9 Mile

Today, our training schedule had us run nine (9) miles. Although we felt some fatigue after the eight-mile run last week, we were excited by the challenge to take the mic in Eminiem's absence for the sequel to 8 Mile. The temperature was milder than last week. On the positive side, the clouds along the lakeshore shadowed us. On the negative side, it rained on us during almost the entire run. At least the occasional lightning helped illuminate the running trail. Our shoes and clothes got soaked before too long, but we did not suffer any blisters. Just as our Smartwool hiking socks always have, our Smartwool PhD running socks performed for us. The merino wool blend socks are well cushioned and stay cool on hot days too.

During the run, Kinnier tried his Clif Shot Blocs for the first time. They are basically giant gummi bears (minus the animal shape), high in sugar and electrolytes to help sustain energy. The flavor of the day was margarita, and the bloc tasted surprisingly close, including the salt. With Lake Michigan beside us, the run was just like hanging out at a beach resort.

We finished on pace (our conversational, training pace) and felt pretty good afterwards. We'll see how the rest of the day goes, but we' re looking forward to a lot of protein today. We have already had our weekly three-egg omelet with a Mexican cheese blend and salsa verde. Our post-run snacks at the site included: cherries, half an orange, a handful of pretzels and a sesame bagel and plain bagel. Tonight, we will most likely cash in a gift certificate at Jury's, http://www.jurysrestaurant.com/, and share a large bowl of chili with cheddar cheese and onions, and each eat a half-pounder cheddar burger (medium with lettuce, tomato, and raw onions). Jennifer will have a pasta salad as her side. Kinnier will have french fries, with lots of yellow mustard.

Statistics:
Distance: 9.0 miles
Start Time: 7:18 a.m.
Time: 1:42:39
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Maximum HR: 151
Average HR: 129
Money Raised to Date: $920
Days until Race: 119