WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE STAND FOR
MEET THE TEAM
We’re a small team based in Yorkshire. We love a challenge and our mantra is that if folks like us can complete our events, you can too.
​
JIM // Managing Director
In 2003 Jim was sat on the side of a mountain in Peru, 25 years old, scribbling furiously
into his My Little Pony notebook about an idea he had for an adventure events company.
He could never have imagined that this tiny spark would ignite a global tour de force that would bring extraordinary adventures to everyday people. With unrivalled experience in the industry, Jim is studying for his PhD in Event Management, has personally delivered in excess of 500 stand-alone events and has led expeditions on 6 continents. If you become a Rat Race Test Pilot you’ll see him on the ground taking part in a majority of those trips and if you sign up to one of our Bucket List adventures he’ll be heading up the team that will be taking care of you every step of the way, or beavering away somewhere in the background.
​
FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Do I really have to choose?
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Malt loaf
​
DANNII // Commercial Director
She is the captain of the Rat Race ship who runs the HQ in Thirsk and heads up the marketing and commercial team. Which basically means she's the reason you’ll find yourself stood on a Rat Race start line somewhere around the world questioning your life choices.
​
FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Race to the Wreck
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Peanut butter pretzels
​
ABBI // Head of Expeditions
Our very own wonderwoman. Abbi is a highly trained, experienced Expeditions Manager with more than 10 years of exploring under her belt. She leads our small group trips around the world and if you’ve signed up to a journey that tips the mercury below zero she’s guaranteed to be standing right there next to you. She LOVES the cold stuff.
​
FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Mongol 100
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Tunnocks Tea Cakes and Watermelon washed down with the occasional Frube
​
JAMES // Project manager
Not only is James a brilliant runner who specialises in epic ultramarathons, he also is the most polite and caring man with a genuine want to bring you the best event experience possible. He is our man on the ground for many of our epic international and UK events that involve racking up those miles on your feet and enjoys nothing more than exploring new places on our Test Pilot adventures. His knowledge on how to get prepped and keep yourself ticking over on multi-day running is second to none which means you are in the perfect hands for getting the most out of your Rat Race adventure.
FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Easter Island Ultramarathon
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Melon​​
ANDRAS // Production Manager
The muscle behind what you see on the ground. Andras is responsible for packing all the kit out of the warehouse and getting it to where it needs to be…then putting it altogether! You’ll often find him behind the scenes, wielding a sledgehammer and ensuring that everything is where it needs to be.
​
FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Ultra Tour of Arran
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Pork Scratchings
​
LAURA // Communications Manager
The queen of social media, Laura is behind all the messaging and communications you see from Rat Race. Whether that’s a new awesome picture on Instagram or our latest promotional film on Facebook, she curates our feed to ensure that you are inspired to take on your next adventure. You’ll find her at all the UK events and a good bunch of the international ones, she’s the woman who pops up on the course with her phone in hand ready to make you insta-famous.
​
FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Scotland Coast to Coast
OLIVIA // Events Administrator
We often wonder how we lived at Rat Race in the time before Olivia. She is the ULTIMATE woman with a tick list and keeps us all on track, elevating our slick processes to a whole new level with her unbelievable admin skills. If you’re on an international trip you will almost certainly come across her in your pre-event comms, she’s the one chasing you for insurance documents, asking you what you want for breakfast and making sure you have everything you need before taking on one our huge adventures. A lover of all things outdoors (as long as it doesn’t involve camping and not being able to wash your hair...) you’ll find her in Registration at our UK events and at the airport greeting you on many of our international trips.
​
BRYDIE // Customer Service Manager
Brydie is an aspiring ultra runner who was first introduced to Rat Race through our awesome Test Pilot program. She’s an integral part of the team that delivers our excellent RR customer experience, you’ll interact with her if you’ve signed up as a Test Pilot or if you’ve got a question about an upcoming event.
​
FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Ultra Tour of Arran
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Peanut butter and jam on toast
​
HALINA // Accountant
Arguably the most important person at HQ! She pays the bills and keeps us all in line to ensure that quality is never sacrificed. She also reigns us in when our brainstorming takes us just a bit too far… she is the sensible, rational head of Rat Race. The exact kind of person you want in charge of the finances. She's also very camera shy!
​
FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: City to Sea Miami
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Iced Finger
​
ALAN // Store Manager
We have a bespoke range of Rat Race kit that has been designed with our #ratracers in mind. Alan is a keen runner who creates, designs, tests and manages all aspects of that kit. From choosing the next delectable Pit Stop Bar flavour, sampling materials, stress-testing our latest running pack, to packing the parcels that arrive at your door ready for your next adventure. He is the brains behind the whole store operation.
​
FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Iceland Coast to Coast
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Cashew nuts
ROSS // Digital Marketing & SEO Wizard ​
As a self-taught digital marketing and SEO specialist, Ross is probably the reason you've found us on the World Wide Web. He's been working remotely and travelling the world for the last 5 years, racking up visits to 37 countries and currently calling the Bulgarian mountains home. If he’s not tearing it up on a snowboard, he’s probably shredding waves somewhere more tropical. As a former Florida native, Ross doesn’t do wet suits or cold water—unless there's a really good reason (or snack) involved. Speaking of snacks, You’ll likely find him snagging all the snacks at our famous pit stops, asking, "So, how'd you end up here?" so he can claim credit as the self-proclaimed Google Search King.
​
FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Borneo Sea to Summit
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Coconut Oat Bar
​
OlIVIA // Store Assistant
Alan's right hand woman, Olivia is the person who does a bit of everything! She assists in designing and choosing kit and merchandise, she prints your bespoke orders and packs your parcels, designs marketing campaigns, keeps the website it tip top shape and answers all your burning questions on kit@ratrace.com. She has a real passion for fashion and travelling the world, you'll find her at our events and in her spare time she loves swimming and hiking.
​
FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Santorini Circuit
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Cadbury's Boost
KATE // Project Manager ​
Our newest project manager who comes with a whole host of brilliant experience. She enjoys flexing her organisational muscles and sweating the details to create inspirational and purposeful events that bring our the very best in people. A top tier creative problem solver there's nothing she loves more than a blank canvas and the word 'go'. Route planning is her dopamine and she thrives on plotting and developing new experiences for you in far flung places. She lives by the sea and that's where you'll find her in her spare time with her family.
​
FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Patagonia Glacier to Glacier
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Flapjack, the chewier the better.
​
STEPHEN // Graphic & Web Designer​
The man who makes us look good, Stephen designs everything you see at a Rat Race event, from the store merchandise to the event logos and branding and everything in between. He is a creative soul who brings is love of drawing and illustration to his work, but we don't keep him locked up! You'll see him out and about on our events especially if it's a cycling one, he is a keen cyclist with a real love for anything with 2 wheels and spends his spare time tinkering with steel road machines and retro mountain bikes.
​
FAVOURITE RAT RACE EVENT: Transandean
FAVOURITE ADVENTURE SNACK: Snickers + Banana
RAT RACE EVENT AND TRIP FORMATS ARE DESIGNED TO BE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY TOUGH, BUT THESE ARE NOT WHAT WE WOULD CALL ‘SUFFERFESTS’.
Our challenges can certainly be very hard, but they are all designed to be achievable.
​
Critically, we are all about completion. We want people to succeed in the challenges we create. We have never been into elite sport and we do not come from that background. The adventure unfolds from there and that is what we are all about. Of course, when we are going to the type of magnificent locations that we go to, we also think you’ll want some time to take in the scenery too.
IT IS AS MUCH ABOUT THE DESTINATION FOR US AS IT IS ABOUT THE CHALLENGE.
​
WE GO WHERE OTHERS DON’T AND WE DO EVENTS THAT OTHERS WON’T
​
We dare to be different and we are truly audacious with our adventures. You won’t find a trekking trip up Kilimanjaro on our site but you will find some trips to places you have almost certainly never heard of. We pack in fantastic start-line venues, awesome icons and superlative travel destinations on and off the beaten track.
WE'RE JUST
LIKE YOU!
​
We are not Special Forces soldiers, ex-Olympians or all-round action-heroes. We’re a team of regular girls and guys who have jobs, kids, real-world stuff going on and a normal amount of holiday-time. We love a challenge and our mantra is that if folks like us can complete our events, you can too. So we roll our sleeves up and we have a pop at stuff.
WE'VE BEEN AROUND
THE BLOCK
​
We have operated over 500 events since we began in 2004, catering to over 1 million people and putting on events that have spanned the Globe from central London to Outer Mongolia. We practise what we preach, too – you will frequently see the office crew and Rat Race’s Founder, Jim, on the start line of our challenges, recce-ing new concepts or elbow-deep in a portable toilet that needs unblocking!
WE CARE ABOUT LOOKING AFTER THE PLANET
​
It’s easy to say we’re doing our bit. Most people say that these days, but we do it all and we are proud of our creds! From compostable cups, recycling facilities and a ban on single-use plastic bottles at our events, to getting our garments and medals locally manufactured to order reducing waste, miles and making a proper commitment to longer-term environmental improvements.