They chatted, ate, drank and greeted each other, showing none of the tension or nervousness that often accompanies races. A simple blowing of the horn and the words "Ready, set, go" sent runners around the Gambrill parking lot before they headed onto the Catoctin Trail for 31 miles.

The Catoctin 50K, a low-key trail race that is a favorite of many runners, drew 132 participants and a few dozen volunteers on a cool, crisp August morning. It would be nearly five hours before the winner would return to cross the finish line. Other runners would take between six and nine hours to finish.

Serge Arbona, 41, of Baltimore won Saturday's race, the third year in a row he's finished first. His time of 5 hours, 5 minutes and 21 seconds was a little slower than last year's time of 4:43:56, or his 2004 course record of 4:38:59.

He got lost a couple of times -- the trail markings have faded since last year's race, he said. In fact, at least a dozen runners got lost this year and couldn't finish the race.

Race director Kevin Sayers hopes to have a trail marking party with local runners and hikers before next year's race.

Waiting at the finish line was a barbecue with hot dogs, hamburgers, exploded potatoes, ice cream, iced tea and cold drinks. Aid stations equipped with cookies, fruit, potato chips, pretzels, candy and sports drinks were offered along the route.

Runners received no medals, T-shirts, certificates or cash prizes for finishing. Mr. Sayers puts together the race on a shoestring budget -- runners spend $20 on the race, and if they want a T-shirt, they have to buy it. What they get is a color index card indicating they finished the race.

The Catoctin 50K started in March 1994 in Catoctin Park. When Mr. Sayers took it over in 1999, he moved it to Gambrill State Park, pushed it back to August and changed the route so runners return to the starting line on the Catoctin Trail. The trail follows the backbone of the Catoctin Mountains from just outside of Frederick , through the Frederick Municipal Forest to Catoctin Park.

The Catoctin 50K runners only have to run as far as the Manor area of Cunningham Falls State Park before they turn around and head back to Gambrill.

It's 31 miles of roots, rocks and generally rough trail conditions with streams to cross, snakes to avoid and hills to climb. Last year, several runners got stung by bees just before the trail crossed Hamburg Road.

But the runners do get some perks -- they can watch birds, have a few clear views of the valleys below, encounter the occasional deer and the experience the feeling of being in the woods nearly all alone.

Veterans of the race said that at times they'll be alone, the nearest runner several hundred yards away. Melissa Simmens of Columbia ran last year and returned Saturday with friend Lenore Studt, also of Columbia.

"You're out there by yourself for hours. That's the great thing about this run," Ms. Simmens said. "What keeps me going is the barbecue."

The women are training for the Great Eastern Endurance Run, a trail run in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia that is twice as long.

Race veteran Vassie Hollamon and his friends David Brault and Jim Leclare drove up from the Annapolis area to participate. All are ultra-marathoners, which means they run races longer than the marathon distance of 26.2 miles.

"It's all state of mind," Mr. Hollamon said. "No longer did I think if I would finish. It got to the point where I knew I would finish. It doesn't matter whether it's a 5 (kilometer) or a 50-miler. You get it into your mind that you'll finish."

The races are less about competition and more about finishing, he said.

"When you go to a big marathon, the logistics are a nightmare," Mr. Hollamon said. "Here you get to know people."

Mr. Brault said the same people show up at ultra long distance races.

"Most of us start out as road runners and transition into trail runs," he said.

Most of the racers are in their 40s to their 60s and prefer the emphasis on camaraderie instead of speed, he said.

"Our families don't understand it," Mr. Hollamon said. "My wife's out today at a marathon training run. She doesn't understand the need to go farther."

They will walk up hills, and even walk down steep hills. Mr. Brault said he has run an ultra race in Scotland.

"You know you're a long distance runner when you start looking at places to run for vacation," he said.

Cindy DeSirant, of Frederick , was running her first ultra Saturday. She completed her first marathon, the Frederick Marathon, in May.

"I'm very excited," she said at Saturday's start. "I'm going to take it long and slow and easy. Time doesn't matter."

Her husband, Fran DeSirant, a retired Marine, was taking the day off from running to tend the grill at the finish line.

Before the race, Mr. Sayers told the runners, "The only reason you're here is to have fun."

He held up a bottle of Scotch, which he said was for the first male and female in the aid station. But to get it, they had to also finish the race. The last person through the aid station earned Scottish haggis.

Frederick runners are beginning to discover the race. While most of the runners come from other parts of Maryland, Washington, Northern Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New Jersey, this year nearly 20 runners were from the Frederick area, an increase from two or three in the early years, Mr. Sayers said.

Post your comments » Round 2: Snow expected to fall today, Wednesday Fast on the heels of the largest 24-hour snowfall to hit the Frederick County since 1983, meteorologists are predicting another round of heavy snow and wind to hit today. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday afternoon for the area, including Frederick County, and said 10 to 20 inches of snow is possible by Wednesday night. Weather-related closings, delays A list follows of weather-related closings and cancellations for this week. Fire and police blotter Police search for robber School closures cause makeup schedule revision Even though Frederick County Public Schools are closed today -- using the sixth snow day this school year -- the school system will not hold school on the Monday Presidents Day holiday as the first scheduled snow makeup day. Crowds pay respect to fallen marine Even U.S. Marines couldn't hold back tears Monday at the viewing of their colleague, Sgt. David Smith. The procession to the Frederick Christian Fellowship Church was led by Frederick County Sheriff's deputies. Dressed in full military regalia, Marines carried Smith's casket into the church followed by family members as more Marines stood at attention.