by Christopher Colangelo

If I'm too long winded, I apologize. Also after re-reading this "letter" I realize that I should 
point out that I have/had been on the crew at Wakely for five years previous to my running 
last year.

Dear Mommy,

Wakely 07 was my very first Ultra and only the second time I had run marathon like 
distances. This year turned out to be just the third. I seemed to be plagued this year by 
many of the weather related training barriers that RD Jim faced. Every chance I got to do 
some real good trail miles the weather was 90 plus and humid and also I've been working a 
lot of weekends (what equates to manual labor doesn't leave one in the mood to jump on the 
trail). I had to resign myself to runs home from work and very impromptu longer runs on 
the Erie Canal Towpath, which gives one not much hill training (not much as in none at all.) 
Distances were being determined more often by the sun setting than by predetermined 
goals. As the race approached I determined that I was simply going to hit the trail, look 
around a bit and see how far I could push my untrained body. Under nine hours was ok by 
me.

My original travel plans had us leaving Rochester for the mountains as early as possible 
Thursday morning. My girlfriend and I were supposed to run in a short trail race here in 
Rochester Wednesday night and since I didn't have the vacation time to take off any of 
Wednesday, Thursday would have to be the day. But, as it so happens my boss left work 
early on Wednesday and when my boss leaves early I'm never far behind. Long story short 
we pulled across The Dam at around 11pm Wednesday night, pitched a quick camp and had 
a couple beers with our most gracious host and Race Director. 

Skipping ahead to more race involved bits, I had an unnerving moment leading up to 4am 
Saturday. My all day Friday hydration woke me up at 2am Saturday, so I scurried out of the 
tent shirtless expecting (from many previous years experience) to shiver my way in and out 
of the bushes. On my way back to the tent I realized I was somewhat comfortable. "2am 
and I'm comfortably warm? Not good. This is gonna be a hot one." Though in reality I 
don't feel like the heat really hurt me much, strange as it is to say.

During the standard winding, sun-rise ride down to Piseco I started to really look forward to 
having fun out there and seeing some beautiful wilderness. Last year all I thought was don't 
be last and don't do anything stupid. This year I thought, if you're last it better be because 
your were having a good time and enjoying the woods.

While walking to the actual starting line I was told that my pack was leaking, turns out I had 
overfilled one of my bladders so I had to pull it out, drink some, seal it back up and drop it 
back into my pack. This is what led me to start dead last with RD Jim. After a few miles 
with the back pack and some chit chat I decided that I needed to start going down hill much 
much faster than the group I was in. (I'm too slow on the up hills to go slow on the down 
hills) I took off and ran solo passing a few people in the next few miles. Eventually while I 
was enjoying a Gu Jim caught up to me and we ran together on and off for quite a while. He 
lost me a little after the caretaker's clearing and I spent most of the rest of the race running 
solo. 

As with last year at about the 9 miles remaining point I was asking myself why the hell 
I decided to do this. I could be back at the finish line drinking a lot of beer and telling the 
runners how crazy they are (after all I have WAY more experience at that.) Then with about 
five or six miles to go the rumbles of thunder that I had been hearing cracked open the sky 
and let some serious water fall. It felt amazing. I felt like a kid running through 2 inches of 
water on the section leading up to the grassy road. All I could think of is how much pain I 
was in last year compared to how much fun I was having this year. I eventually caught up to 
Mark Whittemore who was walking at a good clip along the beginning of the grassy road (a 
good clip being almost as fast as I was running.) He asked if I could get him in in 8 and a 
half, I misunderstood him and just said "I dunno, don't think so." I eventually understood 
what he meant and said "Oh I'll be in under 830." Last year 8 was my goal and was 
essentially what I did (8:04) He seemed thrilled by the 8:30 idea but also seemed more 
content, like me, to make sure that this year he didn't kill himself like last year. I agreed with 
that mentality but I had also at that moment decided I was gonna make Damn sure I didn't 
go over 8:30. He apparently decided to keep his fast walk up and I eventually was running 
along alone again. 

I hit the dirt road with 15 minutes left before 8:30. That dirt road is one of 
the longest mile and a quarter I have ever run but I made sure this year that I was running 
the whole time. As I ran passed the ranger station a huge smile crawled across my face and 
didn't leave for a long time. This was a great year. 

Thanks to everyone involved and to all the runners who's great attitude makes this event so 
amazing (even for crew members.)