From Petra Bijsterveld…
Photo credit Ryk Downes – Punk Panther Endurance Events
It becomes quite hard to say something new about a race you are taking part in for the third year running. On the upside it allows for quite a bit of time saving cutting and pasting from previous reports!
The Welcome Way is an existing waymarked circular long distance walking route connecting Otley, Burley and Baildon, with an optional loop around Shipley Glen and Bingley. Local ultra-race organiser Punk Panther stages a running event along this route, in fact it was their first ever race in 2017. In 2022 I completed the 42 mile version of the course, and in 2023 I did the then newly created 50 mile route, created by adding a loop (not part of the official Welcome Way) out to Bramhope, Arthington and Pool Bank before finishing in Otley.
Yesterday there were options to run 50 miles (6000 ft), 34 miles (4300 ft), 20 miles (2200 ft) or a half marathon, and a total of around 160 runners made the start line in two waves.
In 2023 we were running in beautiful fresh snow, in addition the bogs on Burley Moor had been so deep to be deemed dangerous (as the RD flagging the course the day before had gone in waist deep) and the route was diverted along the Moor Road and Bingley Road, which was tedious but a little shorter and no doubt faster. Thankfully this year we could run the full course as it was not too soggy on the moor, despite all the recent rain. The countless fields however were definitely as muddy as always, especially where they had been churned up by livestock. We were lucky, the predicted rain held off and it stayed dry all day, a cool, grey and cloudy day without sunshine or great views. Still, having had quite a few rain-soaked outings in recent weeks this was a definite improvement.
I had company for most of the day, initially running with two other PP regulars whom I know well, later I ran with four different people (one at a time) whom I had not met before. Nice to make new friends and share some miles. My friend Gill popped up at various points along the course with snacks and support.
I started near the back as is usual for me in an ultra, and slowly worked my way up the field. I had the upper hand as far as navigation is concerned over some runners who had come from other parts of the country as I know the course very well by now. However, I did try and help out some others, especially during the final miles when we were in the dark. Still, I didn’t abandon my competitive nature altogether. Last year by some fluke I had won this race (small field!) with a sprint finish in the final mile. I knew that would not be on the cards this year as there were three women running who are substantially faster than I am. But I definitely tried to beat the women who should be beatable. It was an effort, as two of them were either with me or ahead of me for much of the race. I managed to pass one in Arthington, and the other one less than two miles from the finish, somewhere in a field between Pool Bank and Otley. I crossed the line in 12 hours 26 minutes, together with a nice runner called Paul who I had been with since Arthington. I was joint 10th out of 22 finishers in total in the 50-mile race, and fourth woman (out of seven) as well as 1st F60. There had been some F50 entries so RD Ryk had printed the award, but none of them had turned up so I was given the F50 certificate as well 🙂
I had been dreaming of the famous Punk Panther post-race food for quite a number of the final miles, and enjoyed my two cups of tea, veggie pasta as well as a cheese toastie whilst chatting with friends.
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(1 8:57 Kirk Hardwick)
(4 10:25 Alice Kershaw/Sophie Clarke 1st F)
22 finished