MY FIRST ULTRA MARATHON (WAKELY
DAM ULTRA)
Where to start??? I bet
that question is on a lot of runners minds when they contemplate how to
put into words what exactly they were going through when they decided to
run an UltraMarathon, let alone their first one being Wakely.
A little background about myself I am average guy looking for a
little meaning to the existence of life (dont we all wonder about
life?). I recently (about 6
months ago) decided to begin running again after a long hiatus.
I had tried in the past to run to no avail.
I would usually get hurt and hang up the sneakers so to speak for
another time. That time
happened and I was willing to push myself to see what I could do.
I ran the Mountain Goat (local race here in Syracuse, NY) and then
another ten mile race in July. During
which time I was looking for longer runs and happened by chance (no
doubt) on the Wakely website. Something
drew me to the website. I am
not sure what it was but I knew that after looking over everything a
couple of times I had to do this race.
I persuaded RDJim to let me in.
After getting accepted and getting the bus ticket I now had to
train, train and train some more.
I proceeded to read all I could on training, techniques and
nourishment. (Boy was I way
off on all of that).
Race Day Nervousness sets in and I try and calm down.
I am thinking to myself how bad can it be?
A little trail back in the woods, possibly similar to a couple
local trails that I run how hard can that be?
I soon found out a couple of miles into the run.
This is no ordinary trail this is a mean grizzly trail.
Somewhat resembling a nasty example of a hiking trail (oh wait
that is exactly what it is hahaha), complete with your mud pits,
washouts of bridges, steep climbing in parts and not to often; the
occasional flat part (about fifty to seventy-five feet at the end where
the damn dam is). Once
running, I calmed down and got into whatever rhythm I could to keep
moving. I was doing fairly
well and liking myself at the point (I think it was somewhere before the
halfway mark).
After reaching the halfway mark and thinking to myself that I will
get done. I managed to smile
because hey how many other crazy people would be out here running in
the muck and mud, blow downs, and generally ups and downs of the
trails? Oh yeah thats
right I forgot about 60 other runners.
To which I managed to follow and trip over the same things they did
throughout the race. After
halfway not too many people were in view for periods of time which
gave me time to reflect on whatever came to mind one such thought was
the thought of dehydration oh yes I did get a bit of that.
Couple the meandering thoughts with the trail and the delusions of
tents and cabins in the distance and you know you are doing just great.
Hahaha. The last thing
I would like to mention is the Ranger (Crisp and Super Clean).
What is the deal I certainly did not get a kiss and definitely
did not get the hug that was suggested on the paper as I trudged by.
Well maybe he was just saving it for RDJim because shortly
after I passed the Ranger, RDJim blew by me.
But all in all - this race was the type of race that I have longed
for and will continue to do in the future.
I now know what it takes to run one of these races and will be back
more prepared and smarter than this year.
I remember when RDJim said in one of the emails that he sent to me
I do not think you truly understand what it is like to push your body
and be running for 6 to 8 hours. Not
to mention running on a rugged technical trail.
Well RDJim I do now. I
want to thank you, the other racers, and all the race staff for an awesome
race.
Mark B.
