Press Release - Northern Central Trail Marathon - 12/22/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
		
 All Aboard The Northern Central Trail Marathon For The Caboose Club

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.

The 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 (Bachman) Bracken 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.

S. Mark Courtney of Grove City, Penna., 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, Penna., 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 Banker of 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. 

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 
(monkbank@comcast.net). Information on the Baltimore Road Runners Club and 
the NCTM visit http://www.brrc.com.

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