Cool Runnings: Chilly Temps Don't Hamper Lundahl 24- Hour Run

When the going gets tough - the tough grab blankets.

Chilly temperatures didn't hamper Lundahl Middle School's annual 24-Hour Run on Thursday and Friday.

Runners simply grabbed hats, gloves and blankets to keep them warm while they put in their laps on the Lundahl track, located at 560 Nash Rd. in Crystal Lake.

The 15th annual challenge aims to push kids to their limits and test their inner strength. The run started at 3 p.m. Thursday, during which time students pitched their tents and set up camp in preparation for a long night of running.

Lundahl physical education teacher Fred Kaiser created the program in 1998, not as a fundraiser or charity, but as a way to show his students what they can accomplish if they set a goal, practice and work to achieve it even under the most strenuous of circumstances.

The students are grouped by teams, and one team member runs at a time. The system allows participants to rest, eat and socialize between their one-mile turns. By the end of the 24 hours, many kids have logged 14 to 16 total miles.

The elite team of runners aims to finish 26 miles, the equivalent of a marathon.