When you hear the name Uncle Ben's Rice you don't equate the sport of running. In the business there are a variety of opportunities and you cease them. The Baltimore's Road Runners Club partnered with Uncle Ben's to produce the first Northern Central Trail Marathon (NCTM) on Saturday, November 24, 1990 in Sparks, Maryland.

The course was on the converted Northern Central Railroad where the last train rolled over the tracks on June 27, 1959. The tree lined protected course offered the opportunity to concentrate on running. The marathon is not only about winning but the about of effort to perfect performance. The other runners are in the race to help each others to push the pace to do the business and to leave it all out on the trail.

Event Records:

Open
Robert Marino		2:25:18	Annapolis, MD	1995
Joanna Zieger		2:47:25	Baltimore, MD	1998
Master
William Desmond	        2:36:03	Baltimore, MD	1991
Barbara Bellows	        3:04:02	Ithaca, NY	1996

On November 28, 2009 the BRRC will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the NCTM. Through the support of the sponsors, volunteers, and the runners the race has endured. The NCTM Caboose Club is being formed of those runners who have completed 10 or more. The past and current runners will help to set the future for the race.

In the first year there were 80 finishers which included nine females in the inaugural year who helped paved the way:

Tammy Villano 	        3:27:06 (winner and first master)
Carol Zimmerman	        3:33:56
Christy St. Clair	3:35:20
Susan  Woodward	        3:38:30
Abby Glassberg	        3:39:01
Cheryl Dellasega	4:03:15
Margaret Smith	        4:20:21
Betty Sue O'Brien	4:27:11
Wilma Lay		5:01:59

Leading the NCTM Caboose Club is Phil Anderson of Bel Air, Maryland who has completed every year (19). In the first year his time was 3:44:58 at the age of 45. In 1994 he turned in his best performance in 19 years with a 3:42:24 at the age of 49.

In 1991 Monika Bachmann of Comus, Maryland was runner up with 3:16:57 and the following year she made it to the winner's circle with 3:14:30. In 1994 Bracken returned to the winner circle with her best time of 3:00:28. Bracken has completed 12 NCTM.

In photo above, Bachmann celebrates her 1994 victory with three time master winner James Moreland (1992-94) who has run six NCTs.

S. Mark Courtney of Grove City, Pennsylvania first ran the NCTM in 1993 and finished in fourth place with 2:38:55. The following year Courtney turned in his best performance as runner-up with 2:37:34. He has 11 completions to his credit along with five master titles with a best time 2:39:28.

Marci Knapp of New Castle, Pennsylvania in 1996 ran her first NCTM and placed seventh in 3:26:27. The top performance was in 2001 as runner-up with a 3:12:22. In 2002 (3:25:06) and 2003 (3:28:36) she was the first master. Knapp has completed 10 NCTMs.

George Bankerof Oxon Hill, Maryland ran first in 1992 and turned in his best performance that year (3:29:02). Banker has completed 14 NCTMs and has been continuous since 1997.

In photo below, George Banker helps out at the New Orleans rebirth 5K in 2007. Banker is the author of a book about another well known marathon - Marine Corps. His book, The Marine Corps Marathon: A Running Tradition, is a must read for running enthusiasts

The call is out for those runners who have completed 10 or more NCTMs. You can send your name along with the years and times to George Banker. For information on the Baltimore Road Runners Club and the NCTM visit www.brrc.com.
Read George's Race Report 2008