Sliwa, Setzler Beat Wind, Win at Sycamore 10K

As you might have noticed, I've been on a blog break. I'm back mentally, although my running was a bit stale this morning at the Sycamore Pumpkin Run 10K, one of my all-time favorites. With temps at about 41 degrees and a strong southeast wind, we got it in our faces much of the first 3.5 miles. We worked hard and got slow splits, but it seemed pretty universal. Emerging through the breeze and the rewarding tailwind, which showed up on parts of Miles 4, 5 and 6, Max Sliwa, 20, of Yorkville, won in 33:50. Cari Setzler, 33, of Wonder Lake, was the women's winner in 39:41. She knows the course. She's won this race before. Second-place male was Max Cauley, 30, of Bloomingdale, in 34:22; and third-place male was Nathan Kennedy, 25, of Bolingbrook, in 34:34. Runner-up female was Holly Porter, 35, of Oak Park, in 39:51, and third place went to Jacqueline Mayweather, 25, of Schaumburg, in 40:13. The initial count shows 1,645 finishers. Like many others, I was really feeling it out there. I finished and am always happy to just participate when all cylinders are not at their best. It's been a good weekend for running and racing with the Chicago Fall 50 on the south lakefront as well as the Carrera de los Muertos and the Trick or Treat Trot 5K and 10K, on the north lakefront. And then the high school and college cross-country meets. This is an exciting time.