2010 News: Congratulations to everyone who volunteered or participated in the 2010 Mohican Trail 100!

Mark your Calendars for the 2011 Mohican Trail 100 and 50 mile race June 18-19 

Pasta dinner and packet pickup on Friday, June 17.

Results are now posted. See below.

Split times will be posted soon. Please be patient as we double check all of our reports from the aid stations before posting the split times.   

New 2010 Photo's by John Pope: http://gallery.me.com/jpope50/100037
 

2010 Photo's by Rohitashwa Jain:  http://www.flickr. com/photos/ rzen/sets/ 7215762419590034 1/ 

2010 Mohican 50 Mile Results:

2010 Mohican 100 Mile Results:

News and Stories from 2009 Race below: 

Read the unedited version of Colleen Theusch's article that first appeared in Ultra Running Magazine www.ultrarunning.com! simply click on the tab "MTR100 Past Results" from our website!

Check out this trailer for the September premier of a documentary film about ultra running that includes the Mohican Trail 100:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cPXB4VJ-IA
 

News from the Cincinnati Inquirer: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/running/

Please send the link to any pictures you have from the event and we will post them here:

Pics from Adam Schmidt: First person to complete both the MTB100 and Trail 100: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0CZNW7Jq1bsnEg&emid=sharview&linkid=link5&cid=EMsharview

Pics from Greg Murray at the Bridal Staging Aid Station: http://picasaweb.google.com/greg.j.murray/Mohican100TrailRace62062109#

Special Congratulations to Adam Schmidt and 2005 OMBC Women's Champion, Lindsey Lighthizer, repectively, the first racer's EVER to complete BOTH the Mohican Mountain Bike 100 and Mohican Trail 100 in the same year. Schmidt and Lighthizer were awarded complimentary passes to both races next year plus a $100 Cash prize. 

The North Face Mohican Trail 100 Mile Run and 50 Mile Race

The Mohican Trail 100 Mile Run has become one of the country's premier ultra-marathons.

Beautiful scenery, a challenging course and outstanding volunteers combine to make this race one of the best. Whether you are an experienced ultra-marathoner or just looking for your first 100 mile race, this event should be on your Must-Do list.

The 2010 Mohican Trail 100 will take place at 5AM on Saturday, June 19 through 11AM on Sunday, June 20

Pasta dinner, pre race meeting, and packet pickup will take place on Friday, June 18.

How to Register

Online registration is available through runreg.com, now the official registration partner of the Mohican Trail 100. Snail mail no more.

Our mission is to serve you better and runreg.com online registration has provided us with common sense solutions. One difficulty with snail mail entry is that, often, the information received is incomplete or illegible due to poor penmanship.

The result is added work for our registration staff along with spelling and other errors that can easily result from hand typing and transfering all that information. Spelling errors and missing information can also be carried forward into scoring and results, resulting in delays and/or additional work to correct those errors when racer's notice them online.

Another difficulty is the snail mail process itself. Racer's, approaching 300 now, often call or contact us to check on the status of their mailed entry and/or request to be contacted to confirm their entry. The result is additional time spent answering emails and phone calls, especially in the very busy days leading up to the event.  

Online registration resolves all of those issues by providing racers with instant confirmation along with viewing a continually updated listing of registered racers. For race management volunteers, it also allows us to synch information directly into our scoring program. If there are spelling errors, it will be the result of a racer typing in the wrong information. Additionally, Online Registration is not complete until ALL required information is collected. Runreg.com offers good value to racer's with one of the lowest online registration fee's along with service that helps make our race more efficient for staff and racers.

If anyone is uncomfortable with the online registration process, paper registrations will be available on Friday and entry fee's can be payed by cash or check at that time, although the entry fee is greater. 

Our intention is that this improvement will result in more accurate and timely results.

Thanks,

Ryan O'Dell, Race Director

Registration Fees:

100 Mile Race
$130 by February 15, 2010 / $165 by April 15, 2010 / $200 by June 15, 2010 / $225 after June 15 

50 Mile Race
$85 by February 15, 2010 / $110 by April 15 / $135 by June 15 / $150 after June 15

Refunds: 1/2 of the registration fee can be refunded until May 15. No refunds will be made after May 15.

Online Registration Closes:  06/15/2010 09:00 PM

Online registration will open soon at runreg.com.
After online registration closes, racers can only register at the race on Friday, June 18, 2010.

REFUNDS: If you are unable to race and need a refund, please send an email, don't call,  Registration Director, Amy Kaylor, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

  No registration will be available on Saturday morning.

http://www.ultratrailmb.com/accueil.php

Qualifier for the Mont-Blanc: The Mohican Trail 100 is a qualifier for the North Face Ultra-Trail Du Mont-Blanc in France.  

An Historic Achievement: This ultra event has become so recognized throughout the ultra-marathon world that the USAT&F named the Mohican Trail 100 Mile Run to be the first ever 100 Mile Trail championship.

2010 Sponsors: The North Face

Ohio Mountain Bike Championship Series www.ombc.net, Cleveland West Roadrunners Club, Ryders Eyewear, Idutri, Runreg.com, Darn Tough Socks, Hammer Nutrition, Cleveland Foot and Ankle Institute, Ohio State Parks, Ohio Division of Forestry, Northeast Ohio Running Club, Mohican Wilderness, Buckhaven Learning Center, Mohican Adventures, Communications by Amatuer Radio  

Other Information

Mohican 100 Yahoo Group was created for discussions, file sharing, photo sharing so you can connect with the Mohican race community. Monitored by the race director, along with many experienced volunteers and mohican racers, it can be a valuable resource for first time racers looking for advice and support as well as an opportunity to organize training runs or even locating a pacer for the race. 

Information on the Yahoo Group is not considered official race information and is not maintained by the Race Director. Its intended purpose is to assist racers by providing a forum to share information between runners and other interested individuals. Get connected and join the Yahoo Group at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mohican100/ 

Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have more questions.

Volunteer Opporutunities for 2010

Our stated mission: To assist as many racers as possible achieve their goal to complete this very challenging and difficult race. 

What volunteer opportunities exist at Mohican? 

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Mohican Trail 100 which has become reknown nationwide for its excellent volunteer support. This is not just a race, it is a multi faceted 30 hour event that requires the expertise of many volunteers, each playing a unique role in the success of every runner. 

Experienced volunteers, like communications director, Stan Kinney, Colleen Theusch, Art and Edina Moore, Leo Lightner, Steve Novak, Don Baun have served as many as 20 years. We are also here to help you find your own unique role in what has become one of the greatest ultra's in the USA.  Whether you are an ultra runner, part of the family and support team, or simply interested in getting a close up, first hand experience of ultra running, we have an opportunity for you.

As a volunteer, your are invited at no cost to attend our annual pre-race pasta dinner on Friday evening where you can pick up your custom race T a reminder of your involvement with the Mohican Trail 100. Volunteers who take on leadership roles including Aid Station Captain can also earn comped entry into next year's event.

The pre-race dinner is a great opportunity to meet with captains and other volunteers and race staff, as well as dining and sharing stories with some of the greatest ultra runner's in the land. Don't be surprised to see a few racer's sporting custom belt buckles with the number 1000, awarded exclusively to the few who have completed this Herculean event at least 10 times representing 1000 miles!  

The Mohican 100 recognizes that this is your experience too and we respect your time and offer to volunteer. To assist you with find a position that is right for you, please review some of the available positions below and let us know the ones that interest you, along with what days/times that you are available. Sometimes, even a 3 hour effort is enough time to help another volunteer take a break, get a little shut eye, or travel to another location to visit another aid station or experience another part fo the event. 

Timing and Scoring: Welcome to race central! Volunteers are needed to asist with simple data entry which involves typing in the times and tracking runners as they enter the many and numerous aid stations. This is a part time position and a great way to have the best seat in the house when it comes to tracking the leaders and your friends.

The data entry volunteer works alongside an experienced communications team, led by Stan Kinney, a 20 year veteran.

Timing and Scoring Team: Timing and Scoring at the finish line at Mohican Adventures could be the perfect opportunity for family or support crew who possess basic typing or data entry skills  along an interest in the news and innner workings of an ultra sporting event. If you'd like to be involved with the cutting edge news of the race, you can sign up for a time window raging from just an hour or two or even several shifts by contacting Stan Kinney via email at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Race Course Trail Marking Team: The Mohican 100 has a reputation of having a well marked race course and this is no accident. Several days prior to the event, trails are marked using signs, spray paint, or lime by a team of runners Led by Roy Heger with assistance from long time team leader and 10 year Mohican Finisher, Leo Lightner. This is a perfect opportunity for a runner/pacer or prospective runner/pacer who would like to get a close up look at the course layout and/or get a good warmup run in before race day. 

Pacers note, Trails are also checked during the event and trail markings are removed as each aid station closes so their are many time windows to fill. All Trail Marking Team members should plan to meet in the morning for a complimentary breakfast at Mellor's in Loudonville, known for their "all you can eat" pancakes. A plan of action is made before runners break out into teams to divide and conquer. If you would like to join our Trail Marking Team, Contact Roy Heger at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Aid Station Teams: Aid Stations manned by volunteers like you are the life support system of the race and critical to its success. Runners depend on aid stations for, not only fuel and comfort, but also news and information about whats next. Knowledgable volunteers make this happen. 

Multiple Aid stations located every 5 miles are supplied and resupplied during the race, led by Materials Director, Vicky Gordon at the Grist Mill aid station on State Route three. The Grist Mill is not only an aid station, it is also supply central where supplies are divided and delivered to aid stations both before and during the race. On Sunday morning, aid stations begin to close and bring remaining supplies back to the Grist Mill.  Volunteers are needed at a variety of times to help divide supplies for delivery teams and to assist runners as they arrive.

Most Mohican aid stations are led by veteran captains, including 20 year veteran Steve Novack, who leads the busiest aid station  of all at the covered bridge. The covered bridge aid station is a central hub of the race and runners pass through several times. Helping out at one or more aid stations is a great opportunity for anyone who would like to be actively involved as well an opportunity for pacers or support crew to help while waiting for their runner. There is one opening now for an aid station captain at "Last Gasp", a Saturday only aid station that is the final stop for 50 mile racers.  

As a recognition for accepting an important responsibility, Aid Station captains earn free entry to the race the following year. Becoming an aid station volunteer first will help prepare you for this responsibility and is an excellent opportunity for a future ultra racer to both learn about the race and earn race entry. 

Materials and Delivery Team: If you would like to visit all of our aid stations and have a good driving record, there is a need for help with delivering drop bags, as well as aid station supplies beginning on Friday and throughout the race. If you would like to become a captain or join our Materials and Delivery Team, please contact Race Director, Ryan O'Dell at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Family and friends who will not be crewing for a runner are encouraged to volunteer to help out for a shift at an aid station during the race.  While volunteers must aid all runners during their shift, of course, you can pay special attention to your own runner too. 

Please contact race director, Ryan O'Dell, prior to the race with your available days/times for an aid station assignment. You may even be assigned to an aid station generally off limits to crew/family, e.g. the Covered Bridge aid station.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I retrieve my drop bags before Sunday morning?

YES.  You and/or your crew etc. may go to the aid stations to pick up your drop bags after you have finished either race - or DNFed.  This includes the drop bags that are at the Covered Bridge.  While crews, etc. are not allowed anywhere near that aid station while the runner is still in the race, you and/or crew may drive past it just to pick up your drop bags.  Drop bags will be returned to the campground on Sunday morning - this includes the 50 miler drop bags.  Anyone who plans on going home before the end of the race for any reason (DNF, early finish, 50 milers) should pick up their drop bags themselves.  Drop bags will not be mailed.

Will my drop bags be taken to the aid stations if I don't come until Saturday?

Drop bags will be loaded on the trucks Friday evening for early Saturday morning delivery to the aid stations.  Racers can pick up their packets and leave drops, if necessary, on Saturday morning.

May I change my registration distance: 50 to 100 or 100 to 50?

YES. However, packet pickup on Friday is your final opportunity to switch to a different race. You must register any change on Friday before you receive your race number.

If you have registered for the 100 mile race and decide that you want to do the 50 mile course, you may do so before getting your packet. Racer's switching from the 50 to the 100 will be required to pay the difference in entry fee. Racers switching from the 100 to the 50 will not receive a refund of the difference in price. This is intended to allow switches but discourage a large volume of switches during packet pickup.

The “name and bib number” list to be used at morning roll call will be printed out at the end of packet pickup.  No race changes will be made on race day or during the race.

May I switch from 100 to 50 miles when part way through the race?

NO.  The two races are independent and at times, follow different routes, even though they start at the same time andlocation and overlap in many areas. Also note that the 50 and 100 mile race have different colored bibs with distinct sets of numbers:  1 through 199 for the 100 mile race with 500 through 599 for the 50 mile race.  The 50 mile runners will receive their medals when they cross the finish line at the Mohican Wilderness Campgrounds.  The 100 mile finishers will receive their buckles at an award ceremony on Sunday morning.

The decision to disallow switching from the 100 to the 50 mile race mid-race is to avoid confusing aid station help and the communications volunteers who are tracking runners for their safety.

However a runner who registers for the 100 mile race may DNF at any aid station and will receive credit and recognition for any completed miles over 50. Runner's who DNFs, did not finish, after 50 miles should first report to an aid station captain to announce your withdrawal from the race. You will also want to return to race headquarters to receive your award. Racer's will receive a 50+ mile medal as recognition of your achievement.

What happened to the blue loop?

The purple loop has replaced the blue loop. Other than the color designation, that loop is still there in all its magnificent beauty and still contains the spectacular difficult climb up the tree roots near Lyons Falls. This loop will be marked with Purple plastic plates instead of Blue plates.

Are there any training runs for the race?

While the Mohican race does not offer any official training runs, many runners train on various parts of the course frequently. Runners often use the Mohican 100 yahoo group email to indicate their plans to run on various days – usually Saturdays and/or Sundays. They give their planned distance, location, meeting time and place. Others join them for all or part of the planned run. Sometimes water and other aid may be available. Some of those who list their training runs have finished Mohican multiple times. Others are still training for their first finish. It is a great idea to train with these runners.

If you are not a member of the Mohican Yahoo Group, you can join it from elsewhere on this website. You can also post the dates you would be available to train on the Mohican trails. Probability is high that someone familiar with the trails will be happy to run with you.

How is the course marked? Do I have to be concerned about getting off course?

Many runners have commented that Mohican is one of the best marked courses (“the best” according to some). The course is divided into various loops: Yellow, Green, Orange, Purple, Red, and White. Not all of them are closed loops. See the course description document on this website for more info about these loops.

Some of the permanent carsonite trail posts have Mohican 100 markers about 10 inches below hiking or horse trail markers at the top of the posts. The Mohican marker is a 3” x 3” reflective white square with a black triangle, the words “MOHICAN TRAIL” in green above the triangle, three green trees on the triangle and the words “100 MILE RUN”. Just above the Mohican 100 marker is a colored, according to loop, reflective arrow indicating trail direction: straight ahead or turn.

The trail marking crew spends several days prior to the race to add lime arrows on the ground along the course. They also place plastic plates matching the color of the loops at critical points along the trail. These plates have arrows on them indicating the direction of the course. Some of the arrows are reflective.

The trail marking crew checks on the course throughout the race adding/replacing markings as necessary.

You must pay attention to the course markings especially at night. It is possible to wander off even the best marked course, especially in foggy, nighttime conditions, not unusual at Mohican. Sleep deprivation can also play role causing runner's to sometimes hallucinate and/or to miss course markings.

Do you have any recommendations for lodging?

See the Camping and Lodging document in the Race Information section of this website.

Area motels frequently fill up rather rapidly, so you are advised to book lodging at those places as soon as possible.

Why is it a BAD idea to DNF at the Fire Tower Aid Station?

Most runners are familiar with highs and lows in a race and with the concept of “hitting the wall.”

Upon reaching the Fire Tower at 60.8 miles, you have completed 60% of the race and most probably have been running over 12 hours.  At this stage you may be feeling exhausted, rotten, miserable, etc. – a real low -  and all you want to do is to stop moving.

BAD IDEA!  Consider that you have just run 4.3 miles from the South Park Aid Station climbing 710 feet while descending only 380 feet.  You’ve just “hit the wall.”  Eat a little, drink fluids and decide NOT to DNF at the Fire Tower but to just walk all the way to the Covered Bridge.  Consider that distance is only 2.5 miles.  Certainly you have enough energy to walk that far.  Moreover, it is predominantly downhill with only 280 feet of ascent and a whopping 640 feet descent.  Even better, after you’ve walked about two miles you will be at the new bridge.  You may have barely noticed it the first time on that section when you were still fresh.  This time stop at that bridge to admire its design and construction.  Stand on it for a while.  Think about the members of the Mohican Trails Club who spent much time and energy building this bridge.  Think of the volunteers who helped them – including some of your fellow Mohican 100 mile runners.  Enjoy the beauty of your surroundings.  Breathe deeply.  Then continue to walk to the Covered Bridge.  There’s a great probability that you will have gotten your second wind by that time and will finish the race.  If not, you can DNF there.

Of course if you are in true pain at the Fire Tower, e.g. a sprained ankle or other injury, you need to DNF there.

What type of weather should I expect during race weekend?

This is Ohio, mid-America. There is a saying here: “If you don’t like the weather, hang around a minute.” In June, you can expect almost anything except ice and snow. Part of the course is through shaded forest. Other parts are in the open sun. The forest trails can be shoe-sucking mud, baked mud hard as a rock, or just soft enough to pamper your feet. Some years have been sweltering with temperatures close to 100 degrees and very humid. Other years have been very pleasant in the 70s with a cool breeze. There have been thunderstorms, cooling drizzle, extremely strong winds, or stagnant air. Night may stay warm in the high 60s or drop down into the 30s. People who have gotten wet during the day have suffered from hypothermia at night. Bring all types of clothing with you: change of shirts, socks and shoes; jackets, rain gear. When you see the weather forecast for the race days, you can decide what to wear throughout the race. However, be somewhat cynical about any forecast that you hear – it may change in a few hours. Have something warm at the finish line, especially if you plan on finishing before the sun warms the air. When you stop running you can chill rapidly.

Family and crew also should have a variety of clothing available. Some family members were so cold one year that they bought sweaters at a local store.

You can learn more about the weather in some of the previous years by reading the articles on this website about previous Mohican races.

What is the distance between the aid stations?

Updates for 2010 coming soon. For now, See the Course Elevation Chart in useful information of the Race Information section of this website.

Which airports are close to Loudonville / Mohican area?

There are three major airports within 100 miles of Loudonville and the Mohican area.

CLE - Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is in a south west suburb of Cleveland which is north of Loudonville. It is very close to highway I71 which is a good route south towards Loudonville, exiting at the Ashland exit.

CMH - Port Columbus International Airport is south of Loudonville. It is very close to I270 which can be taken to I71 north towards Loudonville, exiting at highway 97 and traveling east to highway 3.

CAK - Akron Canton Regional Airport is north east of Loudonville. It is close to a major highway 30 which can be taken west to Wooster. Highway 3 can be picked up in Wooster and taken south into Loudonville.

For more detailed directions to the start / finish of the race see Driving Directions under Race Information.

Where is the start/finish of the Mohican race located?

New "Mohican Adventures": See Directions and lodging 

What awards are given at the Mohican race?

Every person who finishes the full 100 miles within the 30 hour time limit receives the 100 mile buckle.

Those who register for and finish the 50 mile race receive a medal. The same medal is also presented to those who DNF the 100 mile race after completing at least 50 miles.

Runners receive the 1000 mile ten time finisher award upon ten completions of the Mohican 100 mile race.

The last person who finishes the 100 mile race within the 30 hour time limit receives a special “Last of the Mohicans” award. While the award itself varies from year to year, the theme references Indians, forest animals, eagles, etc.

Those are the standard awards. Some years other awards are presented to runners in various categories, e.g. age groups.

What are the Mohican 100 mile records?

The overall and age group records for both men and women along with a list of those who have earned the 1000 mile 10 time finisher buckle are listed in "Race Records" on this website.

Do I need a flashlight, headlamp, etc.?

If you are running the 100 miles, you definitely need a light source: flashlight, headlamp, etc. The forest trails have no lights. Even if you are out of the forest before night arrives, there are very few lighted areas on the roads back to the finish line. Be prepared with extra light source and batteries. You can have these in drop bags.

If you have entered the 50 mile race, remember the race takes place during the summer solstice, the longest days of the year. The race starts at 5:00 AM. It will still be dark then but soon get lighter. You might want to carry a cheap flashlight that you can abandon at the first aid station after the sun comes up. You should be back at the campground by 8:00 PM well before dark falls. However, if you intend to stay around and walk in the area, e.g. to your campsite, a flashlight, etc. will make that easier. If you’ve done a lot of running in limited light, you may be able to omit your own light and just follow the lights of the other runners at the beginning of the race until the sun comes up.

Why has the course changed this year? I like the old course.

Which old course do you like? The original consisting of two identical loops with the 50 mile mark at the campground? The one containing that frustrating section where you were within yards of the Hickory Ridge Aid Station but on which you had to run another mile before you reached that station? The one where you ran along the road in order to reach the Grist Mill Aid Station?

The course has been changed over a dozen times since the inception of the race. The Mohican Forest, Park, and surrounding areas are dynamic. New trails are built. Old trails are closed for various reasons. Bridges are destroyed or built. The trail master adjusts the trail to accommodate all these changes. The difficulty of the course remains relatively constant.

What Type of Shoes Should I Wear

The Mohican Trail 100 Run course includes sections of pavement, dirt road, and single track trail. The trail can range from muddy to dusty to rocky to rooted. As a result, you will see experienced runners wearing shoes ranging from light weight training shoes to hardcore trail shoes. Many people will take several pair of shoes and put them in drop bags to wear on different sections of the course. Other people might wear the same shoes throughout the entire race. The most common approach is to take 3 pair of shoes and wear a regular training shoe for the first third of the race until you go through the river, then change into trail shoes for the second third of the race at the covered bridge, then change back into regular training shoes for the final third of the race at the covered bridge.

Of course, weather plays a huge factor from year to year so the same runner may opt for a different shoe strategy from one year to the next. Obviously, the biggest factor in determine your shoe strategy is to figure out what works best for you. Questions like "what type of shoe is best for the Mohican Trail 100 Mile Run" will likely generate as many different answers as there are readers of your question.

Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have more questions.