Another Great Mohican
By Colleen J. Theusch
Fortunately the rains of the preceding six weeks stopped a couple days before the Mohican Trail 100 Mile Run. Tom Todrank and his trail marking crew were grateful that they did not have to remark the trails ahead of the runners as in the two preceding years when heavy rains washed away the lime markings destroying their previous work. The crew still kept busy throughout the race checking the trail and remarking weak areas. The weather was so great this year that many runners were through the fire tower aid station well ahead of the predicted time when their crews arrived at the location. Cool breezes during the day helped prevent overheated runners. Many required jackets during the night chill and some use socks as gloves.
The whole Mohican event consists of many parts. Any missing part would spell disaster to the event. Without the runners, there would be no race. Without the trail markers, the runners could end up in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, or even Lake Erie. Trail marking is one of the activities whose time frame covers several weeks. Tom, Karen McPeak, Don Baun, Nick Wolf, Zenek Zapotocky, Mike Schwartz, Roy Heger, Steve Sutton, Charlie Danielson, Fred Davis, Rich Oldrieve, and Parker spend much time on the beautiful course. Parker? Tom's strong yellow lab carries pounds of lime so that the crew can mark more trails before returning for supplies. Some of this crew had other duties throughout the race. Some have completed the Mohican 100 miles in preceding years and some went on to run the race again this year.
The course covers 52.7 miles of trails in the Mohican Memorial State Forest and 9.5 trail miles in the state park. Some of these are covered twice and are sandwiched between sections of road at the beginning and end of the race. Strong winds this year toppled many trees making parts of the course virtually impassable. Don Baun, forest and park personnel, and other volunteers spent many hours clearing the trails before course marking even began. Some of the volunteers were from a bike group that was having an event on Saturday morning also starting at the Mohican Wilderness Campground. The bikers shared the first 27 miles of the course with the runners. The bikers started a half hour after the runners and passed them on the initial road portion of the course.
After last years race, many volunteers and runners were concerned about race direction for this year's race. Joe Jurczyk had been at the helm for many years. He followed a long stint by Joe Eisenberg. If Bob Blum had not conceived the race and with the help of many CWRRC members brought it to fruition, the race would not have been born in 1990. Joe Eisenberg built on the first race. Believe it or not, there was no radio communications that first year. The race improved during Eisenberg's reign. Then Jurczyk took over to guide the race to a new level.
After witnessing the performance of Bob Strong in his first year as race director, both volunteers and runners know that the Mohican 100 will reach even new heights in coming years. Bob lives and works in the Loudonville area and loves the Mohican forest and park as much as anyone. Don Baun, his right hand man, has first hand knowledge of the area from many years as forest manager of the Mohican Memorial State Forest.
Several other volunteers holding key positions resigned for various personal reasons. Rick Mead developed great software during his tenure as Mohican computer guru. Bob Close accepted the challenge to continue the computer tracking of runners using the programs that Rick graciously passed on to him. Art & Edina Moore took over the volunteer coordinator duties from Gary Fell. They did an exceptional job making sure that all areas were covered throughout the race. Mark Shelton worked closely with Rob Powell the new supply coordinator to insure well-stocked aid stations. Next year Mark will continue to be involved with the race, but in a different role, perhaps as official photographer.
Over the years the Sunday morning breakfast has assumed many forms. This year Chef Jim provided the most fabulous breakfast to date with pancakes, scrambled eggs, home-style potatoes, and sausage along with juice, cereal, and fruit. Several others helped him with this Herculean task. Debbie Lemmer loves to feed people so made her first appearance at Mohican to help with this morning feast. Debbie and Pat Agnello had each baked over a gross of cookies for the aid stations again this year.
The trail is essential to the event. So are all the volunteers and the runners. This year 85 runners including 13 women left the Mohican Wilderness campgrounds. Of those, 55 received the Mohican buckle for running the full 100 miles. Seven of these were women. Several runners were using this as a training run for Western States or another 100 miler later in the summer, so planned on only finishing the 54 miles. Mike & Cassandra McCune have completed the race previously, but planned only half of it this year so that they could leave for a cruise on Sunday morning. Twenty-five runners received the medal for completing the 54 mile distance.
Twenty-two year old Richard Roberts, a marathon winner, ran the first part of the race in great marathon time. He reached Hickory Ridge, 26.5 miles, in 3:23, slower than his marathon, but 25 minutes ahead of Mark & Steve Godale, both seasoned 100 mile runners. Mohican is not two fifty milers or four marathons; it is a hundred miles of hills. A dozen miles later Roberts learned the meaning of this saying with a pulled muscle that forced him to DNF.
Meanwhile, the Godale brothers stayed within minutes of each other over those dozen miles. Mark gradually pulled away from Steve seven hours into the race. He continued to widen the gap to just over two hours at the finish line in 16:54:46. Mark had just run the Comrades race in Africa on Monday, so with that grueling event and all the travel it entailed, many people had given the edge to Steve. Both brothers maintained a healthy lead over their competitors after Roberts dropped. Steve received the men's 39 & under group award for his second place finish in 19:05:12.
Canadians Les Michalak and Joseph Hewitt ran the complete race together. Michalak had earned his first Mohican buckle in 1992 with the time 20:57. The duo cut over an hour from that time finishing in 19:51:30. Les now holds the Mohican grand masters (50+) record. These two plan on going to the 100K championships in Taiwan along with another Mohican finisher, Moe White. Both these men earned their age group awards with Hewitt receiving that for the 40-49 age group.
Kim Martin was first woman across the line in 20:45:59. She had been training with Connie Gardner; 2001 first woman, third overall. While Kim was first woman throughout the race, Rebekah Trittipoe stayed within 20 minutes of her during the first half of the run. Kim crossed the finish line almost three hours ahead of Rebekah. Martin really wanted to sleep during the last portion of the race. Fortunately Gardner was pacing her and could keep her on course as she ran with her eyes closed. Sleep-running? Trittipoe received the women's 40-49 age group award.
Brenda Beedlow trains with many CWRRC members and Mohican buckle holders. This was her first 100 mile event and her time of 28:42:56 earned her the women's 39 & under group award. She has done the Buckeye Trail events, knew Brian Lewis of Kent, and ran the complete race with him.
In 1995 Terri Hayes from Hawaii had been the first woman over 50 to complete the Mohican race. After turning 60 earlier this year she decided to try to become the fist woman over 60 to do so. Tom McGinnis who could not run the full 100 miles because of an injured calf muscle volunteered to pace her through the night. Terri's knee was beginning to bother her at the fourth entry to the covered bridge. They continued on, but a mile before Hickory Ridge each of Terri's steps became an “Ouch”. No choice but to DNF. Next year? Too soon to tell.
Regis Shivers, Sr., ran the inaugural Mohican race in 1990. Lat year he came despite a bad back to run his 9th Mohican. This year he is running the Appalachian Trail. He had covered 1276.9 miles of that trail in 47 days prior to taking time off to earn the big buckle that is the 1000 mile ten time finisher award. He will return to complete the Appalachian Trail, which he expects to take another 33 days. Interestingly, Tom McGinnis, volunteer pacer for Terri Hayes, also spent some time on the trail and ran into Regis wearing a Mohican tee shirt.
As Mike Cargill was on the blue loop with Kim Martin and others he called to them that it was quite slippery in the area. To prove his point he immediately tumbled head over heels. This was not Mike's first Mohican fall. During his first race in 1995 he fell down an embankment and injured his shoulder. Nevertheless in a hallucinating state he managed to complete the event though suffering from the fall and lack of sleep the preceding night. He has completed the Mohican 100 miles every year since then. A finish in 2004 will earn him the big 1000 mile ten time finisher buckle. Richard Szekeresh is also in line for that award next year. Others are one year closer to their big buckles in the following years.
Annette Johnson, long time CWRRC member now living in New Jersey, flew in to volunteer at Mohican. She had planned to pace Terri Hayes from Brinkhaven. Meanwhile she helped at Camp Waldhounding early Saturday morning, transported McGinnis to meet Terri Hayes, and helped wherever needed around the start/finish line. Though Terri had dropped during Annette's sleeping hours, Annette was not to be denied her run. She ran back along the course until she met a runner and then ran along side. A couple of them left her on the down side of Big Hill. She brought others across the finish line including Mike Heider, Louise Mason, Phil Wright, and Moe White. Annette also enjoyed seeing many friends while at the race, including one of her previous training partners, Hugh Danaceau. Of course she is enamored with Maggie, Hugh's golden retriever. She also enjoyed seeing Mark Carroll again who used to compete against her sons, Jeremy and Devon, in high school events.
Since both Louise Mason and Annette were wearing red, they could easily be seen approaching the finish line. Louise had leg problems early on in the race. She attributes these problems to her relatively new shoes. Since she lives in Chicago and doesn't drive, she does much of her training at the lakefront and also running stairs to mimic hills. This type of training does not give shoes a true test. Changing shoes reenergized her so that she could claim the 50-59 age group record in 29:15:05.
The top finisher and age group awards are the work of 'Country Artist' Linda McFarlin whose work has been exhibited in galleries and universities throughout the United States and abroad as well as found in private and corporate collections world wide. The winners this year received framed original drawings of the covered bridge. The age group awards were the same scene carved on wooden boxes.
Alex Morton received a ceramic eagle for his “Last of the Mohicans” award. This is to make him as strong and swift as the eagle in future events. He greatly appreciated the terrific course markings and all the foot work he received from the Cleveland Foot and Ankle Clinic podiatrists and their students.
Podiatrist Kathy Siesel has brought her students to Mohican from day one in 1990. This is a real win-win situation. Under supervision, the students get to work on real live flesh and may see more blisters and hot spots than they may see the rest of their lives. The runners get tender loving care for their sore feet that in many cases enable them to finish the race. Care at the finish line also makes getting breakfast and back to their homes much easier.
Another win-win situation involves the Ashland, Geauga, and Wayne Counties Amateur Radio Operator Clubs. Dozens of members of these clubs track times of each runner at each aid station. They also report need for ice, supplies, medical attention, etc. to the sources that can fill such requests. The experience the radio operators receive in the non-emergency world of Mohican will help them if ever they need to respond to a disaster.
Mark Elderbrock of the Medical Associates of Ashland, himself an ultrarunner, has been Mohican race director from its inauguration. He has spent long hours at the covered bridge checking on runners conditions and providing pertinent advice. After that closes he returns to the campground where he is available as needed. This year a mobile medical team was added to his crew. EMTs Bob Fehlner, Judy Nejman, and their radio communications expert, Jason Jodon, moved from station to station and were able to assist runners in various ways from helping the lead runner when he dropped out to caring for the runner who passed out during the awards presentation. Jodon also ran out to meet several people on the course and run with them to the finish line on Sunday morning.
Fifteen runners completed their first 100-mile trail run at this year's Mohican. Four of these finished in the top ten: David Corfman, Todd Dishong, Russ Goodman, and Ronald Ely. Another four also broke the magical 24-hour time: Mike Senour, Juston Wickham, Rob Truscott, and Gregory Trapp. Of course just finishing their first 100 mile trail race at the Mohican Trail 100 mile event is a great accomplishment: Vince Charbonneau, Tom Rineer, Eric Sandstrom, Dennis Deane, Michael McVann, Brenda Beedlow, and James Hack.
I'm always concerned when I see a sub 22 hour predicted time for those planning their first 100 mile trail run. I e-mailed David Corfman that his 21 hour predicted time was aggressive. I'm delighted to be proven wrong by his 19:53:02 for fifth place. Naturally Todd Dishong was concerned about running a hundred miles prior to reaching Loudonville, even though he had trained well for it. Any nervousness soon disappeared as he met with the enthusiastic positive race volunteers. Now he knows it's a super race and is glad that it was his first 100 miler and is pleased with his 20:14:30. Mike Senour completed the course in 22:27:31 despite leaving the Rock in the wrong direction and running more than an extra hour.
Rob Truscott used the Mohican event as a celebration of his 10-year remission from cancer. Originally Rob e-mailed that he thought he could finish the 54 miles needed this year to get the medal award and rejoice in his cancer remission. Of course, I replied that he could definitely go that far and then he might feel so great that he'd go on to 60, 70, or maybe the complete race. While he felt good throughout much of the event, he welcomed the lady who ran/walked in with him from the last aid station.
Canadian, Vince Charbonneau, had paced a couple fellow countrymen in 2001 when they finished Mohican. Some of you may remember their crew's rendition of a parody on Gilligan Island's theme song. This year was payback time as 2001 finisher, Geoff Sheppard, paced Vince to his first 100-mile finish.
Another first timer, Greg Trapp, enjoyed the river crossing so much that he removed his number and pack and returned to the river. He found a large rock there and relished the cool water flowing over his body. Time well spent as proven by his sub 24-hour finish. Janet Vincent and Eric Sandstrom had DNFed Mohican previously. Vincent went on to complete other 100 milers in the year between her Mohican attempts. Both these runners completed the Mohican race this year. Their example can encourage others who attempted their first 100-mile trail race this year but who did not cross the finish line.
Among these is 21-year old Morgana Windram who looked great during the early part of the event. At the covered bridge 56-mile mark she was still in the top third of the runners. Then shortly before Hickory Ridge she pulled a muscle and was unable to continue. While she was propped up on some chairs in the shade with a cool breeze blowing, she obviously became chilled in her wet tee shirt. When offered a blanket her reply was that she didn't want to get it dirty. Of course Becky Cargill, aid station captain, wrapped it around her anyway.
While 29-year old Alicia McElroy is also among the first timers who DNFed, she accomplished part of her reason for being at Mohican. As runners do periodically, Alicia used her run at Mohican to raise money for an orphanage in Haiti. She received contributions for every mile she ran and earned a four-figure amount to support the schools and help build wells in Haiti.
The blue loop has undergone changes in the last several years because of forest restrictions on trails. Don Baun always adjusts the trail as necessary. This year Betty, Don's wife, checked the runners at the turnaround. Having been to many other events with Don, Betty has become a super encouraging person to all runners. Runners expressed gratitude for her beautiful smile and the encouragement they received in the middle of the tough blue loop.
The runners appreciated the glow sticks provided by Don Lindley and the Fort Wayne Track Club leading into their Rock Point station. Even though Leo Lightner was off to cooking classes in Italy and France, daughter Brenda captained the fire tower aid station. Irene Weston joined her part of the time. The Shick family moved from assisting her to captaining the Bridle Staging area. Eleanor Royko spent many hours with them. She also helped at registration and Camp Walhounding early Saturday morning. Mark Breudigam and crew again kept the runners moving at South Park. Steve Novak and the NorthEast Runners Club again kept all the runners on the right path as they left the Covered Bridge. Terry Brown and his scouts managed Giffen and Beck. The Mattesons from Little Brown Inn again handled Turkey Ridge. Zenek Zapotocky who has played various roles at Mohican in previous years captained Brinhaven after helping to mark trails. Debbie Horn took on Big Hill, but this year did not run 50 miles first as she did last year. Hickory Ridge has belonged to the Cargill family for many years now. CWRRC president, Bob Budzilek, spent many hours driving the supply truck.
Joe Eisenberg and Ida Greiner have been involved at Mohican forever through race directing to Turkey Ridge captains, and now to finish line volunteers. Their contributions are too numerous to detail, but they range from being at registration to providing hot food and other care for the runners after they cross the finish line. Rich Oldrive was also at the finish line helping predict times and announce incoming runners. Gerry Nemeth again provided wrist bands for each runner with splits projected according to prediction times.
Arthur Moore is the second person to earn the big 1000-mile buckle. Meanwhile his wife Edina volunteered throughout those years in various capacities. Then Arthur decided it was time to give back. Last year he was Camp Walhounding aid station captain. This year he became volunteer coordinator. As any good administrator would, he delegated most of that task to Edina. She did a superb job of getting the volunteers throughout the race. She and Arthur again were at Camp Walhounding early Saturday morning as the first runners passed through there a half hour into the race. Later she helped Brenda at Bridle Staging area along with son Tom whom she recruited from Columbus.
Gabriel (Gabe) Baird, a Cleveland Plain Dealer Reporter, and his photographer, Josh, spent Friday night through Sunday morning with the race. At one time I saw Josh in the river photographing the runners as they descended for the river crossing. Previous to this assignment, Gabe had no knowledge of ultrarunning. He's a quick learner and posed lots of good questions to a wide variety of people. One of the things he hoped to learn is what makes people do things like the Mohican, what do they think while doing it, etc. He followed an average runner, Mark Carroll, throughout the race trying to get some of the answers. He may also have chatted with you. Watch for his article and Josh's pictures in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sunday June 29, Arts & Living section. (Subject to change, of course.)
Of course there are dozens of other volunteers whose names do not appear in this article. A big “Thank You” to all of you.
Did you experience the exhilaration of this year's Mohican race by being there in some capacity? If not, you've missed the 2003 event forever. The event in 2004 will have a different group of runners, different weather, different trail conditions, a different group of volunteers. Of course many volunteers and runners will be back. Will you be there to join them? Mark your calendars for Saturday-Sunday, June 19-20, 2004 with the pasta dinner on June 18, Friday.
Why volunteer? Read the representative comments from some of this year's runners.
- “Thanks again to ALL the volunteers. I can't say who were the best because, they all were great! I thought I had seen the best, but not until I experience what your Mohican volunteers provide. Getting my feet dried! That goes beyond anything I expected. The Podiatry students: a big thumbs up!”
- “The race was great and the volunteers were terrific.”
- “I have never been so pampered in a race! My mom stopped putting my shoes away when I was very young but you guys put those smelly, horse dropping encrusted shoes away for me. That's just one example of the many things the volunteers were doing for all the runners.”
- “Everyone made my first 100 miler pleasant (as pleasant as 100 miles can be). I tried to thank all the volunteers at the aid stations as I left them. Especially the one I saw more than once. Not only did they go out of their way to help all runners, they were kind enough to laugh at lame attempts at humor. I give a hearty thanks to you again.”
- “I'd like to offer a HUGE thank you to all the Mohican volunteers. It was incredibly fun (either that or all of my brain cells recording the unfun parts died out by the end of the race). It was a perfect choice for my first hundred miler and I'll be telling all my ultrarunner friends to do this race. I've never felt so pampered at a race... one could get a fat head with so much personal attention!”
- “I've still got a lot of marathoner grabbit-and-go mentality, so I regret that I did not take the time to be sociable and thank everyone as I went by. A special thank you to Bob Strong for pulling everything together, to Colleen Theusch for reminding me to walk the hills, to whomever it was that warned my support crew that they thought I was getting dehydrated before it was too late for me to get it back, to the Rock Point aid workers for the chicken soup, to everyone who was up through the night to make sure we made it to the finish line safely, and to the people in the finish area who helped put me back together when it was all done.”
Just a reminder, volunteering at Mohican can become addictive. In extreme cases, it may even lead to running the 100 miles yourself. For a good addiction, remember, June 18-20, 2004.