2024 Race Reports
William Lee
Becky Walters
Bridget Donaldson
Mark Carter
Derek Brown
Will Paxton
‘Twas the night before hellgate, when all through the course
Not a creature was stirring, not even a horse.
The streamers were hung through the course with care,
In hopes that Butch soon would be there.
The runners were not asleep in their beds;
They were busy overthinking and getting in their own heads;
“How was I ever convinced into this trap”,
They must accept fate and run across the map.
While some cause a fuss and don’t understand all the clatter,
And yet we runners know it really does matter.
A special race, the course unchanged for some time,
Horton knew he would make us climb climb climb.
Over time something did appear,
The fearsome five who keep going every year,
With a nutty director so lively and crazed,
We knew it was Horton , and we were amazed.
To the front of the line! to the toe on the stripe!
Now run away! run away! among all the hype”
As leaves that before hung in the trees,
Covered the ground up to our knees.
So up to the mountains overlooking the town
we tackled the course and almost fell down—
all huffing and puffing, on the trail we did run
We knew in our heads (it was sure to be fun)
Our eyes—how they burned! and oh were so red!
it felt almost as if they were popping out of our head!
Our feet how they blistered hoping they don’t pop,
at least till we finish or we will have to hop.
We know it’s up for debate who will win this year,
Because Dubova and Culmo did not appear.
Could Chang pull it off in his 18th year,
Or will a newcomer win and run like a deer.
Whatever the case each mile will be a fight,
As the stars light the way through the cold dark night.
With the finish line in sight I hear Horton yell
“Happy Hellgate to all, and to all a good night!”