The Rat Race that really takes people away from routine of everyday life

IT COMBINES several major sporting challenges: running, climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, abseiling and, er, eating deep-fried Mars bars.

Walk through the streets of Scotland's capital today and you may stumble on madcap teams of athletes racing round the city in the fifth annual Edinburgh Rat Race.

The event is urban adventure racing at its most extreme, where the cityscape becomes a playground with virtually no square foot off limits, from rooftops to sheer walls.

While the course is kept a closely guarded secret until the day of the event, organisers revealed that competitors would be asked to make their way as far as the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho, and maybe even further.

Competitors are in mixed teams of three who plan their own route, factoring in rest and food as they see fit. More gruelling, frustrating and multi-layered than a triathlon, this is one of the few sports where simply completing the race is often considered a victory.

Now in its fifth year, the Rat Race began in the city and takes place annually in Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton, Edinburgh, Newcastle and London, each race tailored to its city.

"Adventure racing is the ultimate team sport," says Bruce Duncan, 27, a reservoir engineer from Aberdeen whose team is a favourite this year. "You experience some of the highest highs and the lowest lows of your life, and it's great to share those moments with your teammates. I love that adventure racing is a team event and that you don't know quite what you'll be doing until you start and there's always a few surprises

"Sometimes there's a food challenge involved – you have to eat a deep-fried Mars Bar or a jellied eel. It involves all the activities I like anyway and it also incorporates navigating, which makes it much more complicated than a triathlon. The terrain in a city can be really challenging too. Edinburgh is my favourite city for adventure racing. There's so much variety."

Past Rat Races have involved everything from head-shaving to karaoke in between more serious sporting challenges.

"This year we'll go to some of the key landmarks around Edinburgh, and some of the highest points, with great views," said Gary Tompsett the planning chief of Rat Races across the British Isles. "We'll be crossing water, and we'll be going to the world's largest indoor climbing arena. There will be a bit of busking and some fairly shocking challenges."

One of the most eye-catching will be a giant washing machine in Princes Street Gardens. The six-metre-high obstacle will be part of the Adventure Village in the gardens this weekend, the hub for the popular annual challenge.

Spectators will be able to watch all the action, as well as non-stop extreme sports footage, on a giant screen in the grandstand of the Adventure Village. For those not wanting to take part in the main event there will be a series of less arduous challenges, such as scaling the giant washing machine in the Over the Moon challenge, arranged by sponsors Indesit.

Money raised will go towards the Teenage Cancer Trust. The Rat Race starts at noon today.

FACT BOX

FOR anyone who can't quite muster up the energy to take part in the Edinburgh Rat Race this weekend, there's plenty going on for spectators.

There will be an Adventure Village in West Princes Street Gardens where visitors will have the chance to practice for next year on the climbing tower and meet the stars of Edinburgh Rugby Club. Spectators can also watch as the 150 teams taking part in the race scramble over a giant cargo net and abseil down the other side.

A giant screen will relay events from the race, while live music from Big Hand, Gecko 3, Reiser and The Hussy should keep everyone entertained. There will also be demonstrations by Mountain Bike Trials and free-running group Edinburgh Parkour and breakdancing by EHX.