13.1 Miles in Photos.

This week was a recovery week, which included massages on our Sunday rest day.

They didn't take. And we were sore anyway. Recovery shmecovery.

And somehow, the whole notion that running 28 miles in a week—instead of last week's 33—doesn't feel like much of a recovery, either. Especially when, for 13 miles, the sun is a blistering, broiling ball that Satan himself hurled directly from the bowels of Hell up into the Heavens to rain down its inglorious, fiery evil.

Okay, maybe that's going a bit overboard, but it was hot.

We started at the usual spot—the corner of Roosevelt and Michigan Avenues—and proceeded north along the Lakefront Path, up to Lincoln Park, and then back.

Although it was nice to have some new scenery...

Did we mention it was hot?

So here are some photos taken while running. They're not awesome—bouncy-bouncy-bounce and all—but they do the trick.

The beginning, at about 6:20. The sun cresting over Lake Michigan (battling with the headlights). "Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning," and all that jazz.

Soldier Field off to the right as we sort-of-pass the Field Museum. 

We took a left just before the Shedd Aquarium and ran north past the sunrise. 

Hey, look! It's the Sears Tower! (No WAY are we going to call it by it's new name—The Abraham the Goldfish Tower.) 

One of MANY signs we passed today. We started at about the 8.5 mile sign, turned around where there weren't any signs, and then it's like they're trying to trick you—the signs on the way back are clocking the southbound route, so suddenly you see a sign for 4.5 miles even though you know in your heart (and your hamstrings) that you haven't run backwards. And that you've run further than the signs are telling you. Example, we passed two 7 mile and 11 mile signs. Neither of them was right as far as clocking our mileage. Too much math for our taste.

It's so early, even Buckingham Fountain is still asleep. 

We're too tired to look up the name of this harbor. But it is one. 

Oak Street Beach. The 1.5 mile part of the run (3 miles total) where there is absolutely ZERO shade. And look—there aren't even any Trixies out yet adding to their paid-for tans! (Although there was a garbage truck that nearly made us gag from the overwhelming stench. Coincidence?)

We ran past the Zoo, but not through it. Thankfully. The Zoo is REALLY hilly. We turned around at Belmont Ave. If you know the city, we started at 1200 south and turned around at 3200 north. That works out to 88 blocks, which is *only* 11 miles if you're driving it. (Eight blocks to a mile, out-of-towners.) But thanks to the zig-zagging of the path,  especially around Navy Pier and North Avenue, it works out to the appointed mileage. 

Statue of Grant in Lincoln Park. Neither Grant nor Lincoln are buried here. 

Running toward shade. And downtown. Through the south end of Lincoln Park.

Just past the North Avenue Beach House and heading back toward Oak Street. 

Blazing sunshine over the lake just past Oak Street Beach.

Looking back at North Avenue across the lake. The stand of trees in the distance is the only shade until Ohio Street to the south. Gross.

Turning the corner near Chicago Avenue with Navy Pier in the distance. Lots of triathletes in their wetsuits swimming the lake training for their races.

It must be after 9—Buckingham Fountain is finally awake.

It was our last recovery week until we "taper" two weeks before the race. Our mileage for the next three weeks: 35, 37, 39.5. This week, we run 8 Monday, 6 Wednesday, 5 Thursday, and 16 Saturday with a cross-training day on Tuesday. Should be super fun!