Cold can't stop Run Thru the Hills

Ten-year-old Seth Conroy had a few goals heading into Sunday's Run Thru the Hills 10K race in Lake in the Hills.

The first: beat Dad.

Not only did Seth cross the finish line 20 seconds ahead of his father, Troy Conroy, 37, but the Algonquin boy also won the 19-and-under age group with a time of 48:03.

"It was pretty exciting for us to run this race together," Troy Conroy said. "This was our first race together and Seth achieved all of his goals."

Sunday's race was the first Run Thru the Hills for the father and son.

While the race is known for its winding course and hills, this year's cold temperatures and strong winds also confronted racers on the 5K and 10K courses.

The temperature at 8 a.m. -- race time -- was about 35 degrees, though it felt like 24 degrees thanks to a 15 mph wind, according to accuweather.com.

"There were a few points where we were running into the wind and that was not fun," said Karen Wood, 38, of Huntley, a third-time participant. "When you are running up some of those hills into the wind, that makes it very challenging."

Wood, who took top honors in the 35-39 age group, said Sunday's race was the coldest Run Thru the Hills she has raced.

Though the cold weather kept race-day registration numbers down, race director Andrew Gemmell said 491 people had pre-registered, 90 more than last year.

Gemmell, superintendent of recreation the Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation Department, said about 550 runners and walkers, kids and adults, took part in the ninth annual event.

"The race went real well considering the cold of the morning," Gemmell said. "It was a good time and another exciting event for Lake in the Hills."

The overall winner of the men's 5K was Bill Jensen, 41, of Algonquin, while Steve Bland, 41, from Lake in the Hills won the men's overall 10K.

In the women's races, Monica Rice, 39, of Algonquin won the 5K and Anna Andrzejewski, 33, of Hoffman Estates won the overall 10K race.