In cold, wet conditions just over 470 runners finished the race, which has established itself as one of the toughest events of its type.

After the events of 2020 and COVID-19 threatened to derail the Punish, one of the organisers, Jen Arnold said it was fantastic it was able to be held.

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"The last one was the Orange Running Festival and that was back in March, before everything happened," she said.

Of those who registered to run 70 per cent from the 2795 post code.

"We had a few other runners from Orange and Lithgow, but because of COVID we had to restrict entries (to local government areas which are geographically close to the region)."

By comparison previous events have had over 1,000 competitors.

Ms Arnold said the 2020 Punish was very different to previous years, normally there is a real party atmosphere at the track with supporters and competitors milling around after the event.

This year everyone left as soon as they finished, ensuring the event was complaint with the relevant health guideline.

"It is what is it," Ms Arnold said.

"We are just really happy we were able to put it on.

"After what's happened this year, we were just waiting for something else to happen," she said.

She thanked the 40 volunteers who she said did "an amazing job" in making the event happen.

She said she thinks this year's race attracted a lot of first timers.

"We extended the cut of times; 40 minutes to the top and an hour 10 to finish," she said.

Nicole Sim, a Bathurst woman, was one of the participants who was a first timer.

She said she had heard about the Punish, but decided 2020 was the year to do it.

"I've lived in Bathurst now for four years, so I thought it was about time," she said.

She said one of the hardest parts of the race were the conditions.

"I've got about one kilogram of water in my running shoes, it makes them feel like concrete on your feet."