National Geographic has exciting Mondays in store with the premiere of two new series on Monday March 29th.  The night kicks off with Running Wild with Bear Grylls – 9 PM Eastern, followed by Race to the Center of the Earth –  10 PM Eastern time.

Last year, the hit outdoor adventure series RUNNING WILD WITH BEAR GRYLLS found its new home on National Geographic with bigger action and wilder destinations than ever before. World-renowned survivalist Bear Grylls returns for another season, leading a brand-new slate of celebrities into the wildest corners of the planet for epic, life-changing adventures that will challenge their perceived limitations.

Each week, a new celebrity guest leaves the luxury of their homes to join Bear for a no-holds-barred journey through some of the most extreme environments in the world. Together, they must rely on bushcraft techniques to survive each dangerous location while pushing through both mental and physical limits to face ambitious obstacles that will make even the bravest shudder.

Episode 1: “Anthony Mackie in the Italian Dolomites”
Bear takes Marvel superstar Anthony Mackie to the highest peaks of the Italian Dolomite mountains for an adventure he’ll never forget. Braving freezing conditions, they travel in the footsteps of World War 1 soldiers, conquer sheer cliffs and hunt snow rats. Along the way, Anthony opens up about his career, the passing of his dad and the pressures of being a father in his own right. But being a bona fide superhero doesn’t prepare Anthony for their final ascent up an icy waterfall, where even the smallest slip could lead to disaster.

Next is an epic seven-part series, created by award-winning producers Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri, an adrenaline-fueled global competition that pits four teams of three against one another in a nonstop sprint across the globe for a $1 million prize. RACE TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH is an extreme non-elimination competition that follows four groups of adventurers, each starting from different corners of the earth, as they race to a buoy holding the grand prize.

Racing from different corners of the planet — South America, Russia, North America and Southeast Asia, the teams will face untamed jungles, frozen arctic, arid deserts, bustling cities, treacherous mountains and vast oceans to reach the location where all four routes intersect. The first team to arrive at the buoy claims it all. Embarking on the adventure of a lifetime, these adventurous teams, made up of friends and co-workers, are confident their bond is what will lead them to the finish line.

 Episode 1: “Hit The Ground Running”                                                                    
Four teams across the world compete in the ultimate adventure race for $1 million. Teams of co-workers, rock-climbers, cops and teachers are spread out across the world and racing toward the same finish line. As the race begins, teams must work together to win. For one team, a steep challenge on day one will test their mettle.