Gabe Rainwater earns 20th Mohican 100 finish

Local ultrarunner Gabe Rainwater achieved a rare milestone May 31 by completing his 20th consecutive Mohican 100-Mile Trail Run in Loudonville.

Rainwater became only the sixth runner in the event’s history to reach 20 finishes and the youngest person ever to accomplish the feat. The Mohican 100 is one of the Midwest’s ultramarathons, challenging runners to cover 100 miles of rugged trails through the Mohican State Forest and surrounding area. Runners must complete the course within a 32-hour cutoff to earn an official finish and buckle.

The 2026 race proved especially demanding with 200 runners starting the event but only 87 crossing the finish line before the cutoff, highlighting the difficulty of the course and the perseverance required to finish.

As a result of reaching 20 career Mohican 100 finishes, Rainwater was awarded the 2,000-Mile Buckle, a distinction reserved for runners who have successfully completed the race 20 times.

Rainwater’s streak began in 2006 and has continued uninterrupted for two decades. Over those years he has navigated extreme heat, mud, storms, and the physical and mental challenges that come with covering 100 miles on foot.

The Mohican 100, now in its 37th year, is regarded as one of Ohio’s premier ultramarathon events and attracts runners from across the country. For Rainwater, crossing the finish line for the 20th consecutive year secured his place among a select group of Mohican legends and added another chapter to one of the race’s most impressive participation streaks.