Frigid Day for Chicago 50K

In weather more conducive to winter sports, 132 hearty souls finished the Chicago Lakefront 50K on Saturday. The three-lap course on lakeshore bike trails started and finished at the Foster Avenue Beachhouse. Temps got into the 30s, but that was about it for the ultra runners and volunteers. Matthew Flaherty, 25, of Chicago, was the overall winner in 3:16:55. He was followed by Damian Bednorz, 31, of Chicago, in 3:23:55, and third place went to Arturo Gamez, 41, of Chicago, in 3:35:52. The top three women were Jennifer Benitez, 37, of Carol Stream, in 3:53:25; Shelley Cook, 36, of Waukegan, in 4:27:51; and Evangelina Muniz, 25, of Chicago, in 4:44:14. Northeast winds off the lake and cold temps made this a memorable one for everyone involved. Congrats!