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Event Video

Its Grim Up North Running

Kudos its Kirkstall Abbey

Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds, West Yorks, LS5 3JG

Its Grim Up North Running

Kudos its Kirkstall Abbey

Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds, West Yorks, LS5 3JG

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Overall Rating

4.1/ 5

19 reviews
Would you recommend it to others? Yes
How did you rate the scenery? 5/5
How did you rate the atmosphere? 4/5
How did you rate the organisation? 4/5
Do you think this was friendly to beginners? Yes

Anthony Walker

Great race

Challenging, muddy half marathon route, really enjoyed it.
The signage problems added a bit of distance, but I appreciate the effort that went into the organisation.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Benjamin Robinson

Poor Signage

Unfortunately one of the signs had been moved, presumably in the wind. It sent me and quite a few others the wrong way round the loop. I ended up doing 10.9 miles. Prior to that I was really enjoying the race, though the signage was scarce at certain intervals which meant you were slowing to look out for signs and it was mentally taxing.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Sam Donnelly

Poorly planned

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Organiser comment:

Hi Sam, I’m truly sorry for the problems with the course signage. We spent a long time on Saturday putting everything in place and went back out early Sunday to double-check it. Unfortunately, between our final review and the start of the event, several signs were either removed or turned, which caused the course to become unclear. I completely understand how upsetting it must have been to end up running farther than intended. I genuinely wish we could amend the result for you, but we’re not able to alter an individual time. I’m really sorry that your race day was affected in this way,

Jonathan Brothers

A great race

These events are always so well run by the organisers. The route layout was easy to follow and the selection of post race food and drink was amazing. Loved the burgers!

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Organiser comment:

Thank you for taking the time to review

Robert Cranham

Directing arrow sign pointing in the wrong direction

Many of the front runners went the wrong way because an arrow indicated the route was pointing in the wrong direction. I was in 1st place at the time. We ran an extra 3km, costing me 12 places. Many others made the same mistake. Shame really, it spoiled a good race. At the second passing of the arrow, it had been corrected.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Organiser comment:

I’m very sorry about what happened with the course signage. We had spent a great deal of time on Saturday marking everything thoroughly, and we went back out early Sunday to confirm it was all still in place. Sadly, between that check and the start of the race, a number of signs were either taken down or turned, which led to the confusion on the course. I completely understand how disheartening it must have felt to run farther than the planned distance, and I’m genuinely sorry that this impacted your race. As much as we would like to fix this for you, we’re unable to adjust a single result. Once again, I’m deeply sorry for your disappointing experience, and I truly appreciate your understanding.

David Smith

A route that had it all

Another great event with lovely marshalls, a route that had it all including a tough mudder section section thrown in for free and one of the best medals I've ever seen. Can't wait for the 20th Birthday race.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Sara Short

Not grim at all.

Lovely run route, well marshalled, and the medal was amazing. Happy 10th birthday Grim.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Dan Walsh

Friendly atmosphere, great varied course, lovely burgers!

Really enjoyed it. Lovely friendly people and great food!

The only note I would add is I’m not sure why we had to go out and back on the canal instead of looping around the path behind Kirkstall Forge?

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Jacob Ashe

Beautiful route with great atmosphere!!

My first event with It's Grim Up North and I had a great time! Cutoff for the ultra was shorter than expected, but I'll definitely be back!

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Organiser comment:

thank you for taking the time to review, glad you had a good day and we will hopefully see you soon

Becky Blackburn

Loved it!

Many thanks to all involved! Really appreciate all you do in putting these events on and running them.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Organiser comment:

Thank you for taking the time to review, glad you enjoyed your day.

Cathie Hall

Lovely people in the club made this event alongside the lovely countryside

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Organiser comment:

Thanks so much for the review. It is a lovely area and suprising countryish so close to Leeds. Well done

Hazel Fenton

Gorgeous trail run with excellent marshalls and great food at the end.

This was the first time I have actually done a Grim Up North race, though I have been aware of them for ages. I was really impressed with the friendliness of the marshalls and organisers, and the very chilled atmosphere of the start line and finish stand. I had a great time - good weather helped! - and really enjoyed the race. Will definitely do another.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Organiser comment:

Thanks for the review. I think you got the best part of the weather, it teemed it down in the afternoon. Glad you enjoyed the event and glad you took the time to book with Grim. Very well done

Gavin Keenan

Potential for good race but poor signage/ Marshall direction let it down

The signage wasn’t consistent enough leading to being unsure at times of which direction the route was taking. A poorly placed sign towards the end led runners into a network rail work site. This could have led to serious issues and affected finish times massively so chip times are not representative.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Organiser comment:

Thank you for taking the time to review and very well done. Apologies regarding the signage, which went out between 5 and 7 am this morning, some of the signage got moved, replaced and moved again. This is unusual but it happens.

Sarah Myers

Great route

Really enjoyed the race. Great organisation as always

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Organiser comment:

Thanks Sarah for taking the time to review. Very well done and glad you enjoyed the day :-)

Liam Casey

Good event very well or

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Organiser comment:

Hi Liam, thanks for the review, glad you enjoyed the day. very well done.

Sandra Ford

Friendly but disappointing being sent the wrong way

Ended up running 14.41 miles instead of the half marathon. This will result in power of 10 stats and rankings being wrong.
Friendly people and great medal.
This is a real shame and disappointment though. If the times can be adjusted to the correct half marathon times this would be most welcome.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Organiser comment:

Thanks for taking the time to review. Please accept my apologies for the half marathon course being long, this was down to me giving incorrect instructions to a marshal. I do know this is very disappointing for you and I can't apologise enough. Unfortunately the times are official and cannot be adjusted. I do hope you enjoyed the rest of the event.

Jen Frost

One of the friendliest running events I’ve attended!

Felt very welcomed & supported by all marshals, at the start & also along the course. Fellow runners were also very friendly with everyone saying well done along the route & being lovely & chatty. Great scenery, too. A mix of paths, mud & rod. Absolutely loved it. The end with cupcakes & all the food options was great, too. I noticed gluten free & other dietary options, which is amazing to see.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Organiser comment:

Thanks for taking the time to review. So glad you enjoyed the day and very well done. It's a marmite thing isn't it, mud and slippiness, some people love it, other don't, glad you did. :-)

Poorly organised.

Really poorly organised. Barely any Marshalls around I got lost several times. Very muddy and quite dangerous so close to the canal. No hot water left for a drink at the end and no toilets en route. Have been to a few of these runs and usually very good. I won’t be attending again sadly. I was very upset being a new runner it was very lonely. No atmosphere at all.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Organiser comment:

Hi there, thank you for taking the time to review, all feedback is indeed invaluable. Our events are very small and can be lonely at times, some runners like this and some other don't. I'm sorry that you thought the event was poorly organsized, a lot of effort is always put in to all Grims events as we do love our runners. I do sincerely hope you will give us another chance in the future.

David Tait

Badly organised route

I ended up running 14.4 miles in a half marathon and spoke to one lad who had done 16 as there was confusion over the route and sent the wrong way by a Marshall ! Ruined my run and more importantly my run time !!! Not happy

Reviewed using Eventrac, Nov 2025
Organiser comment:

Thanks for taking the time to review. Please accept my apologies, I gave the incorrect instructions to a marshal, which meant all the half marathons were incorrect. So sorry.

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Overall Rating

4.1/5

Based on 19 reviews - View All

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