The Penguin Plod - Northampton

Northampton, United Kingdom

Expected March 2028

Our best guess from a single past year. We'll firm it up when the organiser confirms.

Choose your distance

50K

Distance

50km

Start Time

09:00

Cutoff

7 hours

Terrain

Mixed

From last year's edition. Details may change once confirmed.

Overview

The Penguin Plod takes place at Northampton Active on the edge of the Northampton Washlands, where runners cover laps on well maintained paths and trail. The format is a seven hour time challenge: a full lap measures 4.37 miles or 7km, with 3km and 5km turn points inside it so younger runners can stay within UK Athletics distance limits. Entrants pick their distance on the day, from a single short effort up to a 50km ultra, with three laps making a half marathon, six a marathon and seven or more an ultra. Everyone who covers at least 3km is an official finisher and collects one of the penguin themed medals, distance pins are added for half marathon and beyond, and an aid table stocked with drinks, savoury snacks and vegan options waits at the start and finish of every lap.

Lap based course around the Northampton Washlands
Well maintained paths and trail underfoot
3km and 5km turn points within each lap for younger runners
Aid table at the start and finish of every lap
Penguin themed finisher medal after just 3km

The practical side

Start / Finish

Start

Northampton Active, Bedford Road, Northampton NN4 7AA, at the Northampton Washlands

Finish

Same start and finish area at race HQ, reached at the end of every lap

Terrain

Well maintained paths and trail around the Northampton Washlands.

Route

Just under six laps of the 7km Washlands circuit, starting and finishing at Northampton Active with the aid table at race HQ on each lap.

Race Day

Final race day instructions are emailed in the week before the event. Number pick up is on the day at race registration before the start. All runners must register their attendance, collect their race number and attend the compulsory race briefing held 10 minutes before the start, which covers additional safety and course information.

Good to know

What you get

Finisher medal

Chip timing

Race photos

Penguin themed finisher medal for anyone completing 3km or more

Distance pins for half marathon and beyond, covering Half Marathon, Mega-Half, Marathon, 50km and Ultra, presented on the medal ribbon

Special personalised race number with your name and the event date for milestone events such as a 50th, 99th, 100th, 200th or 250th run

Members receive a mini-me medal pin at every event they attend

Free delivery of merchandise add ons to a Saturn Running event

Food after the finishAll finishers receive a goody bag, with a selection of various goodies to choose from. A vegan goody bag is also available for vegan runners.

On the day

Toilets

Bag drop

Merchandise

Marshals on course

Parking · Limited parking at the venue, with nearby car parks where charges may applyThere is limited parking at Northampton Active. Some nearby car parking is available but charges may apply, so arrive early or consider sharing transport.

AccessibilityThe route follows public footpaths and well maintained paths and trail. The venue has toilets but no separate changing facilities or showers.

ShowersThe venue has toilets for runners, but there are no separate changing facilities and no showers.

Aid stationsStart and finish of every lap: drinks table plus a wide selection of sweet and savoury snacks including crisps, cheese, fruit and cookies · Vegan options available at the aid table

Before you enter

RefundsEntry fees are non-refundable. Optional refund protection is offered at checkout through XCover for GBP 3.40, covering injury or illness including Covid-19, adverse weather on race day, unexpected public transport disruption and breakdown or accident.

TransfersEntries can be transferred to another runner free of charge up to one week before the event. Transfers are completed online at It is the runner's responsibility to agree a price and arrange payment with the new runner, and the new runner accepts the event terms and conditions on transfer

DeferralsUp to 24 hours before the start, a partial deferral is available if you cannot attend through illness or injury and have not transferred your entry. Email the organiser to report your absence and you will be offered an entry to an alternative event at the reduced price of GBP 18.00. The transfer fee must be paid within 28 days and the new event must be chosen within 6 months of the original event date, after which the reduced price offer expires.

If the race is cancelledIn the unlikely event that the event has to be cancelled, delayed or postponed due to circumstances outside the organiser's control, no refund is payable. The entry is carried forward to the next running of the event or a suitable alternative event.

Bad weatherThe organiser reserves the right to amend the event time limit on the day in exceptional circumstances, for example expected inclement weather. If the event has to be cancelled, delayed or postponed due to circumstances outside their control, such as extreme weather or instruction from the emergency services, no refunds are payable but entries are carried forward to the next running of the event or a suitable alternative event.

Minimum ageParticipants must be 16 or older on the event date to take part without an adult. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. All under 18s are restricted in the distance they may run and will be disqualified if they exceed the maximum permitted distance for their age, then under 18 entries are capped at 10% of the maximum number of entrants. The 3km and 5km turn points inside the lap exist to help younger runners stay within UK Athletics distance rules.

HeadphonesYes, headphones are allowed. Runners use music devices at their own risk, and the organiser reserves the right to change this if required by UK Athletics or to reduce risk to participants or the public. Please be considerate of other path users, as the event is held on public footpaths.

Time limitYes, the event runs as a seven hour time challenge. Any changes to the time limit on the day are at the organiser's discretion in exceptional circumstances, such as expected severe weather.

Collecting your numberNumber pick up is on the day at race registration, before the start of the event. Full race day information is emailed to entrants in the week leading up to the event.

Other questions

That is up to you. The Penguin Plod is a seven hour time challenge with a minimum distance of 3km. A full lap is 4.37 miles or 7km, and you can run as many or as few laps as you like within the time limit and within UK Athletics age restrictions. Three laps make a half marathon, six make a marathon, and seven or more makes an ultra. There is also a 50km distance, which is just under six laps.

Yes. All abilities are welcome at these super-inclusive events and walkers are welcome too.

As long as you complete 3km you are an official finisher and receive a penguin themed medal. Runners completing a half marathon distance or more also receive a distance pin, with Half Marathon, Mega-Half, Marathon, 50km and Ultra pins available, presented on the ribbon of your medal. Every finisher also gets a goody bag, with a vegan goody bag available.

There is an aid table and drinks table at the start and finish of every lap. The selection includes drinks plus sweet and savoury snacks such as crisps, cheese, fruit and cookies, with vegan options available.

Yes. A compulsory race briefing is held 10 minutes before the race start and covers additional safety and course information. All runners must attend.

Entry fee

Registration isn't open yet. We'll show pricing when the organiser confirms.

Expected

Northampton, United Kingdom

Expected March 2028

Provisional date, around Mar 18

We'll keep this updated as the organiser confirms.

Saturn Running (organised and managed by Saturn Too Limited, a franchise partner of Saturn Running)

View organiser page →

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The Penguin Plod - Northampton

Overview

The practical side

Good to know

How far do I have to run?

Can I walk instead of run?

What do I receive for taking part?

What is available at the aid table?

Is there a race briefing?

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