Punk Panther Harrogate Hustle Ultra - Marathon146

 Punk Panther Harrogate Hustle Ultra

07/02/2026

Race start Pannal at 07:30

This was a good race to try out my Northern traverse planned kit. 35 muddy miles, and boy was it muddy, it’s done nothing but rain for weeks ensuring lots of slippy sloppy mud.

I have had my Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20 altered slightly as it was sitting too low and was wearing new ish trainers, 361 Futura 2’s.

I planned to wear my RonHill wind proof leggings and waterproof socks over Inlinji liners but on the morning I woke up with a sore calf. I decided to wear my ToeToe compression socks with thin dry max socks on top. My full length leggings felt weird so I went for my RonHill cargo capris instead. Bonus was extra pockets now.

The drive to pannal was horrid, there was thick fog on route, but it was a bit clearer in Pannal. I parked in the railway Carpark and went to register. It was still dark but at least it was not raining.

I chatted with friends waiting for the start and after the race brief we we walked to the start. A muddy field. I was at the back of the group chatting when the race started.

I had watched the route video, and the advice for the start was to get into position in the fields as there was a narrow section coming up. I was so near the back, I was lucky, no bottle necking in the narrow section.

I ran the Harrogate Hustle in 2024, the route was different then, it went the opposite direction, started in Bilton and had other changes too. I was familiar with the first few miles as it was reverse of a section from 2024.

The mud was sloppy and slippy around the back of the Yorkshire Showground. I was glad of my poles to help me balance amongst the muddy cobbles and tree routes. It was hard work and I was getting warm.

At the first checkpoint, I stopped to take off my jacket, I had a couple of Jaffa cakes and enjoyed the tarmac downhill on the Beryl Burton cycle path into Knaresborough.

I passed runners, running up towards me, they were doing the 20 mile Harrogate Hustle Route. For the next kilometre or so it was lovely to see the other runners.

The next section was short but technical, along the riverside to the Lido, the River Nidd was roaring along.

Next a long road section, it was mainly road to Flaxby, just a couple of miles off muddy fields, then more mud. Through Coneythorpe to Ferrensby and checkpoint 2. Teachers and jam sandwich and an egg sandwich made for a welcome lunch. I refilled my bottles and set off eating. I was amongst runners here, and stayed with them almost to Brearton, they called me back on a minor nav issue, I was annoyed at myself for making a mistake on such familiar territory.

It was lovely to see the kites and buzzards floating in the air.

The weather had been kind so far, it was misty and damp with occasional drizzle but I was warm enough without my jacket. There was more road after Brearton through Scott on until the Nidd Gorge, then it was soon back to technical terrain, I had been on my own again for a while when another runner caught up, we suddenly came across a newly fallen tree, it was a bit of a puzzle to navigate it, we ended up filthy but we’ed got over it. We stayed together till the final checkpoint at Jennyfields, after leaving Nidd Gorge the terrain was more urban for a while. Crossing the A61, we were lucky, someone was waiting to turn so created a short gap in the traffic. Crossing the main Skipton Road was more of a challenge.

It had started to rain and as it was mid afternoon, the temperature was dropping. When we reached the checkpoint I stopped to put on my jacket. I refilled my bottles and had a couple of chocolate bars before setting off on the last leg.

The woods by the golf course were slippery with mud and the river was washing the bank away at one point. Bird Crag was even more technically challenging, muddy, slippery, loose dogs, hiking up steps that were doing a great impression of a waterfall.I was glad to get out of those woods. The last proper road section led to endless muddy, sloppy fields, uphill and downdale, it was a challenge to remain upright. Towards the end there was a climb through some woods, it felt endless I was worn out with all the mud, but I was now close to the end. When I finally reached Pannal the light was starting to fade and it was getting chilly, just a few more meters up the hill and I had finished.

It was tougher than I had anticipated. The kit had worked well. My pack was better than it had been and the 361 shoes had been ok in the mud.

I really enjoyed my hard earned chees toastie and coffee at the end.

This was a good route, it was made so much tougher because of the ground conditions and the road sections were a welcome relief from working so hard to stay upright.

Would I do it again? Yes, if it fits into my diary.