Current 2023 ITRA UK Rating - 6th F35
Alice, who enjoys eating cake whilst running and experiencing the great British weather in lumpy boggy landscapes, really enjoys the sense of community and support provided by the local Punk Panther races.As a Green Runner sustainability is also key, so to be able to get public transport to them makes a big difference.When living in London Alice half-heartedly picked up running to explore the city.However, her enthusiasm was dampened by experiences such as the finish line being taken down before she finished an early half marathon.When she moved up the Leeds, she picked up the trails with more enthusiasm and her ultra running journey began with the then 'short' ultra, the Welcome Way in 2019.She came back because of the warm nature of the team, Marshalls and other runners.Being out in beautiful places with awesome people is how she likes to spend her spare time and she estimates she has done over 30 ultras of varying lengths, predominantly in the North of England.She also enjoys making up her own adventures on the trails.A member of local club Saltaire Striders, she thrives on weaving her values into her running. Achieving first female place in Winter Spine Sprint 2022, second in Spine Challenger South Winter 2023, and third in Summer Spine 2023.Alice's running is not about the medals, but about nurturing a vibrant, supportive running community while championing sustainability. And cake.
Alice Kershaw DUV Ultra Marathon Statistics
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Current 2023 ITRA UK Rating - 1st MV40 (3rd Overall)
Hi, I’m Stephen, and I started running 9 years ago, initially as a road runner, but very quickly progressing to trailI ran my first Punk Panther event in 2018, 6 Dales Trail (formerly Bridge Too Far), and I knew instantly I would be back for more.Low key, supportive, inclusive, fab community, smashing routes, and great checkpoints with lovely marshalls, everything I want, Punk Panthers have.I’ve ran over 40 Punk races, and trying to pick a favourite is hard, but the Skipton Skedaddle probably just edges ahead for the stunning terrain and scenery.My longest and most rewarding Punk race was the 2022 82-mile Dalesway, from the shore of Lake Windermere to Ilkley in Yorkshire, with 30-degree centigrade heat…my kind of weather!With a variety of distances there is something for everyone with generous cut offs. Running is about fun and camaraderie while taking in beautiful scenery, that’s why I like Punk races and why I love being part of their community.’’
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First PP Race: Urban Legend 2018
PP Miles Run: 1638
Longest PP Race: 81 Miles Dales Way 2022
Best Race Series: 2021/2022/2023 Male Winner
PP Races Won: 18
Course Records:
2019 North Leeds Greenway 41 Miles M
2023 Ripon Stinger 34 Miles M
2023 6 Dales Trail 32 Miles M
2022 Otley High Views 50 Miles M
2023 Yorkshire Reservoir Dogs 32 Miles M
2021 River Aire Ultra 50 Miles M
2023 Ultra Unique 30 Miles M
Current 2023 ITRA UK Rating - 1st FV60
My name is Petra, I am 100% Dutch and live in Yorkshire, having lived in England all my adult life.I started running in 2007, aged 45, having never been sporty at all, though I had been a keen hillwalker.I started my running journey by tentatively going out in the dark, along the streets in my village, and just building the distance I could run without stopping, from a few hundred yards up to a few miles over one winter. Couch to 5k before the term had been invented I guess.I was so delighted when spring came and I could run far enough to venture out into the fields, it was as if a whole world of possibilities opened up, like running to the next village!18 months later someone at work asked if I wanted to run the Leeds Half Marathon for charity and I entered, thinking I wouldn’t enjoy racing at all, but it turned out I loved the experience.Since then, I have always been keen on racing despite being a mid-pack runner at best. I joined a running club, Ilkley Harriers, which has been one of the best things I have done in life.I have run marathons since 2015 but my first ultra was not until 2021, with Punk Panther. I started cautiously with the 28-mile edition of Reservoir Dogs and have been building up the distances ever since, topping out at the 90-mile Dales High Way earlier this year.I find the longer distances suit me well, as I can rely on my endurance rather than on raw speed, which I don’t have much of!I have now participated in about a dozen Punk Panther races and marshalled at quite a few as well.Punk Panther events are fun, friendly, inclusive, accessible to all yet challenging if you want them to be, low-key yet very efficiently organised; I am therefore proud to be one of their ambassadors
Petra Bjisterfveld DUV Ultra Marathon Statistics
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Current 2023 ITRA UK Rating - 3rd MV60
I’m Andy for those that don’t already know me, here’s a brief(ish) intro:After a brief dalliance with running in my late teens I had a looooong time away from it pursuing other sporting interests. Around the time of my 50th birthday in 2012, I decided I wanted to complete a marathon. A ‘bucket list moment’ I think, probably further fuelled by watching sensational acts of athletic success at the 2012 London Olympics around the same time.I decided (too late as it turned out) to try and get a place in the inaugural York marathon in 2013, so instead entered that years Great North Run, thinking this would be a good stepping stone for building up to a marathon. The following year I got a place in the York marathon, and the month before completed the GNR for a second time.It was another year before I discovered trail running. I’d decided to enter the York marathon again (my second and so far last road marathon). The month before I was persuaded to enter a 31 mile trail race. I’d say within 20 minutes of starting that event I already knew I was hooked. There was just something about the combination of scenery, camaraderie, challenge, and general sense of well-being that made me realise I’d discovered something new I really loved. Suggestions around that time that it was a mid-life crisis thing were dispelled as my running activities expanded (I think ‘flourished’ would be an exaggeration!)I started running trail marathons regularly (so this was 2016), listening in wonderment as fellow runners talked about their next 40 or 50 or 100 mile event, thinking that all of that that was way beyond my comprehension and capability. Some of you will have experienced similar thoughts I’m sure, so it will be no surprise to hear before 2017 was out my longest event was 62 miles, and in 2018 I completed my first 100+ miler.Let’s go back a year though. There was this crazy guy I kept coming across at events who was running ultras following a triple heart bypass. And now he was going to start organising events on my doorstep (I’m Leeds born and bred and have since lived in Knaresborough for over 25 years). Winner!And so Ryk gave birth to Punk Panther, and I was there for the inaugural race back in 2017. After more than 30 PP events covering nearly 1400 race miles I’m still coming back for more, and now feel very privileged to be asked to become an ambassador. I’m in esteemed company. Success for me is rocking up for a race, enjoying whatever challenges the course and weather throw my way, and making the most of what the Checkpoints have to offer! Invariably I enter for whatever is the longest distance available – maximum value for my day out and all that. I’ve been fortunate to pick up an occasional placing and an MV50 series win along the way, which is just an added bonus.I don’t need to repeat what my fellow ambassadors have already said about what makes PP events so special, the only other point for me personally is a love of the variety and constantly changing dales landscapes that PP routes provide. I hope to see you at a race soon; look out for a bloke with glasses and a multi-coloured buff and that’s probably me!
Andy Pickering DUV Ultramarathon Statistics
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