1. Winter weather finally arrived in Chicago, and nearly 1,000 participants braved the conditions to celebrate the holiday season with an 8K run through Lincoln Park.

2. There's much more to race directing than firing the gun---as demonstrated by event director Jim Brimm who had to secure the finish line clock with rope because of the stiff wind.

3. Overall winner Eric Lesch of Chicago got out to an early lead and never looked back, as he cruised to a finish time of 27:10.

4. Chicago's Petrana Petrova was equally dominant among the women, winning by nearly a minute in 29:53.

5. Chicago's Rolando Ruvalcaba (left) and Downers Grove's Luke Ryan were locked up in a battle for third place before Ruvalcaba edged Ryan by two seconds at the end, clocking 28:29.

6. Representatives from Chase Financial were on had collecting toys to benefit the kids at Chidren's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

7. Nestor Avila and Lena Lindberg were all decked out for the holiday event, sporting the signature race sweatshirt and Rudolph antlers courtesy of Fleet Feet and Reebok.

8. The competition was equally as fierce in the junior dash, as these future superstars toed the line with their game faces on.

This unique holiday hat may not have been aerodynamic but it did light up!