I was ready for a
relaxed run using the same strategy as two years ago: try to run at a
10-minute per mile pace and walk the many hills. I went out a little
too fast with the second pack of runners.
Several of us reached the Sampson Bog outlet (12.7 miles) together.
They were the last runners I saw until John Ehntholt overtook me at
the bridge at 27.5 miles. I
like the solitude.
The trail was in
superb shape. The blowdowns
were cut away by chainsaw, and a trail crew had brushed back many sections
– which made for good visibility of footing.
The long horizontal logs set in the trail for crossing marshy areas
were less slippery than last year, but still needed caution.
I reached the halfway
mark at 2:52, about ten minutes faster than two years ago.
Perhaps the heat would catch up with me, so I determined to run
cautiously. I continued to
walk the hills, even the modest ones.
I began to drink water at 20-minute intervals rather than the
planned 30 minutes.
This was my fourth
Wakely
run, and I think I have pinned down the good water stops:
4.4 miles
Fall Stream
flows to runner’s right
6.8 miles
Jessup
River
*
flows right
12.7
miles Sampson
Bog outlet*
flows left
16.6
miles stream
from
West
Lake
*
flows right
19.6
miles stream
from King’s Pond flows
left
24.4
miles stream
from Beaver Pond flows
right
Runners can access
other streams and lakes along the course with a sometimes steep bushwhack,
but these offer the most convenient access to flowing water.
The streams with an asterisk (*) are large enough to fill a
CamelBak easily. I downed 120
ounces of water during the run (much of it laced with Gookinaid, and with
purification tabs in the stream water).
I like to have extra
water on me for the last five miles (just in case), so I was sure to fill
up at the last stream described above.
It is a pretty dry run after that.
I enjoyed the company
of some feathered friends. A
pair of loons sang up a chorus at
Spruce
Lake
. Another loon was calling on
Cedar
Lakes
. The distinctive trill of
white-throated sparrows greeted me several times in the middle of the run.
Normally I associate these lovely birds (I saw one up close for the
first time last summer on
Allen
Mountain
) with the summits of the
Adirondack
high peaks.
There are some super
nice running stretches of trail in the second half of the course,
particular after passing the Cedar Lakes Dam at 23.1 miles.
One of the keys to enjoying
Wakely
is to have enough in the reserve tank to enjoy these mild sections of
springy pine needles.
So I just kept
plugging along. There was an
adventure on the bridge at 27.5 miles.
I was hopping up its steps – forgetting the steps on a hikers
bridge are not flush and square. My
left leg missed a rung entirely and went straight down into the gap.
Luckily my torso stopped moving forward just before I heard a snap.
The resulting scrape on the shin is much preferable to the
alternative. I reached this
bridge at 5:06, so I knew I had a good shot at six hours unless the wheels
came off.
I have mixed feelings
about the last five miles. On
one hand they seem interminable with a steady slight uphill.
On the other hand the footing is easy and one doesn’t have to
worry about rocks and roots anymore. There
is some mental peace of mind.
In any case, it is
great to reach the gravel road, and eventually the park cabin that means
the dam is just a bit down through the parked cars.
The last 200 yards are the one easy part of the run.
Thanks, Jim and Eric
and the whole
Wakely
Dam race crew! You give us
runners a superb experience in a gorgeous part of the
Adirondack
Park
. And you do it with spirit
and style.
(Note
– canine Meg was ready to run with me again this year, but the forecast
was too hot. I figure 75
degrees is the maximum for a dog to do a distance run.)
