If you run past other targets, the skeleton can get distracted. It will aggro just about anything in the area, deer, necks, boars, greys. They hate everything. Might be easier to punch a neck or a boar following you than the skeleton.

You can also use trees to shield you. There's no cover in an open field, and nothing that will slow them down. If you do decide to punch it, hide behind a tree until it gets close.

In other games, mobs have a short leash and don't chase very far. In this game they will chase as long as it's easy for them to do so. But they may lose interest if they can't see you, keep getting caught up on terrain or fallen logs, or find something easier to attack. When running away the worst thing to do is head for open space. You can navigate obstacles much better than they can.