Hot Cider 8-Mile More Low Key!

A day after the Hot Chocolate mega-run, it was the Hot Cider's turn out at Danada and Herrick Lake Forest Preserves in DuPage County. Frankly, the Hot Cider Hustle 8-Miler is a cool run with a bit of cross-country and a whole lot of nice chopped limestone with twists and turns to keep it interesting. There were 465 finishers and a whole lot of happy people enjoying a very windy day in the woods and on the prairie (you keep a little of each). Nathan Kennedy, 25, of Bolingbrook, won it in 45:01. The aforementioned course that produced a time like that included a half-mile at the start and a quarter-mile at the end on fairly long grass on an equestrian race track. Second was John Knudson, 31, in 47:01.6, and third went to Dan Ostendorf, 37, in 47:56.6. The leading women were Christy Adduci, 25, in 55:06.7; Michelle Smith, 23, in 55:26.0; and Hailey Krzston, 19, in 58:43.3 This race was well-done, and I believe it was produced by the same group that puts on the Schamumburg Thanksgiving weekend half-marathon.