Pennine Barrier 50 Mile Race Report – GB Ultras

Saturday 12^th June 2021 5am, we’re in the quiet village of Malham in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. There’s a brisk breeze in the air and the sun is beginning to appear, it’s a near perfect day for the 4^th Edition of the GB Ultras Pennine Barrier® 50 mile event.

Registration for participants starts at 5.45am, many have stayed over in the local campsites, bed & breakfasts and pubs and as we near the end of registration set up they are starting to arrive. There’s a good mix of faces old and new, nervous and excited, all eager to race again after what has been a long absence due to COVID. There was a minor delay to the start but by 6.10am the first wave of participants were on their way and heading up Malham Cove.

“In my personal opinion this is one of the most beautiful Ultra Marathon routes in the UK. Starting in the sleepy village of Malham, participants head up the 200 steps to the top of Malham Cove, then through the Dry Valley of Watlowes that offers stunning views looking back over the Malham valley.  From there they head across the trails to Malham tarn, a calm stillness of water hidden in the Yorkshire countryside. Heading away from the tarn the participants approach the first hill climb of the event as they head up Fountains Fell along the Pennine Way, descending the far side and into the arms of Checkpoint one.”

Many of the front runners choose not to stop and get stuck straight into the first of the 3 peaks on this magnificent route, Pen-y-Ghent. With its short sharp incline and softly sloping descent it’s a fast mountain for many of the runners. The trail between Pen-y-Ghent and Whernside is nicely runnable bringing you into Checkpoint 2 beside Ribblehead Viaduct. Here you’ll also find an ice cream van, which many of the runners take advantage of for an ice cold refreshment.