The skies were bright blue and the sun was shining, but it was a chilly morning thanks to the wind, which was howling out of the north with gusts over 25 mph. The runners kept warm waiting in cars or in the buses which had brought them from the finish area at Riley’s Lock to Damascus Regional Park for the 3^rd running of the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail Marathon and 50K. A few minutes before the start, runners huddled tightly together, trying to keep warm while listening to race director Ed Schultze give the pre-race briefing. Moments later, the runners were off racing to get out of the wind and into the woods.

For the runners, the wind was easier to handle when compared to the snow that was on parts of the trail in ’05, or the mud that covered the majority of the course in ’04 running. The wind was often blocked by the woods, but would come back to keep runners company in open areas, particularly approaching the Sugarland aid station at Route 28 and for those running the 50K option around Lake Clopper.

The course is truly trail - nearly all single-track dirt with hills, roots, rocks and a few stream crossings – two of which have a rope going across them, placed by the race volunteers to help runners keep their balance as they crossed the creek. The course takes runners along beautiful Seneca Creek from Damascus to Riley’s Lock, and offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the county – from the beautiful, tranquil creek, to Lake Clopper, past the ruins of Black Rock Mill, through fields and woods, leading to the finish at the C&O canal with the Potomac River as the backdrop. There are moments when a runner can feel as though they are miles away from civilization, even though one is never more than a mile from a house.

This year the course was similar to the one used in ’05 with three exceptions. The first change was noted by the 50K runners who ran around Lake Clopper counter-clockwise, giving runners a new view of the lake. The second difference was a return to the original mile before Riffleford Road – a nice flat stretch instead of a climb away from the trail valley that had taken runners near Great Seneca’s discus course in ’05. The hill that runners missed near Riffleford this year was replaced by a new rerouted section of trail south of Route 28 approaching Berryville Road, which took runners away from a normally muddy section near the creek to higher, drier ground. The slight changes in elevation en route to Berryville certainly were an improvement over the usual mud near the creek.

MCRRC had a great showing with club members Monika Bachmann, 40, of Comus, winning the marathon for the women in 4:32:06 and Rob Magin, 35, of Olney, winning the 50K for the men in 4:06:00. Courtney Campbell, 41, of Berryville, VA, won the marathon for the men in 3:56:18 while Jean Hyde, 22, of Annapolis, MD, won the 50K for the women in 4:59:56.

The volunteers of the race were wonderful, as always. They took the brunt of the wind since many were stationed in open areas to help runners cross roads or offer up plenty of fuel at the aid stations. Yet, they offered the runners plenty of smiles and support. At the Sugarland aid station, runners got a dose of humor with some funny signs such as “Your body thanks you now, your dentist will thank you later." Later at Berryville Road, runners were offered a cup of hot chocolate by one of MCRRC’s fastest, Mark Hoon.

When the 115 finishers arrived at Riley’s Lock, they were greeted by a picnic which included items such as hotdogs and a delicious homemade soup. Luckily, the picnic area kept runners out of the wind, while enabling them to soak up the afternoon sun and swap stories of the day’s adventures. Volunteers were also invited to enjoy the picnic. The final touch to this great race was the pair of shorts, donated by REI, that all finishers received. The 2006 race was another success in showcasing the beauty of the Greenway Trail and the Seneca Creek stream valley while offering runners a great run in the woods.