Punishing distances? (4)
I believe the answer is:
rods
'punishing distances?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I don't see how one could define the other.
This is the entire clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rods that I've seen before include "Biblical races" , "Those angling" , "Straight, thin sticks" , "Hot ones are modified cars" , "Long slender bars" .)