2001: A RACE ODYSSEY
The 2001 Double MoE seemed, in ways, like a fusion of the first two years. The weather alternated between the bright blue sky and starry nights of the first year and the torrential rains of 2000. The presence of three first-timers helped maintain an element of the unknown, beyond that presented by the imposing distance alone.
The size of the starting field and the final results were both disappointing as the race began with five runners and ended with a single finisher. One would expect a better showing in the present culture of “extreme” sports. Perhaps a TV camera or two is needed to increase the size of field!
In the beginning, three of the runners appeared to have thoughts of breaking the course record, 59:47. Patrick McDaniels of Cleveland, Ohio, Denny Kranz of Illinois, and Robin Fry of Ashland, Ohio, were within ten minutes of each other at Rock Point (10.7 Miles). A mistake by Kranz at 3 miles kept them from being even more tightly grouped. At Hickory Ridge (26.6 miles), Fry and Kranz were together in 5:52 and McDaniels was just nine minutes behind. David Heitkamp, of Indiana, reached this checkpoint in 6:31, followed by Mike Dobies, of Michigan, in 7:02.
Mike Dobies, who has had finishes in many very difficult ultras, including three Hardrock Hundred, bowed out after 32 miles. The end of the “Blue Loop”, run through the lush Lyons Falls area, found Kranz and Fry hanging together with McDaniels over one-half hour, and Heitkamp nearly two hours behind. Fry and Kranz stayed together through 67 miles, when Fry momentarily considered a brief nap, which he then decided to delay until Rock Point, at 76.9 miles.
Kranz pulled as far as 40 minutes ahead of Fry, who began to cut into this deficit after his 20-minute nap at Rock Point. The first three runners returned to Mohican Wilderness, the 100- mile mark, in 27:24 (Kranz), 27:37 (Fry), and 30:17 (McDaniels). Heitkamp pulled out of the run after about ninety miles in over 29 hours, with a number of navigational errors and some hours of nausea and vomiting. Kranz started to go on, after a nap, but returned to camp after starting back up Big Hill Road, bothered by inguinal chafing and drainage from the site of his hernia repair, undergone less than two months before the run.
Unfinished Business at the Double MoE
Dennis Kranz
I first heard of the Double MoE while running at Olander Park (24 Hour Run) in September 2000. Frederick Davis III told me all about it while we circled the course during the night. It was something that kept lurking in the back of my mind-something that I had to do.
I ran the Mohican Trail 100 Mile in June to see what the course was like, and afterward I knew that I would return in October for the Double MoE. Having surgery, for an inguinal hernia, in July would not keep me away, even though it would mess up my training schedule. And there are no hills to train on near my home in northern Illinois.
I had told my wife, Judy, about the beauty of the Mohican country, and after begging and pleading with her for weeks she finally agreed to crew for me. In the end, she would fall in love with the area and not want to leave. Now, I know have a crew for next year!
We arrived at Robin’s home Sunday morning, after an eight-hour drive. We were treated to breakfast and met his family. We then went to Mohican Wilderness and set up camp. Sunday afternoon and Monday, Robin and I marked parts of the course. Tuesday, Judy and I went sightseeing and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. The leaves were starting to turn, and each day the colors grew brighter. We enjoyed all the wildlife, even the friendly skunk that came to visit our campsite early Wednesday morning.
Wednesday afternoon, Robin and I set up a tent at B campground and finished marking the trails, while Del Ruckle marked the road parts of the course. Then we had a great dinner, followed by a pre-race meeting.
Judy and I went to bed around 8:30 PM, hoping to get a good night’s sleep before the race. I awoke around 11:30 PM and tossed and turned the rest of the night. My mind kept going over the list of things to take, which clothes to wear, the pace I was going to run, and details of the course. I even rechecked my alarm clock ten or twenty times.
Finally, at 4:00 AM, I turned my alarm off, ate breakfast, and took a good hot shower and dressed. Robin came by our camp, so I knew he had not overslept like the previous year!
Shortly after 6 AM, Mike Dobies, Pat McDaniels, Robin Fry, David Heitkamp, and I left Mohican Wilderness to start the Third Double MoE 200 Mile Trail Run. We stayed together for the first mile, chatting about other races we had done and what our goals were for this race. I slowly warmed up and my body felt relaxed so I picked up the pace. I felt great and the weather was perfect, as I ran ahead of the others.
Then I did something very foolish. I made a turn at an intersection when I should have gone straight. I even stopped and double-checked the markers, as I thought it looked like someone had moved them. I went about one mile to the next intersection before I was certain I had made a mistake and turned around.
I finally caught Robin and Pat about fifteen miles into the race, and then I ran with them to the fire tower (19.3 miles). While Robin and Pat got something to eat, I quickly filled my water bottle and took off. Robin caught up to me at B-camp (22 miles).
At the fire tower, on the second loop around the forest (54.3 mi.), it was starting to get cooler and I picked up a thin, long-sleeved Cool Max shirt, thinking it would be warm enough. I then sent my crew back to Mohican Wilderness for the night.
Robin and I ran together for much of the night. When we arrived at Rock Point (76.7 Mi.) Robin stopped for a short rest. I continued on, but by this time the cold wind was starting to have an effect on me. All I could think about was a nice warm place to rest. When I got to Turkey Ridge (88 mi.) I signed the check-in sheet and curled up on the ground behind a stone wall by the aid cache and fell asleep. I was out of the wind and I knew that Robin and his crew would be along shortly. About thirty minutes later I heard Marcia Fry drive up and park. She said Robin was about two or three miles back. I decided to wait on Robin so I lay back down and tried to get some more rest. After fifteen minutes I was starting to shake and shiver, so I grabbed a can of Coke and headed out for Mohican Wilderness, the turn around, hoping that Robin would catch up to me. I was in worse shape than I thought. I could not warm up and I was shivering so badly that I needed to use both hands to drink.
I kept seeing shadows moving on the road in front of me and I would look around to see if robin was behind me. Maybe it was the full moon or my headlamp and hand-held flashlight causing the shadows to move.
I wondered what all the deer were thinking as I stumbled by. One deer stood in the middle of the road watching me until I was close enough to reach out and touch it, before it ran off.
After I finished Big Hill, I knew I had about a mile to go to Mohican Wilderness and Robin had not caught up to me yet so I picked up the pace.
As I reached the 100-mile point I checked my time and found that I was only about forty-five minutes off my planned pace. I was very happy with my time considering the two extra miles and the forty-five minute rest, which I had not planned. I had planned on taking a shower and a one to two hour rest at the 100-mile turn-around before heading back out for the second 100 miles.
For some reason, I never went back out and I am not sure why. Physically, I was in good shape. I had over fifty-six hours remaining to finish the second one hundred miles. Maybe it was the rainy, stormy forecast because, in the back of my mind, I could remember what the Mohican 100 Mile was like after the rain. Or, did the hypothermia mess with my mind? Maybe I needed a tough old drill sergeant for a crew, instead of a sweet, caring wife.
I do plan on returning next year. But I will not rest at the 100-mile turn-around; in fact, I don’t think I will even have a tent there. I will rest before 76 miles or after 123 miles, in the forest.
I would like to thank all the volunteers and crew members, and Robin and his family for their hospitality. My wife and I had a wonderful time. Congratulations to Robin on his finish, and to Pat on a great run, 158 miles (his greatest distance run yet).
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Déjà vu All Over Again, But What Happened to the Van?
Robin Fry
Immediately upon arriving at the halfway mark, unlike the previous two years, I prepared for a rather hasty departure. In both 1999 and 2000, it had been exceedingly difficult to start the second half after taking a nap and extended break. This trip, I showered, ate, drank some coffee, and put on a new pair of Montrail Vitesses right out of the box. I had ordered the shoes rather late, and they arrived during the first day of the run. They would remain on my feet through the entire second 100 miles. They are now “broken in.”
I retraced the end of the Mohican 100 Mile course, in reverse, and met up with Pat McDaniels as he began to run up “Big Hill Road,” at 96.7 miles. My good friend, Del Ruckle, accompanied Pat. Del served as Race Director through the running of the race. Del proved invaluable in keeping track of all runners, and spent some several hours running with Pat and myself.
As I cruised back toward Turkey Ridge, the 88.7 and 111.7-mile points of the run, I remained optimistic about my prospects for a new record, and a fifty-four hour finished seemed possible. I remained alert through the daylight hours of Friday, thanks to the twenty-minute nap at Rock Point. I returned to Rock Point (123.3 miles) before dusk, and continued to feel reasonably strong. My wife, Marcia, had met me at every aid stop, frequently with hot food. I have never eaten so well during a run, as she always produced nourishment that hit just the right spot. After years of experience crewing for me she seemed to have reached a new peak. I wondered how I would possibly be making it without her, but my concern was more for the run’s effect on her than on myself. I did not think she was getting enough rest. My focus rarely faltered, until after a brief break at the B Campground, 134.6 miles.
After making it through the somewhat rough and root ridden section along the Mohican River, made very slippery by heavy rains, I began to nod off every few steps as I climbed towards Hickory Ridge. As I prepared for a nap, out of the rain, Del drove into the parking area. I decided to press on with Del for company on the sodden trail.
We ran from Hickory Ridge, directly into gale force winds and cold, horizontal rain. I remained mostly dry, except for my face, thanks to newly a newly acquired Froggtoggs jacket. The rain, and Del’s conversation, helped me stay awake, but my pace slowed considerably. Del and I both felt a nap was in order at the Bridle Trail Staging area. After cups of hot soup, we napped twenty minutes in my truck, left there hours earlier by my daughter Mackenzie and her friend from New Zealand, Peter Christie.
In the predawn hours, the rain began to let up. The moon reappeared and caused the impression of an extended twilight period. As Del and I paused once, on a very narrow section of trail, I momentarily “viewed” a very bright, shiny red pick-up truck, which disappeared when I pointed it out to Del—“hanging ten, man, hanging ten out on space and time....” Forty-eight hours, and 153 miles were done.
I arrived at Rock Point, for the penultimate time (this trip, that is) and I looked forward to closing each section down, so to speak. South Park, see you next run! Fire Tower-- last time, thank God! Hickory Ridge, it’s been nice, but I’ll see you another time! My enthusiasm surged as I was joined, for 14 miles, by Ron Dukes, a new friend.
Having been told, at one point, that Pat McDaniels had dropped out, Ron and I began to pull some of the course markers. As we approached Pleasant Hill Dam, Del came by in his truck, beeping his horn, and advised us that Pat was still out running. We left the remaining markers in place.
I said good-bye to Ron and pressed onward to the Bridle Staging Area. I kept my stop there brief, then headed out towards Rock Point. I ran this section nearly as fast as during my first time on Thursday. I met my wife Marcia, and two sons, Corey and Logan, at the Sand Hill cemetery, where I had a quick refueling and picked up my tape player, to psych myself up for the final push.
As I paused at Rock Point, to sign in for the last time, a green pick-up flew by on the narrow gravel road, its youthful occupants shouting nonsense. I thought this was probably the same group who had earlier harassed Dave Heitkamp, and who my family had seen speeding along on the Rock Point Road at very excessive speed, with several teenagers riding in back, all acting very crazy. I was a bit concerned, for a moment, about a possible confrontation, so I kept the volume low on my tape player, and was prepared to jump into the woods if necessary.
With only ten miles to go, I felt wonderful, and I literally ran every step of the rolling, narrow, dirt and gravel road. After a short, steep climb to a crossroad, I met up with my family and Denny and Judy Kranz. Judy and Denny had returned to say good-bye, as they began the drive back to Illinois. Denny promised to return next year to set things straight.
I crossed State Route Three, and then my son, Corey, joined me on the road. My pace slowed considerably, but probably not so badly as the previous year. I was more coherent than before, but still amused Corey with my reports of phantom buildings in the woods, and non-existent shadow people swinging on porches. After over 60 hours of steady movement on 40 minutes of sleep, the “twilight zone” begins to broaden.
Finally, after a crushing, gravelly downhill, I entered Mohican Wilderness. The first occupied campsite, initially seen from one-hundred meters, appeared like a large old farmhouse-- another trick of the light! The few voices I heard echoed strangely, and I felt as if I were moving through a slow motion composite of all of my longer finishes blended into one. At long last, I crossed the line, barely able to hold up my arms in joy.
We headed home, with Marcia driving, and the twenty-five mile journey seemed much longer. So strange it seemed, to be traveling much faster now, and in a vehicle, but still wondering why it was taking so long to arrive home. At home I immediately went to bed, and I awoke in the same position, eight hours later. After showering, and devouring a mega-sized breakfast, I joined Marcia for our return to the campground to find whether Pat McDaniels was still out there. We then learned that he had returned to Mohican Wilderness after arriving at Rock Point. In the morning he had decided his right ankle was too painful to allow him to return to the trail.
(The 60’s van, “seen” by me at 191 miles of this event in 1999, and glimpsed very fleetingly the next year, failed to appear this year. Perhaps it was in the shop!)
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Locals Running Rampant
David Heitkamp
I enjoyed the time (at the Double MoE), feeling more comfortable in the loops. I still got fried at the transfer from Bridle Staging to Rock Point both times out. I will re-read and hope to analyze why I screwed up there both times.
I pulled the plug at 29+ hours out. I was lost for much of the second day. Did some serious upchucking: Did not step in it-my first rule!
I ran into some of the area “locals”(?), who jumped out of a moving pick-up truck late Thursday night and attempted to “scare” the old man. I think I scared them. I shined my Bison (Sportslight) in their eyes and yelled, “What the Hell is going on?” I do not know if they moved some signs or not (referring to course markers). One of them was dressed like a witch, the other like an animal of some sort. I have had my share of misguided drivers and, like moose, give them a wide berth. I was polite.
I probably covered 90+ miles. Thank you for a great time. This will be my last “official” run until the HUFF in December. I will be back to run the Mohican 100 in June. The hardest part, I think, is to get an efficient crew and attempt to not “burn them out.” Depending upon how Mohican goes, I will steal some time from work to re-do the Double MoE in October.
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The Double MoE
200 Mile Trail Run
(22,000 feet of climb and descent—forest trails, hilly gravel and dirt roads, and a few miles of pavement. Course Record – 59:47) Sincere thanks to our sponsors: Finish Line, Montrail, Clif Bar, and Bison Sportslights!
First Hundred Second Hundred
Dennis Kranz 27:24 DNF
Robin Fry 27:37 64:08
Pat McDaniels 30:17 DNF
David Heitkamp DNF
Mike Dobies DNF