Join the Manchester Rat Race in new citywide challenge

Always wanted to escape the rat race? Here’s one you’ll want to join.

The Manchester Rat Race is a citywide challenge that requires logic, stamina and teamwork to reach a secret location.

It’s a chance to have fun, develop team skills and discover parts of the city you never knew even existed.

The Rat Race offers the opportunity to compete as part of a team, solving clues which will take you from location to location.

It challenges you to take on the city in a whole new way. Challenges involving puzzles, riddles and even some alcohol – making the event strictly 18+. The race even offers an afterparty, giving the winners a chance to bask in the envious stares of their opponents.

Although the entire route can be jogged in about an hour, the race will typically last between four and six hours.

And although muscles are important, it isn’t athletic prowess which will help you win– it’s the strength of your brain. Logic will put you in the lead.

It’s designed to be cheat-proof and doing so will backfire. However, phone use is allowed and even encouraged because you’ll only be part-way to getting the answers.

But why?

Event organiser Toby Wilson says The Manchester Rat Race is a reminder to look up and around us.

“We are caught in an almost Groundhog Day culture,” he says.

“Wake up, work, gym, dinner, bed, repeat. Walking down Deansgate, fifty per cent of people are on their phone but missing out on all the amazing things happening in the city – architecture, street art, new bars opening, a sunset, nature.

“The Rat Race is all about teamwork and getting together and getting outside and having some good old-fashioned fun. Running around and solving clues, reinvigorating that inner child we all have somewhere inside us. With wellbeing and happiness being so prominent right now it’s very important to reconnect with our inner child.”

So get ready to take to the streets. Seize the day – and a team of players – and use your brain to become the champion of the Manchester Rat Race 2017.

It takes place on 24 September 2017 at 1pm. Teams will receive details of a start location, as well as some more clues on the day.

You need to register online by 20 September to take part. More information and tickets available here.