1993 Mohican Trail Run
By Colleen Theusch
The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry! The Mohican Trail 100 is always subject to the vagaries of Mother Nature. This year the mercury soared into the 90’s. This reduced the field of finishers to only 33% of starters. Last year’s cool temperatures allowed over 70% across the finish line.
The roster of runners included five men who had completed all previous Mohican 100 mile trail runs. Sad to say, only two from that list earned their buckle this year — Robin Fry and John DeWalt.
Jane Becaj and her husband Bob organized all the supplies, including purchasing, sorting, packaging, transporting, and getting everything ready for distribution. Martha Riggs distributed the supplies like a pro. Her organizational skills provided sustenance to all the runners in a timely manner. The aid stations were well stocked with soup, watermelon, cookies, M&M’s, sandwiches, electrolytes and soft drinks. During the award ceremony, most of the runners commented on the great aid stations and the wonderful cheerful spirit exhibited by the volunteers.
The heat provided plentiful deer flies and knats as an additional challenge. The heat also gave Kathy Siesel, podiatrist, and her students many more blistered feet to comfort than last year’s cool temperatures. Dehydration also reared its ugly head.
Amateur radio clubs from Wayne County, Cleveland, and Akron provided communication throughout the race. They covered every aid station with a central repeater at the fire tower. Volunteers constantly updated a chart and the computer data with the times each runner arrived at an aid station. Todd Blum again managed all the computer logistics this year. The radio operators directed Dr. Mark Elderbrock to runners needing medical attention.
Color coded ribbons for each loop and candy striped ribbons distinguish the 100 mile course from other trail markers near the course. Ruth and Roger Brezec of Mansfield volunteered to help mark the trail. They suggested stakes with colored arrows on white paper plates as an additional marking. The white plates were easy to spot both night and day. “Race in progress — Please do not remove trail markings” signs eliminated much of the early marker removal that had plagued previous races.
Few changes were made to the course. Construction near the Post Plant prevented its use as an aid station. The nearby Bridle Staging Area made a superb replacement. This is the only place in the area where fires are allowed, and allowed baked potatoes to be prepared as snacks during the race. This year’s race also witnessed the inauguration of an additional aid station just three miles from the finish line.
Some aid station personnel made their areas unforgettable. Last year’s finisher Ron Hart was so impressed with the Christmas lights at the Hengen’s station that this year when Phil Hengen entered the race, Ron took over the station complete with the sparkling multicolored lights. The mere thought of winter provided runners with respite from the heat.
Mark Breudigam’s station conceived a warmer theme. Volunteers were decked out with leis. Luscious Hawaii! — complete with a beckoning life size hula dancer. Several runners provided the lovely lady sweaty hugs and amorous kisses.
Wigwam Industries became a Mohican 100 product sponsor this year. Each runner received a pair of Ultimax socks in the race packet. Some of these provided extra dryness during the race. Others gave soft comfort to sore feet during the awards ceremony.
After a scrumptious pancake breakfast prepared by ultra-chefs Cathy Luca, Edina Moore and the other volunteers, Joe Eisenberg and Leo Lightner presented belt buckles to all the finishers. The buckle design superbly represents elements associated with the Mohican territory. Enamel makes the top five buckles even more beautiful. Colleen Theusch presented the traditional ‘Last of the Mohicans’ award to John DeWalt who finished the course just 10 minutes before the deadline. Juanita Sears and Cathy Mastalski crossed the finish line with DeWalt after running with him from the last aid station.
Mark Bodamer, winner of the race in 20:08, was able to attend the CWRRC June picnic. He expressed his praise for a well run event. He met Bob Blum and told him of his admiration for Todd’s computer work and his appreciation for receiving a printout of his splits at every aid station within minutes after finishing the race.