Running through holiday lights is a seasonal delight in a season quickly closing.

Fleet Feet and Dancing Gnome Running Club host a 2-6 mile run through Pittsburgh’s downtown light display at 6:45 p.m. Thursday. And on Dec. 31, runners and walkers will take a magical 5K or 2-mile tour of Altoona’s Lakemont Park. And many families and friends organize their own walk/runs through particularly festive towns or neighborhoods.

While I look forward to these and many more holiday runs to come, I can’t help but look back to one magical night 20 years ago. Although the details blur like a snow globe shaken too many times, they come into focus as I reread my column from Dec. 19, 2005.

Join me on a run through Christmas past.

Run Through the Lights in Hartwood Acres on Thursday evening was supposed to be an antidote to winter’s poison of cold temperatures and short days. A fun run with lights, jingle bells and lots of company seemed to be just what the doctor ordered to boost my miles and my spirit.

But nature had other plans.

By Wednesday, forecasts included all the bad weather possible in one day — snow, sleet, freezing rain, more snow. It didn’t sound good for runners or anyone else.

But my mom and I, both lifelong Western Pennsylvanians, were used to coping with just about anything that falls from the sky. A major storm would be, at worst, a minor inconvenience.

By Thursday, we had to admit conditions would be dicey for even diehard runners, especially for those driving to the run. We slid into the parking lot at Hartwood and were greeted by organizer David Syiek, bundled in boots and parka against the driving snow. He informed us Run Through the Lights had been postponed.

Mom and I were disappointed that, after braving the elements, there would be no jingle bells, no lights sticks, no hot chocolate and no smiling, jolly runners.

But we didn’t surrender. The essential parts of a group run were still there — a road and two runners. We headed down the park drive into the blowing snow.

Our run was magical.

Lights for the celebration winked on across the field and in the distance, more lights twinkled through swaying trees. We passed silent strands of sparkling gold and white stars leading through forests of color.

Twinkling deer silhouettes browsed in the snowflakes while an animated buck dashed across a frozen stream. Further on, a real deer strolled across our path as if on cue. In the darkness beyond, we spied several more attracted to or oblivious of the lights and animation.

We realized we were running the route backwards when the 12 Days of Christmas counted down to a single partridge winging overhead. The paved drive turned to cobblestones as we jogged past the mansion decked in holiday splendor and circled back to pavement through a tunnel of lights.

Suddenly, Mom and I found ourselves at the end. The 2.6 miles had passed quickly.

As we neared the parking lot, we vowed to return for the rescheduled Run Through the Lights in January. That hot chocolate would taste great shared with hundreds of fellow runners and walkers.

But we knew no other festive run would top this night. We had shared a magical celebration of the season, a run of pure joy and wonder.

Register for Fleet Feet/Dancing Gnome Holiday Lights Run at runsignup.com/Race/PA/Pittsburgh/HolidayLights?aflt_token=nEo7m2fmm92CgJEun85Te3o6ksNELF8b

Sign up for Twilight 5K Run/2-Mile Run/Walk in Altoona at runsignup.com/Race/PA/Altoona/TwilightRace

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Reindeer 5K, 1-Mile and ½-Mile, Zelienople. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/ReindeerRace2023

Sunday, 11 a.m.: Ugly Sweater 5K and 1-Mile, Oakdale. Run out and back on Panhandle Trail from Helicon Brewing. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Oakdale/UglySweater5KAnd1MileFUNWalk

Dec. 24, 10 a.m.: The Christmas Eve 5K Run/Walk, Pittsburgh. Free entry for kids ages 4 and under. New course on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Pittsburgh/TheChristmasEve5k

Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m.: Harmony Silvester 5K, Harmony. Also 1-Mile Fun Run at 4:15 p.m. and ball drop at 6 p.m. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Harmony/HarmonySilvester5K

Dec. 31, 4 p.m.: Twilight 5K Run, 2-Mile Run (4:30 p.m.) and 2-Mile Walk (5 p.m.), Hollidaysburg. Run through the lights at Lakemont Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Altoona/TwilightRace

Jan. 1, 11 a.m.: New Year’s Resolution Run 5K and 1-Mile Fun Walk, Oakdale. Run on Panhandle Trail with new start at Helicon Brewing. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Oakdale/NewYearsResolutionRun5Kand1MileFamilyFunWalk

Jan. 3, 1 p.m.: Resolution Run 5K Run/Fun Walk, New Alexandria. runsignup.com/Race/PA/NewAlexandria/ResolutionRunWPA?_gl=1*nxordp*_ga*MTU0NDMyNzQ0Mi4xNzYwMzk1NTQx*_ga_QKEVS8BTWC*czE3NjQ1NDQ1NDMkbzQkZzEkdDE3NjQ1NDQ1NzAkajMzJGwwJGgw

Jan. 4, 10 a.m.: Set Your Year on Fire 5K Run/Walk, Ligonier. Free registration for ages 10 and under. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Ligonier/SetYourYearOnFire5k2023

Jan. 10, 9 a.m.: North Park Half Marathon, Allison Park. Run around North Park Lake. runsignup.com/Race/Info/PA/AllisonPark/NorthParkHalfMarathon

Jan. 11, 9 a.m.: Frigid 5 Miler, Allison Park. Run North Park’s North Ridge Loop, post race pancake breakfast. runsignup.com/Race/Info/PA/AllisonPark/Frigid5Miler

Jan. 17, 10 a.m.: 17th Annual Fire & Ice Festival Walk/Run, Somerset. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Somerset/FireIce5KSomerset

Jan. 17, 1 p.m.: Run 2 Read Half Marathon, Fairmont, WV. Double out-and-back on rail trails in Prickett’s Fort State Park. runsignup.com/Race/WV/Fairmont/RuntoReadHalfMarathon

Jan. 18, 9 a.m.: Frigid 5 Miler, Painesville, OH. Run on gravel roads and bike paths in Jordan Creek Metro Park. runsignup.com/Race/OH/ConcordTownship/Frigid5

Jan. 24, 4 p.m.: Big One Run 5K and 1-Mile Race, New Castle. Fast course in Cascade Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/NewCastle/BIGONERUN

Jan. 31, 9 a.m.: Groundhog Day 5K, Allison Park. Also 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk and Kids Dash starting at North Park Boathouse. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/GroundhogDay5kPGH

Jan. 31, 10 a.m.: Groundhog Jog 4 Miler, Punxsutawney. Race to Gobbler’s Knob and back, also Kids race (ages 11 and under). runsignup.com/Race/PA/Punxsutawney/GroundhogJog4MileRunWalk?aflt_token=vkmwDmweQ4iCYn8otSOOnKQ3vCO8buOw

LECOM Costume Caper 5K, Oct. 18: Jonathan Goetsch, 1st Overall M, 19:43; Sophia Maloney, 1st Overall W, 21:36; Matt Spencer, 1st 30-39 M, 21:51; Noah Steiner, 1st 20-29 M, 22:24; Alex DiCaprio, 3rd 20-29 M, 23:35; Isabella Pearl, 3rd 20-29 W, 25:31; Grace Radford, 2nd 14 & Under W, 25:46; Candice Cook, 2nd 40-49 W, 25:52; Trish Olkowski, 2nd 50-59 W, 27:11; Nash Peters, 3rd 14 & Under M, 29:01; Nada Elgendy, 28:40; Haley Wilkinson, 28:50; Lori Concelman, 29:53; Lea Codispot, 30:20; Dani Chapman, 31:06; Samuel Concelman, Jr., 31:22; Jorvon Carter, 31:37; Owen Spencer, 32:37; Rachel Adams, 34:31; Alex Archey, 45:43; Esther Lee, 45:45

Preston Prance 15K, Oct. 19: Anthony Miller, 1st Overall M, 1:07:49; Matt Regal, 3rd Overall M, 1:14:42; Olivia Murphy, 1st Overall W, 1:14:53; David Snyder, 1:16:49; James Dankovich, 118:29; Sydney Manuel, 1:21:11; Corine Petrus, 1:22:42; Keith Smetak, 1:32:30; Eric Rusnak, 1:35:43; Patrick Kelly, 1:35:52; Carrie Birckbichler-Smith, 1:36:45; Brad Regis, 1:36:58; Ashley Hogsett, 1:47:55; Heather Moser, 2:11:21

Preston Prance 10K, Oct. 19: Anthony Miller, 1st Overall M, 46:21; Olivia Murphy, 1st Overall W, 51:11; Matt Regal, 1st 40-49 M, 50:36; David Snyder, 2nd 40-49 M, 53:19; James Dankovich, 2nd 50-59 M, 53:55; Sydney Manuel, 1st 30-39 W, 55:13; Corine Petrus, 1st 40-49 W, 56:48; Hannah Altieri, 1st 20-29 W, 59:44; Eric Rusnak, 2nd 20-29 M, 1:06:02; Carrie Birckbichler-Smith, 2nd 40-49 W, 1:07:02; Ashlyn Brunazzi, 2nd 19 & Under W,1:10:00; Jennifer Eckenrode, 3rd 40-49 W, 1:13:05; Lisa Jamison, 2nd 50-59 W, 1:24:57; Heather Moser, 3rd 50-59 W, 1:29:45; Kevin Smetak, 1:03:13; Keith Smetak, 1:03:14; Brad Regis, 1:04:39; Patrick Kelly, 1:06:12; Ashley Hogsett, 1:13:45

Preston Prance 5K, Oct. 19: Jordan Eckenrode, 1st Overall M, 21:23; Olivia Murphy, 1st Overall W, 23:42; Anthony Miller, 1st 30-39 M, 21:27; Doug Soxman, 1st 40-49 M, 21:30; David Snyder, 3rd 40-49 M, 23:30; Lucas Bowser, 1st 15-19 M, 24:09; Cooper Rauschenberger, 1st 11-14 M, 24:11; James Dankovich, 2nd 50-59 M, 24:33; Andrew Edmunds, 3rd 30-39 M, 25:36; Corine Petrus, 1st 40-49 W, 25:53; Sydney Manuel, 1st 30-39 W, 25:58; Terrin Witt, 3rd 30-39 W, 27:24; Madison McMann, 1st 10 & Under W, 27:52; Shane McIntire, 1st 20-29 M, 28:06; Colin Stefaniak, 2nd 11-14 M, 28:31; Emilia Eckenrode, 1st 11-14 W, 29:08; Eric Rusnak, 2nd 20-29 M, 29:41; Carrie Birckbichler-Smith, 2nd 40-49 W, 29:43; Tabitha Bowser, 3rd 40-49 W, 32:23; John Karpacs, 3rd 60-69 M, 33:40; Anthony Sunseri, 1st 70+ M, 36:32; Heather Moser, 2nd 50-59 W, 41:35; Kelly Crist, 1st 60-69 W, 44:01; Jennifer McCurdy, 2nd 60-69 W, 45:26; Dave Roberts, 3rd 70+ M, 50:57; Matt Regal, 24:05; Keith Smetak, 29:15; Patrick Kelly, 29:39; Vanessa Johnson, 30:54; Chris Hawes, 31:05; Troy Witt, 31:08; Michael Dreher, 32:04; Christina Dreher, 32:09; Brad Regis, 32:19; Lana Kramer, 33:22; Ashley Hogsett, 34:09; Stephanie Butler, 34:50; Mike Crist, 37:21; Jennifer Balsiger, 39:29; Ashley Teuteberg, 42:56; Heather Wood, 43:30; Randy Bowser, 43:55

Pine Richland Ram Run 5K, Oct. 19: Patrick Morrow, 1st Overall M, 17:49; Kara Shirley, 1st Overall W, 18:31; Bob Teagarden 3rd Overall M, 18:39; Gauthier Robe, 2nd Masters M, 21:19; Christine Farmer, 1st Masters W, 23:34; Wyatt Brown, 1st 12-15 M, 19:18; Francesca Disilvio, 2nd 12-15 W, 21:14; Charles Koch, 1st 40-49 M, 21:24; Lauren Wentz, 1st 30-39 W, 21:48; Olivia Kinder, 3rd 12-15 W, 22:11; John Caskey, 2nd 50-59 M, 22:41; Juliet Campbell, 3rd 30-39 W, 25:50; Advita Srilaksh Thatavarthi, 1st 8 & Under W, 38:55; Kieran Mercuri, 20:50; Kyler Leroy, 20:53; Jackson Shames, 22:22; Oscar Disilvio, 24:00; Jason Jerome, 24:38; Richie Redlinger, 24:39; Alexander Robe, 25:44; Phillip Disilvio, 26:45; Michael Jenkinson, 26:56; Matthew Shames, 28:08; Enzo Urso, 28:10; Paul Urso, 28:20; Raghavendra Thatavarthi, 38:55

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle. Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, phone 724-822-1577, email lotzak@consolidated.net