Back
in 2002 the Wakely Dam run was in its second year and under the radar of
most ultra marathoners. A time of a little under 6:30 put you in
position to claim a course record. This year five hours would not have
given the same bragging rights. RD Jim now includes a T-shirt in the
goodies bag and the run has become an established annual event to the
delight of all deer flies and mosquitoes in the lower
Adirondacks
.
But the basic ingredients that go into making this a must-do run
have not changed. Low key, few rules and a challenging trail course in a
spectacular forest setting make for an unforgettable run. With only one
aid station – at the finish line – and being dropped off in the
middle of nowhere this is definitely not the run to DNF.
How often do we runners forget the struggles and pain for fond
memories of a day in the heart of nowhere? This was my second time back
after a six year lapse and I had remembered some healthy climbs in the
initial half of the 32.3 mile trail thrown in with a dose of rocks and
roots in the tougher sections. Welcome back to reality! Indeed there are
no Rocky Mountain-type climbs but the hills are unrelenting and endless.
Rocks, tree roots, fallen trees and mud holes redefine the term
“technical running”.
“Don’t
worry if you do not see any blue markers”, said Jim at the start line,
“one of the sections is sparsely marked but keep going straight
anyway”. So I did just that and found myself at the end of a peninsula
surrounded by lakes on three sides. Freaked out by this detour, later
on, when I finally encountered the section Jim was referring to I back
tracked to the last blue sign I had seen only to discover I had not gone
off trail again. Fifty yards beyond the point I had back tracked was a
clearly marked blue sign.
Chalk
one (many?) up for the trail. Who knew that a lousy 32 mile distance
could reduce my body to a wrack of pains, muscle cramps and a mental
condition crying for that aid station and a beer? But no hard feelings.
I will return next year for another dose of punishment. But next time no
dreams of a nice cruise in some of the best country to get lost in the
north east!
