UP to 1,000 runners will walk the plank of the Tall Ship Glenlee, kayak along the Clyde, tackle an assault course under the Finnieston Crane, and scale an inflatable hurdle, as they take part in the hotly anticipated Glasgow Riverside Rat Race on Sunday 21 August.
The Glasgow Riverside Rat Race is a 10km running way-marked journey along the north and south banks of the Clyde.
The route that stretches from the event hub at the new Zaha Hadid-designed Riverside Museum as far as the city centre and back, is interspersed with adventure activities, obstacles and challenges based alongside, near or in the river.
It also takes in some of the city’s many stunning and well-known riverside landmarks including the Glasgow Science Centre, The Clyde Auditorium at the SECC – better know as the Armadillo – and the ‘Squinty’ and ‘Squiggly’ bridges.
It will be the perfect opportunity for both residents and city visitors to explore the river in a new and exciting way.
Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “The Glasgow Riverside Rat Race is the kind of exciting, dynamic event that the city is now renowned for.
“With the start and finish at our wonderful new Riverside Museum, and some well-known landmarks along the route, I’m sure the race will be a spectacular success.
“Not only will this adventurous race provide a visual treat for those people taking part, the fact that it will be broadcast on Channel 4 later this year will ensure images of Glasgow’s rich cultural and maritime heritage reach viewers across the UK, allowing people to see the ongoing transformation of the city’s riverfront as an area to be enjoyed, explored and celebrated.”
Rat Race Adventure Sports has teamed up with the city of Glasgow to bring this exciting open urban adventure run to the River Clyde as a flagship event, among other launch and seasonal events, to coincide with the opening year of the Riverside Museum.
Celebrity ambassador, Nieve Jennings – singer, actress and former Miss Scotland and Miss UK, said: “Training for the Glasgow Riverside Rat Race has been an incredibly fun experience.
“I have included hours of challenging classes and intense running to make sure my stamina is at its peak.
“Exercise is a huge part of my life and I love it.
“Glasgow is a wonderful city and I’m extremely excited to be running in my hometown.
“This is an excellent opportunity for myself and everyone else to see Glasgow’s landmarks and it’s true beauty, up close and personal, as well as taking part in all the fun obstacles and activities the Rat Race has to offer.
“Good luck, everyone!”
Channel 4 will film The Glasgow Riverside Rat Race for an adventure programme to be transmitted at 7am on Sunday, September 4.
Rat Race Adventure Sports designs and operates the UK’s largest range of adventure events. The team organises up to 30 events annually, staged in urban and rural locations across the UK and abroad; offering formats that feature off-road running, biking, kayaking and roped pursuits.
Like the Glasgow Riverside Rat Race, the events are renowned for being unique, memorable, achievable and adventurous.
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Media contact:
Paddy Cuthbert – Podge Publicity – T: 07968 699636 / E: paddy@podge.co.uk
Images of Nieve Jennings and Dean Macey launching the Glasgow Riverside Rat Race at the Riverside Museum are available.
Notes to editors:
The Glasgow Riverside Rat Race – www.ratraceadventure.com/glasgow
The Rat Race Adventure Sports team has partnered with the city of Glasgow and Glasgow Life, the charity that runs the new Riverside Museum, to create an urban adventure running race on Sunday 21 August 2011. It features a 10km route along the banks of the River Clyde broken up with adventure activities and challenges alongside, in or on the river itself.
Everyone will complete the same 10km route and all of the activities are achievable and require no special skills. Kayaks, buoyancy aids and any safety equipment required will be provided.
Cost to enter – £35 each
Age limit – 16 on the day of the event
Course map – http://www.ratraceadventure.com/glasgow/course.html
The Glasgow Riverside Rat Race is one of three events in The 2011 Urban Rat Race Series. The other events include Teesside (Sunday 28 August) and the two day London Rat Race ‘Capital Capers’ (Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September).
Glasgow’s Riverside Museum – www.glasgowmuseums.com/riverside
The Riverside Museum and The Tall Ship Glenlee opened to the public on June 21st, 2011. Riverside Museum: Scotland’s Museum of Travel and Transport will be home to about 3,000 exhibits (double the number at the old Museum of Transport at Kelvin Hall) set in around 150 distinct story displays. The building was designed by architect, Zaha Hadid.
The £74million museum will be managed by charity Glasgow Life, and has been funded by Glasgow City Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and the Riverside Museum Appeal (www.riversideappeal.org), a charitable trust established to raise £5 million in sponsorship and donations from companies, trusts and individuals for the development of the new Riverside Museum.
To date, it has raised £4.2 million. The Riverside Museum Appeal Trust is recognised as a Scottish Charity SC 033286.
Rat Race Adventure Sports – www.ratraceadventure.com
From city to summit, Rat Race Adventure Sports offers the UK’s largest range of adventure events to try and the very best range of adventure gear to buy.
The company was set up by ex-Red Bull events specialist Jim Mee in 2004 and its first event was the innovative Edinburgh Urban Adventure. Since then the brand has grown to encompass some 30 events annually, staged in locations across the UK and abroad and offering formats that feature off-road running, biking, kayaking and roped pursuits.
Rat Race’s events are renowned for being unique, memorable, achievable and adventurous.
In Scotland, the Scotland Coast to Coast (17 and 18 September 2011) is the definitive multi-sport journey of the British Isles and was launched in 2010 to a sell-out field. It features a 100-mile course completed over two days and featuring running, biking and kayaking.
The Mighty Deerstalker (19 March 2011) sees 2500 Tweed-clad runners scale mountains in the Borders and the brand new Glasgow Riverside Rat Race will see thousands of intrepid Ratfans take the plunge with an adventure set on, around and in the River Clyde itself.
The Rat Race brand today also features a hugely successful online adventure gear store, plus training products such as the award-winning Urban Gym Street Circuits, taking place in both Glasgow and Edinburgh and nationally throughout UK cities.
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Contact: Paddy Cuthbert
Phone: 07968699636
Email: paddy@podge.co.uk
Website: http://www.ratraceadventure.com/glasgow/
