First, A9 vs 99 isn't a race. A race is a pair against 2 over cards, like 10-10 vs AK.Second, you have less than 3M, probably less than 2, if M is the number of orbits you have left. Each orbit will cost you 15K in blinds, plus there is usually an ante at that point, I'm guessing at least 500, probably 1000. That means that each orbit costs you 20-25k with antes. That give you 2 orbits. Without antes, you can see 3 BBs and 2 SBs, and then you'll only have 1k of the 5k SB on your final hand.Third, if you're down that far, you have no real hope of outlasting 8 people. It's the small stacks like yours that people wait out. In that situation, a shoe with A9 isn't really a bad play. You might not get anything better until it's too late anyway, and when you have 4 BBs, pushing with any marginal hand is a decent play. Of course, it would have been better if you had caught a big A or a decent pair, but you have to go with what you get.