MCRRC
Greenway Trail
Marathon
March 1, 2008
Damascus, MD
Runner Report
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MCRRC Runner Report |
Runner Report by Cathie Blessing Each year Mother Nature treats the runners of the Greenway Trail Marathon and 50K to something special. Many expected the course conditions this year to be similar to the inaugural event in ’04: covered in mud and water, this time, due to warm temperatures and rain that followed an ice storm. However, the warm temperatures and rain in the days preceding the race were no match for the ice that had accumulated on the northern part of the course, and so, runners were treated by Mother Nature to more than 10 miles of ice in the first 15 miles of the race. Those anticipating a mudfest got plenty of mud in the last 10+ miles of the course. The ice divided runners into haves and have-nots: those who had YakTrax (or who had put screws in their shoes), and those who did not. Those without the equipage for the ice had difficulty navigating the often banked, icy trail, with little opportunities to avoid the ice. Several fell, with reports of some runners ending up in Seneca Creek. Some laughed as they slipped along the ice; others cursed it for the difficulties it caused. In the later part of the course, the mud took over for the ice and created quite a challenge for all runners, no matter what was on their feet. Once again, there was slipping, and falling. Some runners were done in by the ice, others, the mud, yet 160 out of the 175 starters looked at the conditions as a challenge that they relished overcoming in typical trail runner style. 93 runners completed the marathon and 67 finished the 50K, some taking as long as 8 hours to complete each distance. The course conditions didn’t seem to affect young Mickey Stepek, 17, of Gaithersburg, who won the men’s marathon in a time of 3:57. Pat Zerfas, 45, of Kensington, won the women's marathon in a time of 5:05, only two weeks after winning the George Washington Birthday marathon. In the 50K, Adam Lint, 23, of Indiana, PA, took top honors for the men in a time of 4:25, beating out local favorite and past winner Rob Magin, who took top honors in the 50K in ’05 and ’06, as well as who tied for the win in the inaugural event in ’04. Despite the challenges of the course, the weather was good, with partly sunny skies and temperatures that climbed from the upper 30s into the 50s. The volunteers, as the runners have come to expect, were wonderful as always. In addition to the cheerful, supportive faces, and plenty of food and drink along the way, runners were also treated to some humor by the volunteers of the aid station at route 28 (~21.5/25.5 miles). This year, their theme was “Tofutown”, which was advertised by humorous, offbeat signs that were placed miles in advance of the aid station, often in places that the runners had difficulty navigating. The volunteers of Tofutown are an example of how dedicated and supportive the volunteers of this race are. They did have tofu, but also had many delicious offerings that trail runners come to expect like cookies and chips. Awaiting runners and volunteers alike at the finish more than six miles from Tofutown (yes, the course was longer than advertised, bonus miles to the runners), was the famous Greenway Trail Marathon and 50K picnic, including freshly grilled hamburgers and hotdogs. Finishers received a pair of shorts and a water bottle, compliments of REI, while replenishing their energy stores and telling tales of their adventure from Damascus to Riley’s Lock – stories that will be hard to beat, thanks to Mother Nature, and of course, race director Ed Schultze and his volunteers who made it all possible. Thanks to you all for an adventure that we’ll always remember. Cathy Blessing |