RAT Trail and Ultra Festival 

This blog post offers an overview of the RAT Trail and Ultra festival from August 2023. 

Given the forecast, everyone deserved a medal just for showing up at the RAT this year! Runners didn't set off into balmy summer conditions as they normally would in August- the weather was more akin to conditions seen at the Arc of Attrition races in January. The race began in drizzle but quickly escalated into driving rain and powerful headwinds as storm Antoni took hold. The coast path turned into a gruelling obstacle course with mud-slicked trails and slippery rocks. Runners embraced the elements and showed remarkable determination in the face of relentless overnight wind and rain. As the next day progressed, a glimmer of sunshine lifted the mood and certainly helped with those final miles. 

A huge shout out and well done to everyone who took part, but especially to my endurance mindset clients, whose resolve and determination were no match for the storm! There are a range of races at the RAT, with something for everyone. The Red Rat is 20 miles, the Black Rat 32 miles, and the Plague coming in at a whopping 64 miles (100 km!), which is what my clients had opted for. They powered on through, smashing their goals, completing the race with a profound sense of accomplishment having discovered their new limits. I know they will now carry these new limits forward into their next races. Congratulations! 

It's always a pleasure to be at the finish line of these events, especially in my capacity as an endurance mindset coach. The running community is such a welcoming and friendly one, and it's great to hear stories from drenched and mud-spattered participants. Well done to everyone on your tremendous success!