‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through Run Oregon
Not a blogger was writing, not even from boredom.
UYN Tights were folded in the dresser with care,
With hopes that chafing would not spring up down there.
Janji’s cold weather gear on my legs and my arms,
And visions of hillwork in my head caused alarm.
And mamma in her PAKA, and I in my Skida cap,
Had just gotten back from a Willamette Mission lap.
When out on the trails there arose such a clatter,
I tossed on my Tevas to see what was the matter.
First to the closet I went humming a carol,
Tossed on some Tracksmith and switched to some Merrells.
The moon in the puddles of the never-ending rain,
Gave reminders that run gear was never a pain.
When, who to my shaded eyes should arrive,
But a running legend, and inspiration by his side.
With floppy brown hair and a top lip mustach-ey,
I knew in a moment that it must be Pre.
More rapid than Kipchoge on marathon courses he came,
He laced up some ASICS and called Olympians by name!
“Now Gabby! Now Femke! Now Sha’carri and Sydney!
On Emily! On Faith! On Rai and Timothy!
To the front of the line! To the top of results!
Now walk away! Run away! Sprint away all!”
As dry heaves after the fartleks come,
When they meet without Gnarly, (that sure is dumb).
So all around Oregon the inspirations flew,
With a Peak Design bag of gear and apparel too.
And then, with a flash, like Noah Lyles and all,
I saw the pounding and propelling of each Saucony sole.
I tossed on my Ciele and turning around,
Pre, the inspirers, and I hit Oregon’s ground.
We were dressed in Altra, from our body to our feet,
As we tackled Pre’s Trail in nearby Eugene.
We put on some Roark as we headed to Bend,
And climbed up Smith Rock, on trails with no end.
Our bras – how they flattened! Our undies how comfy!
GORE kept us so dry that we felt like jumping!
Our happy mouths were drawn up with a smile,
As our Apple Watches tracked every mile.
Archer Jerky was noshed tight by our teeth,
And the smoke from our pace circled round like a wreath.
We headed through Salem and around the Will. Valley,
Our pace slowed just once, for some Gigantic Candy.
We were both lean and plump (runners come in all sizes),
And we kept our route clean (trash is what Matt despises).
With a lace of our Puma and their casualwear so fly
My aging body felt it had nothing to hide.
Pre spoke not a word during our Christmas Eve run,
But stayed focused and carefree – running’s supposed to be fun.
And laying his hand on my back I did feel,
Renewed and rejuvenated, 2025’s running goals sealed.
He sprang to his feet, to his buds gave a knuckle,
And away they all ran with a smile and a chuckle.
And I heard him exclaim, as if it were fate,
“Make a Day of It runners, it’s never too late”.
Merry Christmas from Run Oregon! We will be quiet the next few days on the blog, so we will see you again soon!
