From Petra Bijsterveld…
Photo Credit: Punk Panther Endurance Events
The Wharfedale Skyline (in previous years called A Short Circuit) by local ultra event organisers Punk Panther is a largely off-road 35 mile loop from Otley with approximately 4500 ft of elevation. Starting with a steep climb straight up the Chevin the route goes to Bramhope, touches the top of Cookridge before taking you round the perimeter fence of the airport and to Yeadon Tarn and the first checkpoint. From Yeadon you run to Esholt before climbing steeply through Hollins Hall and Bradford golf courses, arriving at Tranmere Park and tackling the Odda, then descending into Menston for the next checkpoint. Onwards via Burley Woodhead and the moor to the Cow and Calf, descending to Ben Rhydding and along the road to Denton, with another welcome checkpoint before climbing again to Ellercar Pike, followed by a downhill section to Timble. Turning south and homeward you run through fields along the Washburn, another climb onto Lower Norwood Rd which leads to the last checkpoint, before climbing again and following the high route above Lindley Wood Reservoir, eventually coming to Farnley and the final 2 mile descent into Otley.
Saturday turned out to be a beautiful sunny and still day with the perfect temperature for running. After the very strong winds on Friday this was a particular relief! The light from the low sun on the trees in their autumn colours was just stunning. Everyone expected very muddy underfoot conditions after the rain earlier in the week, especially round the airport (that perimeter path can be completely waterlogged) but it was surprisingly dry underfoot and my feet didn’t get wet until just before Ellercar Pike.
Simon Stokes and I were the Harriers on the 35 mile version, Steve Ladhams and Duncan Cooper opted for the 20 mile loop. A Half Marathon version was also available for the first time.
I ran this event last year and finished in just over 8 hours. With a bit more ultra experience gained I was keen to have a finishing time starting with a 7. I set off towards the back of the smallish field not wanting to be in the way of any fastcats on the narrow steps up the Chevin, yet after the initial climb I was still being overtaken by quite a few people in the early miles. I had to make some mental effort to silence the voice of doubt which started to rear its head, wondering if perhaps I had not recovered enough from the Snowdonia Marathon 2 weeks earlier. ‘Just run your own race Petra’ I had to keep telling myself, after all, you can only influence your own performance, within your own running ability, and have no control whatsoever over your fellow runners in the race. My plan was to barely stop at the checkpoints other than to take a quick slurp of coke and grab a snack, and to be better at resisting the temptation to walk as soon as any incline came my way, in order to get my overall pace as near to 5 miles per hour as possible. This worked as I started to overtake people around Menston (16 miles in) and from that point onwards no one came past me again as I gradually overtook more and more runners. Whilst my legs were pretty tired I still felt good, by ultra standards, on the (mercifully very downhill) return into Otley, and I ‘sprinted’ to the finish at Station Top crossing the line in 7:29 which I was absolutely over the moon about. I had definitely been in ‘competing’ rather than ‘completing’ mode all day, not chatting or looking at the landscape much, and it had paid out its dividend, taking 38 minutes off my previous time.
Excellent results from all Harriers (do shout out if I have missed someone!) yesterday, Simon had a tough race having recently been laid low with Covid so getting it done is a fab achievement, and Steve and Duncan ran very well in the 20 miler, Duncan coming home with the 1st MV50 trophy.
Special thanks to Dawn and Enzo who waited for me on the moor at Burley Woodhead and kept me company for a bit, and to my non-Harrier friend Gill who followed me round on her road bike for the entire northern section, popping up at Denton, Timble, Norwood and the finish, keeping me company on the road sections and pedalling furiously in between to catch me at the next point. I think she had the harder job as I reckon cycling uphill is worse than running!
Results
35 miles
(1 4:46:25 Keith Wigley)
28 7:29:38 Petra Bijsterveld 1st FV50
47 8:21:58 Simon Stokes
61 finished
20 miles
(1 3:05:40 Sam Hainsworth)
5 3:21:30 Steve Ladhams
9 3:30:51 Duncan Cooper 1st MV50
26 finished