LINCOLN SQUARE — Just a slice short of a 5K, Fleet Feet's Pi Day run measures 3.14 miles — mercifully stopping at pi's most common abbreviation rather than continuing to infinity — with actual pie awaiting participants at the finish line.
Pi Day — that's March 14 or 3/14 for those not in on the mathematical joke — has become a quirky international holiday since it was first celebrated in 1988 by the folks at San Francisco's Exploratorium museum.
Fleet Feet gets into the act with its Pi K runs, set to step off at 6:28 p.m. (that's 2π) on Friday from each of the outfitter's three locations: 4762 N. Lincoln Ave., 1620 N. Wells St. and 150 W. Roosevelt Road.
Advance registration is required. The entry fee is $25, unless your name happens to be Albert, Alberta or Albertina, in which case, you get a $5 discount (promo code "CallMeAl") for sharing a name with Albert Einstein, who, in the mother of all coincidences, happened to be born on Pi Day.
The event is limited to 314 registrants at the Old Town location and 157 each (that's ½π) at the Lincoln Square and South Loop stores.
After the run, participants will enjoy pie, pizza, beverages and games at Fleet Feet.
Proceeds will benefit the Illinois Science Council, a nonprofit that promotes math, science, technology and engineering to the public.
