At Saturday's Seneca Creek Greenway Trail Marathon & 50K, conducted by MCRRC, Rob Magin (34) of Olney, MD (left) won the 50K in 4:33:17 and Dale Reicheneder (39) of Malibu, CA (right) won the marathon in 4:12:00. Dale probably would have preferred Monday's seventy degrees.

Photo by Mary Kuta

Saturday's Question: Will Spring ever arrive?
Monday's Answer: Yes and NO!
followed by Tuesday's Mother Nature can be very fickle

There are trails and there are trails. The B&A Trail Marathon is a bike path trail. The Greenway Trail is running through the woods and making a trail as you go. You follow notches on trees and listen to different birdcalls to help find your way. Seeing your shoes even without the snow is not always an option.

"Participants should expect minimal aide, should be comfortable running on and navigating trails, running independently and able to complete the marathon distance. The course is over 95% single track dirt trails (and includes water crossings)."

Undaunted, the marathon had forty-eight finishers, including women's winner Monika Bracken (39)) of Casteton, VA in 4:45:27. She led a slew of masters runners to the finish, narrowly beating second place Caroline Cardullo of Rockville, MD in 4:48:19.

Reicheneder's victory was more secure as second place was more than a half hour back. Second place was no walk in the park for John Dodds (54) of Arlington, VA. Three other runners finished within a minute of his time.

In the 50K, Magin is used to being out in front, often alone. This time the marathon leader, Reicheneder, helped keep Rob moving along. Long time running buddy Steve Smith was third in 4:56:34. The women's champion, Sarah Almodovar of Stratford, CN, earned the win every step of the way, narrowly escaping defeat from MCRRC's long time ultra marathon champion, Michele Harmon of Gaithersburg, MD. Harmon's time of 5:13:07 was just a few snowy strides behind Almodovar's 5:12:38. There were forty-three finishers in the 50K and forty-one in the marathon.

Race Results