RACE INFO

RACE INFO

RACE INFO

20-Year Race Home

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RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race takes place in the country of Jordan from 22-28 September 2024. 
The terrain will include sand (hard packed, soft sand and some dunes), gravel / dirt roads and will cross a salt lake.
The special edition race celebrates the 20th anniversary of RacingThePlanet's first race, The Gobi March (China) 2003.
RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race is part of RacingThePlanet’s 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series which has been named by TIME magazine as one of the Top 10 Endurance Competitions in the world.
Petra is a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO and in 2007 was voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Petra is the host town of RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race.
During the race, competitors must carry all mandatory items in their backpack – see equipment list. The average pack weighs 9 kilograms / 20 pounds.
Competitors are required to pass through up to 30 checkpoints throughout the seven-day race before crossing the finish line. Each checkpoint is around 10 kilometers / 6 miles apart.
Approximately 20% of competitors run the entire course, 60% combine running with walking, and 20% walk the entire course. The fastest completion time is expected to be around 24 hours and the slowest around 70 hours.
Up to 150 competitors representing more than 40 countries will compete in RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race.
More than 50% of competitors are expected to have completed a previous RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts ultramarathon, with 50% joining for the first time.
During RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race, competitors, volunteers and staff are expected to consume more than 25,000 liters / 6,600 gallons of water over the seven days of the event.
There are over 100,000 archaeological and religious sites in Jordan. From the iconic Rose City of Petra and the ancient Roman wonders of Jerash to the UNESCO-listed natural area of Wadi Rum, known as the Valley of the Moon, Jordan is brimming with treasures.
The event takes in Wadi Rum, made famous by Lawrence of Arabia and his Seven Pillars of Wisdom, and will travel through four different deserts to finish at the World Heritage Site of Petra.
Only 15% of the ancient city of Petra's maze of temples, facades and tombs has been explored, despite it being Jordan's most visited attraction. Petra is also the location of the final finish line of RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race. 
Temperatures on the course are expected to around 35-40°C / 95-104°F during the day and 25°C / 77°F at night. 

 

At 420 metres / 1,378 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea in Jordan is the lowest point on Earth. The water in the Dead Sea is ten times saltier than ocean water, which makes you extra buoyant so you float on top of the water.
Many famous movies were filmed in Jordan thanks to its ancient wonders to the beautiful landscapes. Famous movies such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Lawrence of Arabia, The Martian, and Red Planet were all shot on location in Jordan. 
The capital city of Jordan, Amman, is one of the oldest cities on the planet. The city sits on the site of Ain Ghazal, one of the world’s largest Neolithic settlements with a history dating back to the Stone Age. The statues found at this site are some of the world’s oldest, dating back to 7500 B.C.
Jordan's national dish is Mansaf, a lamb shank cooked in a fermented yoghurt broth and is seasoned with cumin and paprika. It’s then served on a bed of sherak (flatbread) and steamed rice and topped with pine nuts, chopped almonds, and yoghurt sauce.