March 2008 the 20th Anniversary of the HAT Run

19 years down!

Another starting field over 400 attests to the growing popularity of trail running and ultra distances. We raised the entry limit to 400 in 2002 and in 2007 we hit the 400 limit early in the year and closed the waiting list at 464. Although we had a record signup the weather contributed to a record number of no-shows. We started 408 runners. The weather and rain also contributed to a record number of DNFs.

Phil suffered a stroke a month after the HAT. He is back on his feet and training again. He is still recoving his speaking ability. He appreciated all of the encouragement from folks at the VT 100 miler.

Phil and I continue to strive for an event that is both accessable to first time ultra runners and a challenging (read fun) early season training run for veterans. We will have two new people co-directing the HAT, Tim Gavin and Mike Frank. Many of you may know them from running or remember the great job they did at the lower aid station last year.

As Phil and I reflect back on 19 years of the race it is amazing how much the sport has grown. It use to be you knew almost every entrant. The first year we hardly needed a signup sheet since we knew everyone that entered, our starting field was 46 and we had 17 finishers. Every year it is good to see past entrants and the new faces as well. In 2007 nearly 45% of the runners were first time HAT runners. We are seeing a new generation of runners entering the sport. Many have only ran in high-tech fabrics and never knew the days when a versitle ultra shirt was a long sleeve cotton dress shirt - button down collar of course.

We hope you will come and enjoy the run in 2008 - we are planning for a special event.