Photos above and below: Start of the 2003 Riley's Rumble Half Marathon

Way back off of River Road, in a town called Seneca, MD, away from the noise and traffic of suburban Washington, DC, sits Riley's Lock. A favorite local fishing spot, Riley's Lock is home of the Seneca Creek Aqueduct, where Montgomery County's Seneca Creek empties into the Potomac River. Runners, walkers, cyclists and boaters enjoy exploring the extensive waterways and many historic towpaths in this area. For several years, Riley's Lock has also played host to the Montgomery County Road Runners Club's half marathon, Riley's Rumble.

The threat of rain looming above and reports of a Code Orange heat advisory didn't keep runners from coming out for this year's running of Riley's Rumble. Around 600 runners showed up to run this half marathon, many of them training for events taking place in the early fall. Instead of starting at Poolesville High School, as it had last year, this year's race took off from the park and visitor's center at Riley's Lock. The course took runners out through Montevideo Road, east on Sugarland Road to the turnaround point, and then back through the hilly terrain to finish at Tschiffley Farm Road, a gravel trail on the opposite side of Seneca Creek, just 1,000 feet from the start line.

Described as a low-key club race by Race Director Tom Temin, this race was anything but. Many runners commented on how great the support of the Montgomery County Road Runners Club was, and that the course was well marked and an enjoyable run. Several hundred non-members turned out for the race, and because of the event's growing size, organizers decided not to showcase the 5K race as they had in previous years.

This morning's first finisher was Mark Hoon (38), MCRRC member and winner of both the 2001 and 2002 races. Hoon says he's run the event for several years, and when asked if he had a racing strategy when going into the race, he said his goal was "to run a 1:15:00 half marathon." He certainly accomplished that - Hoon finished the race in 1:15:47, with a little more than a one-minute lead over Roberto Martinez, 36, of Manassas, VA, who was the day's second finisher with a time of 1:17:25. Hoon plans to run the Wineglass Marathon in Corning, NY, this October.

Another MCRRC member, Jim Strand (33, photo left), took third place for the men in 1:18:00. Strand's racing strategy was simple, "I just tried to hang with Mark [Hoon] as long as I could." Strand said he'd been putting in a lot of miles this week, and said the course was "brutal, but a good course to practice your suffering." Strand plans to run the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, also taking place this October, and just last month, finished Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN, in just 2:30:48.

The first female finisher of the day was Helen Beven (36, photo left, approaching the finish), another club member, who finished in 1:31:36. When asked how she felt on the course, she replied, "Not bad, I had a lot of encouragement." Riley's Rumble was Beven's first half marathon, and she, like many of today's runners, was also training for a larger event. "I plan to run Marathon in the Parks, which will be my third marathon," said Beven. According to Beven, the weather wasn't much of a factor, "It was hot anyway, but I was pleased that there was no sun." She says she didn't know how to pace the course, so instead, she just went with the flow. That racing strategy paid off - Beven finished nearly a minute and a half before the second female finisher, Patricia Zerpas, 41, of Kensington, MD, who took second in 1:33:08. Third place for the women was taken by Felice Kelly, 22, of Bethesda, MD in 1:35:53.

One runner was quoted as saying, "It was a tough course, but we expected it." Another commented that "It felt like the last mile went on forever and ever," as he kidded with his buddy, who finished right after him. Everyone seemed to be pleased with the overall turnout of this event. Many runners walked away from the finish line with smiles on their faces, and could be overheard commenting on how well organized the event was. As always, the Montgomery County Road Runners Club provided a safe, well-run race, which is sure to be a must-run for next year.

Top 10 Male Finishers

Pl  Name                  Ag Hometown          Club  Time   
==  ===================== == ================= ===== ======= 
 1  Mark Hoon             38 Kensington MD     MCRRC 1:15:48
 2  Roberto Martinez      36 Manassas VA             1:17:25
 3  Jim Strand            32 Potomac MD        MCRRC 1:18:02 
 4  Max Lockwood          33 Washington DC           1:19:40
 5  Ted Poulos            41 Mclean VA         MCRRC 1:21:03 
 6  Albert Han            29 Washington DC           1:21:16 
 7  Alex Filides          28 Mclean VA               1:21:23 
 8  Will Jacobi           40 Kensington MD     MCRRC 1:21:27 
 9  Mike Rae              33 Washington DC           1:23:35 
10  Steve Smith           36 Gaithersburg MD   MCRRC 1:24:09

Top 10 Female Finishers

Pl  Name                  Ag Hometown          Club  Time     
==  ===================== == ================= ===== =======
 1  Helen Beven           36 Kensington MD     MCRRC 1:31:36
 2  Patricia Zerpas       41 Kensington MD     MCRRC 1:33:08 
 3  Felice Kelly          22 Bethesda MD       MCRRC 1:35:53 
 4  Susan Volpe           34 Herndon VA              1:35:58
 5  Grace Wetzel          21 Crofton MD              1:38:37 
 6  Meredith Valmon       34 Rockville MD      MCRRC 1:38:37 
 7  Laura Holtrop         19 Rockville MD            1:41:27 
 8  Linda Wack            47 Germantown MD     MCRRC 1:42:19 
 9  Meredith Alexander    27 Arlington VA            1:43:52 
10  Angelique Bosse       35 Rockville MD      MCRRC 1:44:27

See full Male Results

See full Female Results

Results courtesy of Montgomery County Road Runners Club.