Marathon 145 - Punk Panther Christmas Cracker.

Otley, 07:30, Saturday 13th December 2025

Routes available – 12 mile, 19 mile and 32 mile

When my Ripon Runner friend Annette said she was doing this with Kate, I was very interested, I thought I would join them on the 19 mile, out and back route, then on mentioning it to my friend Jonathon at Bedale, he asked why I wasn’t doing the 32. I thought about it and decided to enter the 32 mile race. It was a good way to try out some of my kit for the Northern Traverse, and a good way to get a long run in before Christmas, as I have to be honest, I wouldn’t have don a run of that distance or elevation on my own.

I used my bigger pack and added extra clothing to the mandatory kit list. I dug out my Santa dress and hat as it was encouraged to wear fancy dress. I planned to wear waterproof socks, but they made my trainers too snug so I reverted back to my Injinji toe socks with dry max on top combination.

The race start was 07:30 in Otley so that made for an early start. The forecast was for cold and dry weather which made a change from the amount of rainy days that we have had in recent weeks.

I found the start venue and registered, then caught up with Jonathan old friends whilst we waited in the warm for the race start including Lucy who was sweeping the 19 mile route. Donna who was sweeping the £2 mile and Darren who was sweeping the 12 mile route. I didn’t see Annette or Kate, but the hall was busy, as all three distances started at the same time. Following awards for the Punk Panther race series, it was time to walk to the start, it was still dark. I met Caroline from ripon runners near the start, she was doing the 12 mile option. Then Annette found me just as we set off. It was still quite dark but the streetlights meant that a torch was not required. We went along the River Wharfe, crossed a bridge, ran through a park and the set off up Farnley Lane.

We crossed a soggy waterlogged field, popping out by Farnley Church.

  It was light by now and I was running close to Annette and Kate.

 

 We crossed the road and had a long downhill on road, I recognised this section as the reverse of the Otley 10. We left the road and started to climb muddy fields and the terrain was now an undulating mix of lanes and sodden fields, about 4 miles in, the first runners from the 12 mile were running back towards us, just after 5 miles Caroline was heading towards me,I greeted her as she sped past on her way back to Otley. I was finding the terrain quite draining.

 

Shortly after passing the 6 mile checkpoint at Norwood Edge, where many runners were turning back, I met up with Neil. Neil was on the ultra route too. We were travelling at a similar pace and ended up staying together for the rest of the race.

 

A few steep ups and downs brought us to the 9.5 mile checkpoint. We had met a few people returning o the 19 mile route on our way there. At the checkpoint at Timble Crossing, it was great to catch up with Sheena who was volunteering. The checkpoint was well stocked with a variety of snacks, my favourite was cheese and pineapple. Neil and I left the checkpoint and carried on to run a loop of the moors, the trail soon turned to bog, there was no obvious trail so we just had to make our way through, we gave up trying to stay dry.

The views were stunning, bright blue skies and a low winter sun lit up our surroundings. We negotiated a variety of gates and stiles as we made our way to the third checkpoint at Langbar. As we approached we saw a dozen or so santas on motorcycles, and then we rounded the bend to see the checkpoint with the volunteers were in fancy dress. Another well stocked checkpoint, I turned down the offer of mulled wine or baileys hot chocolate, and went for the teacake jam sandwiches and jelly babies and off we went again.

Half way, we were now on the way back. Psychologically getting halfway always gives me a boost. We could see the top of Beasley Beacon so of course the route took use down and away before we could tackle the ascent. At the top was a cairn and a trigpoint. The trig point was also a memorial to a Canadian plane crew from RAF Leeming who were killed or injured  on 5th November 1945 when their Afro Lancaster RA571crashed.

 We were at the highest point of the route, down hill all the way back, well not really. Down, up, down, wading through bogs and slipping in muddy fields and farmyards. We chatted our way back to Timble Crossing and then Norwood Edge.

 Six miles to go and the sun was sinking rapidly. We made it all the way back to Farnley lane before we needed headtorches. Back though the park we trotted, back along the river, across the football field, and back to the finish.

We were very happy to complete the route and to sit in the warm with a brew and a cheese toastie, 2 new friends who came together and shared a marathon on a bright winter’s day.

I had hoped for under 8 hours 30, I didn’t manage that with a time of 9:13:55

I’m sure all my friends had a good run too results are here. 

https://www.punkpanther.co.uk/results

I’m not unhappy though. I challenged myself and had a good day out.

I highly recommend Punk Panther events, they are ver well organised and friendly.

2 race weekend

I ran 2 races last weekend 29th and 30th November.

 Moors And Dales Trail Races (MAD RACES)

Don’t Stop Be-Leafin 5K Dash

29 November 2025.

This was the first event for the recently revived MAD races, old name new event team.

It was at Kiplin Hall.

It was a chilly damp morning. Registration was at 9 am for a 10 o’clock race start. The route has been changed due to flooding the day before but was last minute returned to the original route due the the lake sinking back into the lake.

The route started with a grass incline, and this ran us around the parkland, and through the woods before the lap of the lake and back u the grass incline to the finish.

There were a couple of hiccups on the day for the event team, but before long all the runners had finished, and we were warming up in the café with a hot drink and flapjack which was included in our entry fee.

I finished in 29:25:60

 

Running GP Croft Motor Circuit.

Run through Events.

Sunday 30th November 2025.

There were 6 different events on the 2.1mile tarmac race track available and each had its own start position on the track and time time.

Marathon – 9:00

20 mile – 9:15

Half Marathon – 9:45

10 mile – 10:00

10 km -10:15

5 km – 10:30

I picked the marathon. I arrived at 8:00 on a cold bright morning. It was quiet with only a few runners around; most were keeping warm in their vehicles. At 9:45 the warmup started, I don’t normally partake in these things, but I was freezing and needed to warm through a bit. After the warm up we were walked to the start point. There were quite a few icy patches on the course but the sun was coming up. We were instructed to keep left and make sure that we passed the timing scanners on each lap but that we were responsible for ensuring that we completed the 13 laps. There was one water station on route.

I soon found my self at the back of the pack of 49 runners. It’s a fast flat course and attracts fast runners looking for a fast time. I just wanted to finish, faster than last year would be a bonus. Soon the 20 milers joined us, and the track became increasingly busy with each race start and then gradually emptier as the shorter races competitors finished.

I counted through the laps. By 2, my gloves were off, by 3, my jacket was off, I left it at the water station. My legs don’t do well with repetitive, first my lower left leg started to ache at around 4 laps, then my left hip flexor and finally my left glute, I kept on moving but it was mind over leg. On the last 4 laps the course was quite empty, I pushed on in the chilly head wind. I just wanted to be finished. For the last 3 laps I put some music on for distraction to my aching leg. I collected my jacket on the last lap, and ran as hard as I could for the end. I was so relieved to finish my marathon/ultra number 144.

This is a good event for being inclusive, just pick your distance and run.

I finished 40/49 overall, 8/10 female and 2/2 in FV55 age cat.

My time was 4:48:19, about a minute faster than last year.