Mohican Mud
By Colleen J. Theusch
Were you there? Did you enjoy the wonderful weekend during the Mohican 100 mile event? Did you hear the tales of mud? Do you realize that for the second year in the run Tom Todrank, Karen McPeak, and their trail marking crew, Leo, Zenek, Freddy, B.J. had to remark the trails on Saturday morning after rain obliterated the lime on Friday night? You missed it all? Too bad, but don't despair. You will have another chance next year.
The word for this year is MUD. "Wet and slippery mud in the morning. Shoe sucking mud later." "I lost my shoe three times and had to go back for it." "I was so glad to finish the red loop the second time. That was by far the worst." "I didn't even try to run the red loop. I walked it and saved my strength so that I could run much faster on the road portion at the end." "I hated thinking about repeating the red loop." Wet muddy feet produced many blisters that kept the podiatrists busy at the Covered Bridge station and the finish line. Gnats, flies, annoying insects follow close behind the mud.
Steve Godale, CWRRC member, led the race throughout the entire event. At Hickory Ridge the runners are within a few yards of the aid station but must still do another mile loop to reach it. As Steve was leaving Hickory Ridge station the first time at mile 38.4, he saw Rob Hruskovich starting that loop. Steve knew he had to keep pushing when he saw Rob at the same location thirty-one miles later. Rob, running his first 100 miler, knew that even though he was just a mile behind, he would not be able to overtake Steve unless Steve slowed down. That was not to be. Steve finished in 17:55:34, a Godale record. The distance between these top two runners increased until Rob finished in 19:17:28. Rob should be proud of his sub-20 time for his first 100 trail race.
Connie Gardner, also running her first 100 mile trail race, turned in a magnificent sub-20 at 19:36:15. At mile 21, Connie already had a half hour lead over the Canadian veteran runner, Monica Scholz. Connie gradually increased this lead to finish over two hours ahead of Monica's 21:43:23. These ladies took third and sixth places overall. Since Connie is from Medina, for the first time Ohio made a sweep of the winners. The Canadians made a great international showing taking the fourth, fifth, and sixth places overall.
As first place man and woman, Steve and Connie received additional awards of a chainsaw wooden sculpture of a man and woman runner. They also received certificates provided by Montrail for a pair of Montrail shoes.
Art Moore finished his Mohican number 10 and received the 1000 mile buckle for his efforts. Robin Fry finished number 12 despite having foot problems during the year. Irene Weston is still recovering from her severely broken ankle last year. She went further than she's done since that accident, but the ankle refused to go fast enough to let her complete the race. After seeing Robin's and Art's special buckles, many of the runners were happy to have completed another Mohican 100 miler that brings them one year closer to obtaining the "ten time finisher" buckle.
With the help of sponsors, Mickey Rzymek provided many additional awards. Along with the enameled buckle, the top five men and five women finishers received Mohican green tote bags from Design Sports out of Clearwater, FL. Art Moore and Ron Ross, CWRRC members, received shoe certificates from Second Sole - Northfield Center, Ohio. Vince Rucci, manager of Second Sole, entered the event himself and finished his first 100 miler in 29:12:08. Last of the Mohican, Del Ruckle, and last English speaking woman, Rita Barnes, received a subscription to Trail Runner magazine. Del also received an eagle figurine with the hope that he may soon run as swiftly as the eagle flies.
Preceding the race, Robin Fry of Team Run Amok used bib number drawings to distribute flashlights donated by Bison to the wearers of the lucky numbers. Companies donating items for the goody bags and/or aid stations include Gatorade, Mrs T's Pierogies, and Hammer Gel. Roadway Express continues to provide the logistical support that they began seven years ago.
If a poll were taken regarding the most beautiful and the most difficult loop on the course, the blue loop would definitely win on both counts. The vote might even be unanimous. Mark Carroll has his own method for covering this loop. He reaches it near noon so takes a few sandwiches and walks the loop relishing its beauty while replenishing his energy on 'lunch break.'
Each year you read my articles in the newsletters pleading for help at the Mohican event. Many of you have come through in a fabulous manner. We know there's so much that must be done before, during, and after the race. Here are some quotes from e-mails that runners have sent to Joe Jurczyk, race director.
"Your aid stations and volunteers were unbelievable and very, very, very helpful. The course is beautiful (a bit sadistic) and the moon was incredible."
"You and your support people were the best I have ever seen anywhere. I almost stopped at 82.5, but the crew at the aide station pumped me up with Mountain Dew, packed me in a trash bag and sent me on my way."
"The folks at these stations were fantastic. To think many of them were up all day and all night helping us out!"
"The volunteers helped me clean my wounds, and even helped change my wet, muddy shoes and socks at about half way through.
"Mohican is BY FAR my all time favorite event. It's the best day of my year. A chance to reflect on the past year, to be surrounded by life and challenge in one of the most beautiful places on earth."
"Thank you again for such a wonderful event. It was a truly unique experience for me and many others. You and your volunteers do an awesome job!!!!!!"
"The race direction and personnel excelled here. I found every aid station well stocked with the required staples and often-unexpected treats. Smiling, encouraging faces greeted the runners at every one of these refueling stops."
"Thanks also to the many many unbelievably altruistic volunteers. I ran up to the aid station at 93 miles and realized that these folks had been up all night long; took time out of busy lives so that an average guy like me can one day each year attempt something extra-ordinary. I don't know where people like those....and all the other volunteers come from but can you imagine a world filled with people who are all so caring? There would be no war or hunger or hatred."
These accolades are representative of the many that runners gave verbally after the event. So many volunteer tasks make up the whole. Mark Shelton with help from Bob Myers performs almost super-human tasks managing supplies, deliveries, bag drops, etc. Fortunately, Lynn Legacy from the Loudonville Chamber of Commerce volunteered to help Mark with the pancake breakfast this year. This freed up hours for Mark to pack the truck, etc. so that he could enjoy part of Father's Day with his family. Toni Massa helped Mark with purchasing some of the supplies. Kathy and Al Marshthaller continue to be great truck drivers. Al White, as ice-man, makes many trips to the Little Brown Inn to move the ice that the Inn donates to stations in need of it.
Not only does the Little Brown Inn provide ice, but also its owners, Kirk and Angela Matteson, handle Turkey Ridge. This year they even convinced friends to handle the Brinkhaven station. Steve Godale initiated these wonderful people into aid station operation when he ran up to them saying, "Dump some icy water over me and make me keep going." Several runners were delighted with young people from the Turkey Ridge station who ran the five miles with them to Brinkhaven. Unexpected fresh pacers this far into the race gave the runners a second wind and made it much easier for them to reach their 100 mile goal.
Stan Kinney and the amateur radio operators at the command center at Mohican Wilderness Campground maintained constant contact with the radio operators at all the aid stations tracking the runners' progress, calling for ice, etc. Rick Mead, with sidekick Rich Medykowski, entered the times into the computer throughout the event. Unfortunately, Rick could not provide on the spot printouts of results. The high humidity caused the paper to practically disintegrate and clog the printer. Runners will soon receive the splits, etc. via regular mail.
Two years ago, Geoff Sheppard arrived at Mohican from Canada. Last year, he brought the Repta brothers, Wade and Dom, with him. Unfortunately, both brothers DNFed. This year Geoff and Dom returned to tie for the third and fourth place in the men's division in 19:51:15. Geoff cut over an hour from his finishing time last year. As they relaxed with their pacers in lawn chairs, their crew sang a saga of their adventures of the three years using the tune from Gilligan's Island.
Ohioan Paul Layne has the Mohican buckle from last year when he completed his first 100 mile event. This year he increased his goal. Towards the end of the race, he kept tabs on those who had already been through the aid stations. He gained ten minutes on the duo in front of him, Joel Fetterman and Doug Hansel, between the 93 and 97 mile station so that he trailed by only nine minutes. Attacking Big Hill with a vengeance, he crossed the finish line in 21:44:14 five minutes ahead of the duo. As he crossed, he exclaimed, "I did it! I passed two people on Big Hill. I'm number seven, but two are women, so I'm fifth man. I get a colored buckle!" He was referring to the special colored enamel buckle awarded to the top five men and five women. Moreover he had cut a half hour from his 2000 time.
Jerry Sheppard is very altruistic in his running. He works in the Alzheimer's Disease Center at the School of Medicine at Indiana University in Indianapolis. He raises money for the Alzheimer's Center's art therapy program. This program is already over $5000 richer thanks to Jerry. His next endeavor will be at the Chicago triathlon.
Forty-four year old Tom Matti from Illinois started running marathons and ultras in the year 2000. Prior to Mohican, he had completed six dozen of these, mostly marathons with a few 50K and a 50 miler tossed in. At Mohican he achieved a sub-24 hour time for his first 100 mile event. Tom ran the entire race in light sandals without socks to make this an even more amazing feat.
Two first time volunteers, Tom Himeno and Anne Reutenauer, were especially welcome at the Bridle Staging area. For the first time two Japanese entered the Mohican event. Both Katsuyuki Hatta and his wife, Hiromi, speak very limited English. France's first entry, Jacques, speaks English, though not fluently. Tom is Japanese from the same location as the runners. Anne speaks French. Kathy Ross, runner Ron's wife, spent several hours assisting runners at the Bridle Staging area station and helped train Tom and Anne in aid station activities.
Two husband and wife teams completed the event. Each couple ran the first third of the race as a husband and wife team. Mike and Cassandra McCune from Nashport, Ohio stayed together throughout the event to finish their first 100 miler in 28:22:43. When Katsuyuki slowed down on the way to the Bridle Staging station, Hiromi continued at her own pace. At one point she was well over an hour ahead of her husband. As he regained his strength he gradually shortened the distance between them and passed her between the Brinkhaven and Big Hill stations.
As usual, many runners attempted their first 100 miler. Some finished gloriously, such as second place Rob Hruskovich, first woman Connie Gardner, and fourth place Dom Reptka. Some DNFed with plans to return to try again next year. The list of those who finished a 100 mile trail race for the first time includes Rita Barnes, Robert Engel, Brenda Gutmann, Daniel Horvath, Cassandra and Mike McCune, Vince Rucci, and Jacques Taxil. Some of these completed unfinished business from last year's event. My apologies to anyone whose name I may have omitted from this list.
So many of you have done so much to make Mohican number 12 another glorious event: aid station captains and workers; bakers - Debbie, Pat, Julie, Kim, Toni. CWRRC could not have this magnificent event without help not only from its member who are too numerous to name, but also from many other sources. Fort Wayne Track Club, NorthEast Runners Club, Boy Scout Troop 153, Becky Cargill and the Bellinger family, Brenda Lightner, Bob, and the Shick family all provide fabulous smooth running aid stations. Dr. Kathy Siesel and Dr. Jim Lesniak, podiatrists, and their students from the Cleveland Foot and Ankle Clinic tend to tired, sore, and blistered feet. Dr. Mark Elderbrock keeps a watchful eye on the condition of the runners throughout the race. Scott Gottschling brings relief to aching legs by expertly massaging them.
The traditional date for the Mohican event is the third full weekend in June. Pending permits, next year's event will be on June 15-16, 2002. Mark your calendars now. It is not too soon to plan to run or to volunteer at that time. Come, enjoy, and rejuvenate yourself. Experience the constantly increasing excitement of this event. In whatever manner you participate, you can be sure you will have an exhilarating weekend, no matter what Mother Nature dishes up to challenge the runners and the volunteers.