raining heavily leading to more rapid cooling. Remember you may be very tired and sweaty, and weather can whip up pretty quickly in Spain. So we need you to respect the kit list at all times.
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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 Event Control and safety 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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Bags
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There are 3 bags to be considered for this journey.
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General ‘overnight’ bag (recommended: Holdall or duffel) for spare and general kit. Please go for a MAXIMUM size of around 60 litres and no more than 15kg please. This bag will go forward from the hotel at the start to the hotel in Trevelez and then onwards to your accommodation each evening; so you will not see this bag until you arrive at those locations.
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Daypack or running vest. This is the bag you will carry with you on Day 2 from the coast to Trevelez. It should contain the mandatory kit, spare clothes, food and water. When you get to Trevelez, you can swap it with…​
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Mountain backpack. This is approx. 30l and will have your mandatory kit and personal items.
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KIT THAT WE WILL NOT BE USING/TAKING
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Helmets, ropes and climbing gear.
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Our highest technical grade of ground will be trekking.
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ITINERARY
DAY ONE / ARRIVAL AND REGISTRATION DAY
5th June 2025
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You will arrive into Malaga airport for our RV at 12:00 (or overnight in the local area and meet us back at the airport). We will the transfer the team to the Coast (2.5 hrs drive) and check into our hotel. Registration, dinner and briefings (and hopefully an early night!)
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DAY TWO / SPAIN SEA TO SUMMIT BEGINS!
6th June 2025
It is a seriously early start. ‘Oh My God O’Clock’. We aim to start at 02:00 to avoid the most serious heat of the day. Starting at sea level and finishing at La Trevelez for a well earn rest and feed.
Today you will only need to carry your running bag with essential items as you will be vehicle supported throughout.
Distance: 45.4km (28 miles)
Highest elevation: 1623m (5326ft)
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DAY THREE / TO THE SUMMIT!
7th June 2025
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Heading off from our cosy mountain hotel in La Trevelez, up and up and up we ascend the steep trails of Mulhacen. We will continue up and will top out at 3,482m, celebrating at the highest point in Western Europe outside of the Alps. We will then descend back to our cosy mountain hotel in La Trevelez for a hearty meal and a great night’s sleep.
Distance: Approx. 22.6km (14 miles)
Highest Elevation: Mulhacen summit 3,482m (11424ft)
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DAY FOUR
8th June 2025
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We will give you a sleep-in today! After a leisurely breakfast, we will get into transport to head to our hotel in Granada. All that is left to do is celebrate with a glass or two of Rioja and relax.
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DAY FIVE / BREAKFAST & DEPART
9th June 2025
After breakfast we will wave goodbye to everyone either departing on our transport for our transport to Malaga airport at 10:00 or going off on further adventures in Spain.
TOTAL journey distances:
Distance: approx 68km
Ascent: 4,500m (15,059ft)
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EVENT ETHOS: ‘RACING’ AND OUR FINISH TIMES SERVICE
Completing not competing. Rat Race’s ethos has always been about inspiring folk to undertake challenges in awesome outdoor locations. Spain is just that, taken to an epic level. This is not a formal race environment and there are no winners and losers. We do not award prizes for the fastest folk. There will be no splits. Indeed, there will be no timings. Rat Race totally appreciate the incredible commitment of those taking on the challenges we lay down and each participant is as important as the next regardless of how fast you can cover the distance. This is akin far more to an expeditionary undertaking than anything else.
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In delivering this unique challenge we prioritise factors such as safety, camaraderie and environmental concerns. Respecting the wishes of local stakeholders with our route management and litter policies is vital in being able to bring folk together for this unique experience. Safety above all else is paramount, as you will fully appreciate. To reasonably balance all these factors, we emphasise that the event is not a formal race environment, rather it is a challenge in the great outdoors where great folk come together with a common purpose.
PARTICIPANT SAFETY ADVICE
GENERAL SAFETY AROUND VEHICLES
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Throughout most of the event we will be in wild country, however, at points we may be cycling with other traffic on the roads, and we must remain vigilant for other road users at all times.
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CUT OFFS
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This event is not about cut-offs. But, having a ‘cut-off’ and a ‘sweeping’ structure is an important part of our Event Management Plan and Risk Assessment processes. Cut off times are independent of any other factors that occur earlier in the course such as start time, injury, going the wrong way, time taken at Pit Stops, head winds; and whether it is your fault or not. We understand that missing cut offs can be tough to take but please remember this is not the crew member’s fault that breaks the news to you, should it happen to you. Please also remember that if this does happen to you, the Event team’s decision is final.
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If you are cut off, there will be no option to re-start from where you were cut off the next day. (The event only ever moves forwards). You may however re-start the next day from the official re-start location; subject to the discretion of the event team. There are a number of reasons why you may be cut-off or withdrawn from the event. These could be medical, pace, kit, personal or other factors.
It is OK to retire and to be taken forward to the overnight spot. We’d rather you re-started the next day vs suffer meaninglessly and spoil it for yourself. We call this being ‘boosted.’ As far as the time available goes to avoid a cut-off, there is no ‘set’ cut off time each day. (ie. Time limit or published time). Instead, we require all participants to be at the finish location before nightfall. If this is looking unlikely you will be ‘swept’ forward. That is the cut-off. Above all else, please remember, this event is not about cut-offs. It is about getting the most out of this magical environment. We will not cut you off and sweep you forward unless we really must. and, if we do, it is for your own safety.
'BEDDING DOWN ON THE COURSE'
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It is probable that when you set off on the Challenge on day 1, the first hours of the first day may be a bit hit n’ miss. Pace, temperature regulation, kit selection, footwear or bag niggles. All to be expected. Embrace that ‘bedding down into it’ phase and listen to your body and to your kit. Expect some unexpected phenomena (not UFOs, just unusual kit or boot issues that you may not have quite been expecting). Use this time to just get used to the environment, the gear and the temperature. Go with it and relax. By Pit Stop 1 or 2, you’ll have worked out enough to be comfortable…
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EMERGENCY PROTOCOL
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In the event of a true emergency or serious incident protocols will be followed to provide the quickest available evacuation to a healthcare centre. These protocols will be made clear to you upon arrival at a pre-activity briefing by the Trip Leader.
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POOR WEATHER CONTINGENCY
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Spain is going to be hot but mountain environments are known for varied weather conditions. All four seasons can be felt in one day. Please be prepared for the multiple weather conditions and temperatures ranging from hot to cold. The terrain and altitudes along the route will also have an effect of the temperature.
The event will proceed in many conditions, but if it is deemed unsafe to continue due to weather conditions, the event will be halted at the current hotel of Refugio. If required, we will await more  favourable  conditions to re-commence. This may result in some stages being cut short in order to achieve daily mileages within the time available.  In all cases, the decision of the Event team is final in these matters. 
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We will monitor weather throughout. 
CONTACT DETAILS AND ACTIONS CHECK LIST
To facilitate the very best support for you whilst embarked on the event, we have prepared some contact information below that should assist you and loved ones throughout your Event experience. Please find a series of phone numbers and email addresses and instructions on which is to be used; and for what. 
 
 Finally, we have included an action check-list so you may tick off the pre-event jobs arising from this Essential Event Information document. 
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1.) For ALL pre-event email correspondence prior to departure:
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events@ratrace.com for challenge-based questions, kit, training, prep
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events@ratrace.com for admin-based questions
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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 Michael Murray 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 related concerns!
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.
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FINAL CHECK LIST
Submit insurance details and complete online waiver to be submitted by 10th April 2025
Medical forms must be filled out by 10th April 2025
That’s it. Pheeeww! 
Te veo pronto amigos,
 
Yours in Adventure,
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Michael Murray, Event Director