Spooky Strides: Running Wild in Costumes at the Haunted Hustle

MADISON, Wis. - When the Mario Cart clan crossed the finish line of their Halloween Haunted half-marathon, friends and family erupted in cheers. The costume run kept spirits high throughout the long race, which was called the Haunted Hustle. On that crisp October morning, the ambiance was imbued with an abundance of Halloween spirit as families wrapped themselves in layers to shield against the brisk winds that accompanied the race.

The Haunted Hustle is a community-organized event that partners with local community and charitable organizations. The event's official sponsor is Run Strong Madison, which produces volunteer festivals, athletic events, and fundraisers in the area. The event does not have paid sponsors. 

Runners were all nerves as they were getting set to start Saturday morning. Music was loud, and crowds of friends and families arrived to cheer on the runners as they started their journey through Middleton. “Because many different races were going on, like the 5k, 10k, and half-marathon, it was hectic but so fun to see everyone there dressed up and ready to go,” says Peyton Cox, 20-year-old half-marathon runner. 

The scenic half-marathon course slithered through Middleton’s quiet residential neighborhoods and the Pheasant Branch Nature Conservancy. “My favorite part was the scenery through the preserve; it made it a lot more enjoyable to run, and I think running through nature and seeing all the pretty fall trees gave you a distraction to what you were actually doing,” said Cox. 

Runners of all ages and levels showed their endurance Saturday, some as young as eleven. Gabbi Serra, a 21-year-old with quite a crowd cheering her name with posters, felt the support in the final stretch. “Yes, my family and friends were here, it was so fun, it made it so I had something to look forward to, and seeing them at the finish line was so exciting, and it was so cute to see them with posters,” said Serra. 

Many of the runners have been training for this for months now, and today, they were able to put that work to the test. “I was training for about two to three months. I started in August and was following a training plan that I would stick to every day,” said Serra. 

The community event marked the beginning of Halloween festivities with a costume contest that many runners certainly showed up ready for. “My favorite was Beer Man for single, Mario Cart for group, and SWAT for dog. The winners were picked by the band; I believe Forest Gump won for the singles costume, Maria Cart for the group costume, Jake from State Farm for the kid costume, and Mario Cart for the dog costume. I’m foggy on the others,” says event coordinator Robin Kempfer.

Behind the scenes, all hands were on deck. First-aid teams patrolled the course, energetic support stations popped up along the route, and crossing guards kept the way clear. “Our event is 95% volunteers; we could not put on the event without them,” said Kempfer.

Any high-intensity race requires significant training, and anyone at the event could see how rewarding breaking through that finish line really was. The Haunted Hustle was a very unique race compared to other venues and themes. “The Haunted Hustle is just such a fun environment. It’s a lot more chill. I would definitely do it again,” said Cox. 

“It brings the community together; you can just look around and see the amount of participants and their families here to support. I couldn’t be prouder of my daughter, who just finished and she has been working so hard. We are happy we could make it here to cheer her on,” says Danielle Cox. 

The community aspect of this special event is what Robin Kempfer cherishes most. “It's heartwarming. I tear up every time I hear the national anthem and see that last runner finish. Spectator support is amazing,” says Kempfer.