Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.   This June I hope to start the Mohican 100 Mile Trail Run for the 8th time and finish it for the 1st.  Each year as race day approaches I'm asked, "What cause are you running it for?"  This is the first year that I can say that I'm running it as a fund raiser for one of my favorite local non-profit organizations, French Creek Recreational Trails (FCRT).  FCRT adds to the quality of life in Meadville and Crawford County by developing and maintaining beautiful recreation trails where we can walk, run and bike without competing with motor vehicles.  If you've enjoyed the Ernst Trail you've enjoyed the fruits of FCRT's labor. 

       Ernst Bike Trail

 http://www.gis.dcnr.state.pa.us/railtrails//oneTrail.aspx?name=ERNST+BIKE+TRAIL&RegID=1#

http://ernsttrail.org/#

Welcome

Traversing terrain with imprints of ice-age glaciation, the trail passes through the lush bottom lands of French Creek Valley. With 66 species of fish and 27 species of mollusks, French Creek is Pennsylvania most biologically diverse body of water. From the creek to the end of the trail’s completed portion, the landscape is pastoral with varied environments of meadow and marsh, hardwood stands and hemlock thickets. The proposed segment from Route 19 to Conneaut Lake parallels Conneaut Marsh, an ancient river valley infield with glacial debris, and home to nesting bald eagles and migrating waterfowl.
The paved trail runs from the Park Avenue Plaza in Meadville to Route 19, a distance of five miles.

History of Ernst Trail

The Meadville-Linesville Railroad was built from 1880-1892 by a group of Meadville entrepreneurs to gain access to the Pennsylvania Railroad at Linesville. Despite the involvement of some of Meadville’s best-known citizens, the railroad did not flourish.

In 1891, the Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad Co. leased the right-of-way and for a time it’s most profitable use was as a passenger line, transporting visitors to Exposition Park (renamed Conneaut Lake Park in 1920). With the rise of the automobile, passenger service declined, and in 1934, rail service to the park was discontinued. The Bessemer abandoned the line in 1976. In 1996, Calvin Ernst, the right-of-way’s owner, donated the property to French Creek Recreational Trails and the Ernst Bike Trail was born.

FAQ's  

1) Why French Creek Recreational Trails?   Shortly after moving to Meadville and meeting Tom McNally in 1998, Tom introduced me to the Ernst Trail .  The trail has since been the site of countless runs and walks for my wife and I.  It contributes immeasurably to our quality of life by providing a safe, beautiful, motor vehicle free space for outdoor recreation. 

On a recent run I was stopped twice by visitors to Meadville who came specifically to use the trail and had questions about its history, length, access, etc.  It was those interactions that persuaded me to raise funds to help support the maintenance and expansion of this community gem.

2) What is Run100forCharity.info ?     While investigating how to create a his personal fundraising site for the Erie Food Bank, Tom Jennings discovered there was no way to 'get the word out' via a simple to remember website.  So he created his own site.  Run100forCharity.info lists ordinary folks like myself that are doing extreme events for charity.  For example, Tom has raised nearly $4,000 for the Second Harvest Food Bank of NWPA – he’s helping to “Run Hunger out of Erie .”  David Houston is honoring his father by running 50 miles for I.P.F. - Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - a lung disorder which has stricken his father.  Scott Giddings is going to run across NEBRASKA (!) to raise funds for his Girls and Boys Town cause. 

3) How did you come up with the fundraiser idea to go along with the 100 mile run?   I was inspired by my friend Eileen who completed her first half-marathon while raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society  http://www.active.com/donate/tntwpawv/tntwpawvEGallag and my friend Tom who inspires me and encouraged me to consider running Mohican as an avenue of service. http://www.firstgiving.com/tomjennings

4) What is an ultra-marathon?  Any race longer than a marathon (26.2 miles) - typically 50K (31 miles), 50 miles, 100K (62 miles), 100 miles... or longer!  Unlike shorter races like 5K's, 10K's, and even marathons, ultras are less about what time and place you finish the race and more about just FINISHING.  For example, 130 runners started the Mohican 100 last year, but the low 90's temperature and high humidity contributed to only 51 (39%) completing the full 100 miles.

5) What is different about a TRAIL ultra?  Trail ultras typically are up and down hills and through streams.  Some hills are extreme - 45 to 60 degrees.  Sometimes the stream IS the trail!  Unlike road racing, you need to pay attention to nearly every single footfall so you don't injure yourself on a rock or root.

6) What makes a trail ultra difficult?   1) Sheer fatigue from the pounding the legs take going up and down hills.  2) Foot problems, especially from running through streams... you've seen how white and wrinkly your feet get after being in water for a long time?   The technical term is your foot has become 'macerated' which makes the skin much more susceptible to blisters and tearing... so keeping dry socks & shoes on your feet is key in trail ultra racing.  3) The rocks and roots that seem to jump out of nowhere to roll your ankle, smash your toe, or make you fall at the instant you take your attention off of the trail !  4) Weather - heat / humidity and heavy rains can make it very difficult to navigate the trails.

7) Where I can find out more about the Mohican 100 Mile Trail Run?   Here !!  Its a great summer vacation location.