It's Grim Up North Running Rothwell Cakeathon
Five-mile loops of Rothwell Country Park from Skelton Lake services, woodland, riverside and grass with one climb for the view of Leeds, and cake at the end. Five to twenty-six miles.
| Distance | Ascent | Per km |
|---|---|---|
| 42.2 km Marathon | — | — |
| 20 Mile | — | — |
| 15 Mile | — | — |
| 10 Mile | — | — |
| 5 Mile | — | — |
Nobody has reviewed this one yet
No reviews of the Rothwell Cakeathon, and nothing on what people wore. Both are things no organiser publishes and every runner wants before they enter — how it actually went, and what was on your feet.
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Pick your distance
starts 09:30
What you’re in for
The May running of the Rothwell Country Park laps, five to twenty-six miles, with cake at the end. Walkers are welcome inside the six and a half hours. The course is a five-mile loop of Rothwell Country Park from Skelton Lake services at junction 45 of the M1, run once to five times for the marathon. It heads straight out of the back of the services into the park — reclaimed colliery land that is now woodland, meadow and riverside along the Aire — with one climb for the view of the Leeds skyline that the organiser says everyone remembers.
Terrain and trail
Woodland trail, grass, riverside path and a touch of tarmac, undulating with that one real hill each lap. Proper trail rather than towpath, so a trail shoe, and it gets muddy in the woods after rain. Six and a half hours for every distance and the services' facilities at the start. Feed stations roughly every three miles with drinks, sweets and cake, and the events are cup-less, so bring your own cup or bottle. A GPX is supplied and not every junction has a marshal, so know where the turn is. Over-ear headphones are not allowed, and some road crossings are unmarshalled.
Memories Made Outside · our print shop
Turn your Rothwell Cakeathon into a print
Upload your GPX or connect Strava and we'll print the course with your name, date and finish time. From £12.
Make your race print →Train for it: routes near the start
Routes starting within 20 km of Skelton Lake Services, M1 junction 45, Leeds, nearest first. Each one has a free GPX file and a TRP grade, so you can rehearse the ground before race day.
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How to enter
Sun, 2 May 2027 · Entries open · £28–£43
Enter on their website ↗Entries are handled by It's Grim Up North Running, not by us. We take nothing for sending you there.
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Common questions
- The Rothwell Cakeathon offers 5 distances: 5 Mile (8.0 km), 10 Mile (16.1 km), 15 Mile (24.1 km), 20 Mile (32.2 km), Marathon (42.2 km / 26.2 miles).