Rat Race 2015 for the intrepid Big Wipes Team

Rat Race 2015: 1500 River RatRacers, including 5 enthusiastic (terrified) Big Wipers, arrived clean and dry in London’s ExCel Centre ready to tackle 10k of obstacles and the dark depths of the Royal Docks.

Rat Race Big Wipes Team

Rat Race crazy assault course

After an enthusiastic warm-up, runners emerged from the indoor obstacles onto the dock-side.  Balmy sunshine, which had been sorely absent during the previous few days, warmly welcomed us.  From there the action was ‘set to soggy’ with a series of decidedly aquatic episodes looping around Docklands.

Big Wipes team water

Things got rapidly wetter as we went head-long over (or under) giant sausages.  However,  the wettest was yet to come as we hurtled down a massive slide.  We then kayaked over by City Airport and thereafter threw ourselves from the top of the enormous Truck Jump.  The team went under, over and through inflatables.  We vaulted walls and stumbled through mazes.  We went down a steep water slide and up the unrelenting flights of stairs that led to the one of the many bridges that span the river.  And throughout the 10km of pathways, we still managed to enjoy the spectacular views of London’s architecture.

Rat Race flying Big Wipes team

For the Big Wipes team and probably for most others, the highlight of the Rat Race assault course was a 20ft gangplank jump.

After the event, the Big Wipes team didn’t look as clean as when we started, but at least we knew what we could use to wipe all the dirt off.  Our smiles, however, could not be wiped off our faces for the rest of the day!

Rat Race Finish

Rat Race summary from Mudstacle

Andy Fisher from Mudstacle summed the event organisation up perfectly.  He said: “The warm reception I received at Rat Race 2015  set the tone for the rest of the day. The race organisers were efficient, well informed and seemed to have been recruited from among the nicest people on the planet. While I will go on to speak in glowing terms about the race itself, I really want to emphasise that it was the encouragement, smiles and banter offered by the plethora of volunteers that I found most impressive about the event.  If you were one of those beaming faces or know someone who was, I cannot say enough good things about the quality of the stewardship provided”.  We can only but agree.  Rat Race 2016, here we come (maybe).Rat Race Logo

Shelter Charity

London River Rat Race is the Capital’s only aquatic obstacle race and it certainly made a splash!  Entry fees, combined with sponsorship and donations on the day, helped Shelter raise nearly 40 000 GBP! Shelter exists to fight for all those whose lives are blighted by the loss of their home – and all whose lives will be affected if things don’t change.  The money raised will help to provide a lifeline to thousands of families up and down the country facing homelessness.