by Jim
Pugh
2005
Wakely Dam Run
I suppose there are two audiences for
these trip logs. The next paragraph
and the next-to-last paragraph are for those readers who are thinking about
doing this run for the first time. The
rest will be for my fellow runners in 2005.
This was undoubtedly the most beautiful
course I have run. The first 1/4
and the last 1/4 of the trail surface are very nice, and the middle 1/2 is only
moderately rocky and rooty. (I
trained with the Nipmuck and Maine Woods trail marathons, both of which are more
difficult running surfaces.) Deadfall
trees cause one to break stride from time to time, particularly after the hurdle
muscles are shot. The course is
full of modest ups and downs, with definite “walking uphills” at around
miles 3, 8, 19 and 21. The glory of
this section of the N-P trail is the many lakes it passes.
I heard loons on three of the lakes.
To look through the pine and spruce trees and see the blue waters beside
you is an uplifting sight – which is repeated many times. Plus there is that feeling of being out in the middle of
nowhere. The middle of the West
Canada Lakes area must be as close to nowhere as one gets in the eastern U.S.
This was one of the nicest group of
runners with whom I have ever run. Their
ethic is clearly running for the sake of running, rather than running for the
sake of competition. All are
friendly to and provide support to the first timer.
As much as one tries to “peak” for a
run such as this, there are inevitable surprises.
Within the first mile I found myself with a strained right [wheel].
I hoped the tightness would go away, but after several miles it became
apparent it would be my companion for the rest of the day.
It caused a slightly hobbled running stride, particularly on the uphills.
I carried two 20-ounce water bottles and
one 8-ounce bottle. This worked
perfectly. I refilled as needed
with purification tablets and ERG (an electrolyte replacement powder). These bottles provided me with a good glug every 30 minutes
over the dry stretch between miles 16.5 and 24.
I drank about 150 ounces during the run.
Trail markers around the leantos are
somewhere between scarce and nonexistent. At
one of the leantos at Mud Lake, McKew Devitt helped me with to stay on the right
trail. I ran at least 90% of the trail by myself.
Dave Keinberger and I traded places on several occasions in the middle of
the course. He was faster on the
good trail, and I was a little faster on the rough sections.
Deerflies were not nearly as prevalent
as they were the prior week. I wore
a piece of double-sided tape on the back of my hat.
By the end of the run, a half dozen of the little demons were attached.
Through the course of the spring I
experimented with various packs and running gizmos.
It has been almost two decades since I dabbled in the new running
technology. Here is the best of
what I found worked for me: a GoLite 24 daypack, electrolyte tablets, Amphipod
water bottles, Race Ready coolmax shirt (narrow neck to prevent strap rubbing),
BodyGlide (started with coverage of toes and shoulders, and later used with
chafing shorts), Innov8 310 shoes, and Hydraid ERG powder (available at REI).
I am not being paid for any of these endorsements.
I think I can do better, but I am satisfied with my effort. A big thank-you to RD Jim and the DWDU crew for making the run on this beautiful course possible.