Rat Race | The Maltese Falcon

Fitness level

You can do this. This adventure is for anyone with a good level of general fitness.

Pace

This challenge has been designed so that you may travel at your own pace. There will also be some cut-offs, but these are very generous and the team will always look to help you achieve your goals in finishing this challenge, vs having to pull out. You are given very early starts to allow the very best possible window for route completion. But, if you need to stop for whatever reason, the team is there for you. The absolute key is that you enjoy this amazing journey across the Maltese islands and that you do so within your own limits. 

Accommodation

Hotel accommodation will be used throughout and is typically offered on a double or twin room basis. If you are taking part on your own, you will be paired with another participant of the same sex in a twin room. You will have the opportunity to request to share a room with a fellow racer when filling out your participation form which you will receive 3 months ahead of the event. 

Meals

In a nutshell, plenty of food is provided during the activity days. You may provide some of your own meals on travel days.

Kit list

A comprehensive kit list with mandatory and recommended kit for all three disciplines (on foot, bike and kayak) is available.

Season

• Jan
• Feb
• Mar
• Apr
• May
• Jun
• Jul
• Aug
• Sep
• Oct
• Nov
• Dec

Meeting point

Malta International Airport
Luqa
LQA 4000
Malta

Itinerary

• Day 1 | Travel

  You will arrive into Malta International Airport for 2pm and be welcomed by the team who will transfer you to Gozo and check into the B and B. The rest of the afternoon will be your own. Meet for dinner and everyone can get to know one another over a relaxing local meal.

• Day 2 | Registration, preparation

  After a leisurely breakfast, those cycling will get rental bikes or you will build your own if you have brought it with you. Later that day, the bikes will be transported however you will have it for most of today, allowing you to see some of the island on it and take it for a test ride, too.

  Registration takes place after breakfast and you will receive a packed lunch. The day is then mostly your own to explore Gozo. Convene late afternoon for a full briefing and then enjoy another dinner together, prior to what many will hope will be an early night. For tomorrow, it’s an early one!

• Day 3 | Adventure day!

  Gozo (Stage 1)
  Kicking off at 3am avoids some of the heat of the day so you will be collected from the accommodation around 2am and be ferried to (almost) the western tip of the island. Once in place, you will run to Hondoq Bay on the far eastern side of Gozo. The early morning could still be 15 degrees Celcius. The run stage is 15.5km and is a lovely run, through the villages and the main town on Gozo and then culminating in a stunning coastal run stage over the final 2km to bring you to the end of the stage. There will be one Pit Stop at around 10km on this initial run.

  Gozo Channel and Comino (Stage 2)
  You'll receive your paddle, buoyancy aid and kayak then be paired up and paddle off into the blue under the expert eyes of the water safety team. The kayakers will take a route that skirts the southwestern coast of Comino and routes them through the stunning Blue Lagoon. At this time of the morning, you will have the place to yourselves. Absolute bliss, in crystal clear waters with up to 50m underwater visibility. A simply stunning paddle. You will make your way around Comino to come ashore on the eastern coast, come out of the kayaks to stretch the legs and ascend to the high point of Comino, St Agnes Tower and then make back for the boats. The final stretch of water takes you 2.3km to a landing point on the beach in front of Cirkewwa, situated next to the Labranda Riviera Hotel and Spa.  At this point, you will be able to enjoy another Pit Stop, access your transition gear (and your bike if you are cycling) and get ready to ride or run the length of Malta!

  Malta (Stage 3): Run/Trek Option
  Having refreshed and left the water behind you, there is 55km of foot travel now between you and the eastern tip of the main island of Malta. Some steep cliff-top sections must first be negotiated to bring you up from sea level and back down again at multiple charming coves and beaches in the western portion of the island. The route is mostly trail and ash a very coastal flavour for the first 25km. There will be two full-serviced pitstops at 22km and 39km with intermediate, additional water provision. Then it turns inland as you make for the majestic walled ‘silent city’ of Mdina. Whilst not quite halfway in distance, this marks the end of the ‘very lumpy bits’ and after Mdina, you make your way back out to the south coast to run along the hugely impressive Dingli Cliffs. From here, gradual descents will bring you towards the south-eastern corner of the island, all the time passing through classically Maltese farming country, small villages, past grand churches and scenes of everyday life in the Mediterranean countryside. Eventually, you will skirt the edges of the towns of Qrendi and Zurrieq, before hitting the eastern coast near the port at Birzebugga.

  Following the (thankfully now flat!) coast and passing through the famous fishing village of Marsaxlokk, you’re nearly there. One final ascent will bring you up and over a headland, before the descent into Xrobb il-Ghagin National Park and the journey’s end, back at sea level. It’s a refreshing proposition and water temperatures are still warm at this time of year. So why not jump in, cool off and celebrate your achievement!

  

  Malta (Stage 3): Bike Option
  As with the runners, you will transition at Cirkewwa and will climb out from sea level, with some 56km to cover before reaching the far eastern tip of the main island of Malta. Your route in the initial half of Malta is different from the runners; with them following foot-pathed coastal paths and you following a largely parallel route that twists and turns its way up and down some fairly short (but sharp) climbs and through farming areas and small towns and villages.

  

  Road surfaces will vary but in large part they are decent. Where there are ‘a bit rustic’ you simply must take care – vigilance on the brakes and avoidance of potholes and other obstructions to ensure you don’t fall victim to mechanicals. The first pit stop is at 10km and then you will get to Mdina after around 25km. This is a simply stunning location for a break and perhaps a coffee stop. Whilst not quite halfway in distance, this marks the end of the ‘very lumpy bits’ and after Mdina, you will make your way back out to the south coast to run along the hugely impressive Dingli Cliffs. From here, the route is either the same as, or follows very closely, to the run route. It is characterised by gradual descents (and a couple of pretty steep ones!) that will bring you towards the south-eastern corner of the island, all the time passing through classically Maltese farming country, small villages, past grand churches and scenes of everyday life in the Mediterranean countryside. Eventually, you will skirt the edges of the towns of Qrendi and Zurrieq, before hitting the eastern coast near the port at Birzebugga. A fast and flat section around the coast will bring you through a few water-side settlements and ultimately pass through the famous fishing village of Marsaxlokk. At this point, you’re nearly there. One final ascent will bring you up and over a headland, before the descent into Xrobb il-Ghagin National Park and the journey’s end, back at sea level. It’s a refreshing proposition and water temperatures are still warm at this time of year. So why not ditch the bike, jump in, cool off and celebrate your achievement!

  

  Once riders and runners have finished, the event vehicles will transport you to the event accommodation in downtown Valletta. Cue food, beers and revelry (and maybe showers!)

• Day 4 | Travel

  After a big hearty breakfast we will transfer folk and their gear back to the airport. If you wish to stay around, no problem. We will have some options for extending your stay at the Valletta hotel or simply make your own way out into the city or further afield and explore more of this wonderful island!

Included

• Accommodation

  3 nights hotel and B&B including a 5* hotel.

• Meals

  All meals included.

• Transfers

  Includes airport transfers and ferry tickets.

• Guides and support

  Professional 4x4 support vehicles, safety staff, water safety, medical and welfare.

• Safety

  Professional local and UK safety staff, medics, drivers, route safety staff and experts on hand throughout. Audited and accredited to BS8848 expedition safety standard.

• Equipment

  Includes kayak and associated equipment rental.

• Transfer policy

  Flexible event transfer policy up to 12 weeks before your departure.

• Extras

  High quality medal, rat rag and premium t-shirt for all participants.

Trip leader

Jim is your leader for this trip, he's the big boss so you're in expert hands!

Environmental pledge

This adventure has made a firm commitment to really elevate its approach to a sustainable and environmentally aware way of working. Each activity has been assessed to improve its environmental impact, including:

• race t-shirts to be collected at the event and not shipped across the world
• wooden medals instead of metal
• phasing out single-use plastics
• local event catering
• tighter recycling activities

This event is on track to achieve carbon-neutral in its day-to-day business activities and is making progress with carbon off-setting for worldwide travel, including ground-breaking ways to make a difference in some of the host locations.

Age

16 and 17 year olds will be considered on an individual basis, if taking part with a responsible adult.

Instalment plan

eg. Pay £140 in 10 instalments.

Choose how many months you want to spread the cost over, totally interest free. There is no credit check required to use this facility. When you sign up to the instalment plan a recurring payment will be set up and your card will be debited on the same date each month.

Refund protect

Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance.

Costs