PHOTO GALLERY: Hundreds Run in Seneca Creek Greenway Marathon on Saturday

Approximately 300 runners gathered on Saturday morning at Damascus Regional Park to face 26 to 31 miles of trail.

Runners could opt to run either a that spanned from the park to the end point at Riley's Lock. 

They set off promptly at 8 a.m. in a thick fog. Runners passed through several aid stations along the route that supplied the athletes with water, Gatorade, energy bars and various other high energy foods. 

In the end, it was a father of three that set a new course record, Gabriel Rodriguez, with a time of 3 hours, 12 minutes and 26 seconds. 

"I was really going for the best time — which was about 3:14. I was thinking 'Oh, this is going to be close, very tight.' So I had to press at the end," Rodriguez said.

He was cheered on by his wife, Pearla, and three little girls, Madelyn, Victoria and Sophia. 

Second to finish was Takoma Park resident Christopher Bain with a time of 3 hours, 21 minutes and 54 seconds. This was his first attempt at this race, he said.

Multiple-time winner Mark Hoon came in third with a time of 3 hours, 39 minutes and 32 seconds. Hoon had finished first in 2010, 2009 and 2004. He also had held the previous course record of 3:14 set in 2004. 

The first to finish in the 50K race was Paul Wallace with a time of 3 hours, 50 minutes and 6 seconds. 

After the race, runners were treated to a picnic lunch at Riley's Lock with their friends and families.