Zach Runs Chicago

This past weekend I ran the Frozen Gnome 10K . To sum up my previous blog about it: it was cold, it was tough and it was super fun. But I think this video by Anh sums it up even better (especially the post-race breakfast shots): Frozen Gnome race directors - you can contact me here about making Anh your new director of communications.

All photos by Anh Bien (center) In 2013 I discovered a crazy race called the Frozen Gnome. It's in Crystal Lake and what makes it crazy is not just that it's a 10K trail race in early January but that it also has a 50K option tied in with it. This seemed crazy when I ran the 10K a few years ago when it was 25 degrees , but on Saturday morning with the temperature stuck at -2 (let's not even get into what it was with wind chill) it seemed truly insane (in the nomenclature of this article "insane" is less rational than "crazy"). At 6:15 I got into a car with my friends Anh and Mike to head to Crystal Lake. We all had on more clothes than I think we've ever worn to run in. Personally, I had on running boxers, tights, pants and shorts as well as a pair of wool socks and a pair of tube socks (from the Original 5K ) and a wool running shirt, regular running shirt and two jackets. By the time I was at the starting line I had also added two pairs of g...

Every year Newcity releases its annual Top 5 of Everything issue . There are lists for film, theater, design, music, nonsense and pretty much anything else we feel like throwing in there. And every year I include a few running lists. This year I threw in three (listed below). The issue hit newsstands last week but it's still available if you want a physical copy. Otherwise, check out the full list at the link above and here are my running lists: Top 5 Chicago Running Stores Fleet Feet Sports - Lincoln Square Fleet Feet Sports - Old Town New Balance - Lincoln Park Nike Running - Bucktown Universal Sole - Lakeview Top 5 Chicago 5K Races of 2014 Chi-Town Big Game 5K (February 2) Ravenswood Run (April 27) Run to Remember (May 3) Energizer Night Race (June 7) Oktoberfest 5K (September 18) Top 5 Chicago Races Longer Than a 5K of 2014 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle (March 30) Chi Town Half Marathon & 10K (April 6) Soldier Field 10 Mi...