Mohican State Park hosted a 100-mile, 50-mile and marathon trail run over the weekend. Runners toed the start line at 4:45 a.m. and the 100-mile race began promptly at 5 a.m. The 50-mile race began at 6 a.m. followed by the marathoners at 8 a.m. More than 500 runners registered for the event.
The Mohican Trail 100 Mile Run, also known as the MO100, attracts ultra-marathoners from all over the United States.
The MO100 run traversed through the 5,000-acre Mohican Memorial State Forest, ascending and descending nearly 11,000 vertical feet. The runners had 32 hours to finish the 100 miles. The Mohican 50-mile run and the marathon also coursed over park trails.
A Tiffin man said he was there to support his friend for the 100-mile race during the day, but Saturday night, he paced for him. He said, “It only takes 3 or 4 bad things to happen before people stop running altogether. I’m going to make sure that doesn’t happen to my friend tonight.”
The course included five aid stations where food, water and supplies were stacked all day and night. Friends and family waited at each station, eagerly waiting to encourage their runner. The aid stations were manned by volunteers, many who wished they were out running the race themselves.
Adam Hill, from North Carolina, said, “I’m just supporting a friend today. I’ve never done this race before, but I wish I was out there.”
Seth Chin-Parker from Granville, an ultra-runner, was manning the aid station by the covered bridge this year. Chin-Parker sat out the running portion, since he and his family planned on leaving for vacation later that day. He was there early Saturday morning to prepare for the stream of runners expected later in the morning.
“Ultra-runners are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet,” said Amanda Mowry of Columbus.
Mowry was also not part of the MO100, 50-mile run or marathon, but she was a volunteer along with Chin-Parker at the covered bridge aid station. However, she does run and is preparing for her first 50-mile race in two weeks.
When asked why she runs, she replied, “I feel at home when I’m running in the woods.”
There were 138 finishers of the marathon, 159 for the 50-mile race, and 98 finished the 100-mile.
Among top placers of 100-mile were Ohioans Kevin Motsch and Connie Gardner. Chad Lasater, hailing from Abu Dhabi, finished the 100-mile with a time of 18:26:43, considerably under the 32 hours allowed.
Three people from Ohio placed among the first finishes of the 50-mile race. Steve Waters, from Dublin, finished the marathon first, with a time of 3:50:50.
