With a snowstorm hitting the east coast and cold temperatures abounding, it only seemed right       to get into the holiday spirit.  I have updated an old classic below and I hope it brings at least a small chuckle. I will be back in January for the indoor season. While I am away, I would love to hear from you on what should appear in this column. Do you want to see weekly updates or recaps of races? More interviews? More discussion questions? Embrace this piece of online media and tell me what you would like to see. Happy Holidays to all!

The Morning of Christmas
Adapted from Clement Clarke Moore’s The Night before Christmas.

Twas the morning of Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
With evidence that St Nicholas had been there.

The high school runners were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of track victories ran thru their heads.
And I in my tights along with a cap,
Had just woken my legs up for a long winter’s lap.

Then out on the lawn I arose with a clatter,
I sprang from the ground luckily no bone shatter.
Away from the house I flew like a flash,
No cars on the road and I ran on with a dash.

The sun rose slowly on the new-fallen snow
Giving the ground an unearthly glow.
Then, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a running club, with ten harriers near.

With a little old runner, so lively and quick,
I wondered for a moment if it was St Nick?
More rapid than reindeer these runners they came,
And the old runner shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Gouchers! now, Lagat! now, Barringer and Meb!
On, Chelanga ! On, Ritzenhein! On Rupp, on Vesey and Webb!
To the front of the pack! So loudly he call
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

And then, in a twinkling, I heard from the young
The breathing and heaving of each lung.
As I looked at my watch, and was turning around,
To the front of the group St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in red, from his head to his foot,
And all I could go was wonder what was afoot.
Where was his bundle of Toys he had should have on his back,
And he looked like a runner, that belonged on a track.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

No longer was he chubby and plump, still a jolly old elf,
He was just as fit as I was myself!
I could not quite believe it and I shook my head,
Wondering how this had happened and how many pounds he had shed.

I spoke a few words, about this change,
And he smiled a smile, that seemed quite strange.
And he said “quite simply I am no longer a slacker,
I got a computer and signed up for Flotracker”

He returned to his team and gave a whistle,
And away they all ran as fast as a missile.
But I heard him exclaim, as he ran out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and remember to run with great might!"