- Taking the Plunge - Dawn Course
Running, swimming, climbing or just plain tumbling - the Urban Rat Race series asks a lot of its participants. Sarah Juggins report
As nearly one thousand adults splashed, kayaked and ran their way around, in, and sometimes under, the Clyde in Glasgow, an onlooker would have been justified in asking if the lunatics had been let out of the asylum.
In truth, the Glasgow Rat Race is the latest in a series of events that are attracting the attention of a range of people, including adrenaline junkies, jaded runners and those new to exercise.
The urban rat races aim to use a city?s natural attractions to conjour up an event, based on a running race, that will allow competitors to push themselves just that little bit more than they thought they could.
The Glasgow event involved a seven-mile circular run along the River Clyde. Interspersed with the run were several obstacles. After just over a mile, runners were faced by a set of steps around the base of a tower. This nicely built up the lactic acid levels in the quads and calves before a winding run through a very overgrown piece of industrial waste-land. The next obstacle was a six-foot wall, where the only option really was to hurl yourself over, hope that you made the top and didn?t slither just down the wall-face in a cartoon-like manner.
A long stretch of river-side run, into quite a hot sunshine meant that competitors were ready for a stint on the water. You paired up with whoever was nearest and hoped that you were both at least slightly proficient in kayaking. A 400-metre kayak course really separated the field out at this point as the river was choppy and the route, under railway arches, was not completely plain sailing.
Row, row, row your boat
Leaving the kayak at the edge of the river, you ran up a gangway, rediscovering your running legs as you went? only to drop to your knees to negotiate a camouflage net covering a few metres of snow. As you scrambled under the net you suddenly became aware that your knees were leaving layers of skin on the snow.
Another couple of miles and you dropped down to the water?s edge. An official instructed you to get into the water, and it was at this point you realised that the warning not to allow water to touch open wounds was redundant after the snow-exfoliation you had received just minutes earlier.
A 100-metre wade was followed by a watery, and hence sluggish, run to the foot of the iconic Titan Crane. Here you climbed onto a high wire and edged your way around the crane before climbing a cargo net back to street level.
A long run for home now, and runners agreed that the water and snow had invigorated them for this bit of the race. The run into the finishing area was uneventful but then came the obstacle finale. Competitors ran down a slip-way and were diverted into the Clyde once more. The swim back towards the bank was slow because of the water weighing your clothes down but the end was in sight.
The final obstacle was step too far for some. Moored alongside the Riverside Museum is the Glenlees ship. Competitors were guided onto the ship and then steered to a gangplank, which stood 10 metres above water level. The majority of competitors summoned up the courage to jump once more into the murky depths of the Clyde, others chose to take the penalty deck-scrubbing option.
Taking the plunge!
A quick sprint around the corner of the Museum and a run up a steeply-graded wall and then a triumphant burst through the finish tape.
The Glasgow Rat Race series takes place at city venues around the UK.
Copyright Sarah Juggins. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Sarah Juggins -
A magazine editor, blogger and freelance journalist, Sarah Juggins writes with authority and accuracy on a range of subjects.
Source: http://www.suite101.com/content/a-bonnie-trip-around-the-clyde-a390217
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