Fitness Geek

Time slips away…

The marathon creeps closer and closer. Yesterday I got in some solid hill work, running nearly 2 miles worth of hill repeats. It was a good training session, and tonight I’ll build on it with a four miler after work.

I’d hoped to get up early this morning, but didn’t set my alarm properly. Oh well. With the marathon right around the corner (May 23), I’m trying to get all my workouts in and make sure I’m ready. I’m feeling good, but I just need this weekend’s 20-miler to really ease my fears.

On to other important subjects… the Braves pulled out a great win last night with a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals thanks to a late rally. It was one of those classic baseball games: Both starters pitch well, but a clutch hit with two outs completes the comeback. Stellar.

Of course Lost returns tonight. Finally. Those stupid recap episodes should be against the law.

My eyes are getting better. I no longer look like I just got back from the bar so that’s a plus. The bloodshotiness (that’s a word, right) is gone and I’m getting used to the glasses. Although they’re not working properly. I was under the impression glasses made you look smarter and classier!

Tuesday Addictions

So Sunday and Monday were rough. I had an eye infection that caused my right eye to swell up and hurt and my left eye ended up pretty bloodshot as well. We went to the Rome Braves Sunday and sat seven rows behind home plate.

We baked. Mrs. Fitness Geek morphed into Lobster woman while the harsh sun kept me and my injured eyes from doing anything more than squinting. Good times.

Yesterday ended up being “Doctors Day” for the Geek family. We went to our new baby doctor and this is what we saw:

That’s right, the cutest smudge ever is now the cutest smudge ever plus arms and legs (you have to squint a bit, but they’re there)! Our next ultrasound’s in a month, right at the end of the first trimester.

On to the addictions!

1. Lil’ Geek - Getting cuter by the minute.

2. My new glasses - I’ll be with frames for at least two weeks. Good times.

3. Running - Less than a month to the marathon. My last 20 miler is Saturday.

4. 24 - Ooooh, so how much long can Jack not die this season? His brain is turning to mush!

5. The Braves - Can they not buy a win???

Lil Geek #2

A day late, thanks to an eye infection…

Our Lil Geek, it’s time you learn a bit about yourself and your parents.

You will be a fighter. You will stand tall at adversity and fight hard for what you believe in. I know this.

Your parents are fighters too. We fought hard for you, more than you will likely ever know. There were dark days for sure, but just the hint that you were coming illuminated the dimmest, blackest corners of our minds. You will be born to parents who never give up, never stop trying.

We have fought so hard for you and will continue to do so long after you finally grace us with your presence.

So remember, that whatever happens, you will be fine. You are a fighter from a long line of fighters. Stay strong and always believe in yourself.

Our hearts are yours and you are our everything.

Hey Idiot

Well, this post was originally going to be about how I slept in so I could let my eyes rest more since they’ve been all bloodshot the last day or so and I didn’t know what was causing it. Then I was going to mention that I went running at the park for my weekend long run.

Instead I’ll mention that I should have checked the weather. It was 90 degrees at the park when I went running. 90. I baked. And boiled. I stopped twice to soak my hat in the water fountain and cool off. 90 in the summer is different. You’re used to the heat a bit by that time. But not late April.

I managed 12 miles and stopped. I had wanted to do 18, which sounds a lot like I failed. But although I was properly fueled and hydrated, I just wasn’t ready for the sun beating down on me like that. Little shade plus lots of heat equals no fun.

Despite the heat I was feeling pretty good. Even with so few miles I had no soreness or tiredness in my legs. I could have easily tore through 18 if the temperature was a bit lower.

Next week is my final 20 before the marathon. Tonight my brother-in-law is heading down for some R&R. Should be fun.

Two times a day

Yesterday was a nice hill workout in the morning that left me feeling pretty good. I figured I was set for tomorrow’s 18-miler. Except…

A friend called me late yesterday and invited me on a four mile trail run. I couldn’t say no of course. It was a nice run that wound around the lake and - this is the best part - it didn’t really have any elevation changes.

Today was an off day but I’ll do my weights tonight before heading to bed. I’ve really got to step it up. The beach trip is in July and I don’t want to be embarrassed. It’s a lofty goal, but I have a little over two months.

So last night’s Office was one of the best all season. If only I knew of a good apiary in town. And the look on Charles’ face when Dwight started talking…perfect on all levels.

Tomorrow’s 18 miler will be a great lead-in to the following weekend’s 20-miler, my last long run before the marathon. Four weekends to go before the big day.

TIART - Marathon Madness

Today is the one month mark countdown to my first marathon. I’ve got four weekends left before the big one. I’ve learned a lot about training these last four plus months.

Here come the bullets!

* Know yourself - I’d been running for 8 months when I started this training cycle. I thought about going the intermediate route, but I’m glad I didn’t try it. I think I could have done it, but the current cycle has kept me fresh and I’ve yet to feel overtrained.

* Adapt - On the other hand, I’ve also adjusted the schedule to better suit me. Instead of one 20 miler during the training, I’ve bumped it up to three. This was something I did after a lot of thinking and after several arguments with my body:

Me: I need to do three 20 milers.
Body: But I don’t waaaaaannnnnna!
Me: Well, you’re gonna do it Mr., so buck up.
Body: Whatever. Idiot.

* Eat, Drink and Be Not Dead - I’m pretty crazy about hydration and fuel. I map it out to the mile and that has helped keep me calm and more importantly, moving forward. I know the plan will change in the next few weeks as the heat arrives, but that’s fine. I can make minor adjustments instead of putting together a plan f for the first time on race day.

* Train Smart - I’m running a hilly marathon so today I did 13 hill repeats. I do this workout at least once a week. I don’t get to put the miles in that I want to most weeks, but I find that by focusing my training I’ll still be prepared.

* Rest - On days when I have been sore I rest. It’s simple. I’m not the quickest of people, but I know when I need my rest.

Sigh. No new Lost last night, but we have a new Office tonight and that makes me happy. Mrs. Fitness Geek continues to feel the pain of Lil Geek, but the tyke continues to grow and we’re looking forward to meeting him on or around Dec. 1.

Up the Mountain

I ran our local mountain trails again yesterday. Actually it was run/walk up and run down. I started out too fast and ended up with sore calve for the first climb but the pain disappeared on the down stretch. The whole deal took me just over an hour and twenty two minutes.

I had dreams last night that we had a girl. And labor lasted all of a minute for Mrs. Fitness Geek. She’s pretty stoked about that part. I’m not one who believes dreams come true for the simple fact that models have yet to serve me breakfast in bed. But a baby girl would be just fine with me.

Today I’m out of the office for half the day at an informational event on work. I’ll be dishing out brochures and cards like nobody’s business.

The Braves. Really? You’ve lost two to the Nationals. The Nationals. Nobody loses to the Nationals. Literally. You gave them their second and third wins of the season. The Braves need better pitching and they need it now. It’s going to be a long season…

Fingers and toes…

Well Lil Geek is growing and growing. In fact the little tyke will soon have fingers and toes. How cool is that? We had our last ultrasound today with our IVF doctor and next week move on to our very own regular baby doctor. Baby doctor…that’s the technical name right?

I had a good run yesterday and I’m looking to really pile on the mileage this week in preparation for my last 18 and 20 milers leading up to the marathon. Tomorrow will be an early morning run with hills on Wednesday and another run on Thursday. Off Friday and on Saturday I’ll do 18.

Hopefully tomorrow I’ll have some new bits up on the new blog. For now the anti-spam word has been disabled because it wasn’t working correctly.

Finally, it’s baseball season which means my fantasy team is already firmly entrenched in sixth place. Ah tradition. The Braves aren’t doing much better. It’s a long season though so maybe both teams can turn things around.

Lil Geek #1

You are so small, yet your impact on us has already been bigger than we could have imagined. I think of you often, imagine you yawning, stretching and doing your best to grow and grow and grow.

I worry too. That I won’t be able to give you everything and I hope you’ll forgive me in any ways that I fail you.

But these are not your concerns now. Yours is to grow and be healthy. My concerns are innumerable. I love you so much, yet we have not met. Although I have seen you. Your little heart beating so fast. That is nothing to how fast mine beats just thinking of you.

I have so much I want to show you, to teach you and to do with you. I can’t wait. Just eight months give or take and you’ll be here. I’m hoping these weekly notes will one day show you just what you meant to us. I doubt it though. There is no word in any language that defines our love for you.

Until then know that our hearts are yours and you are our everything.

Movin’ On Up

It’s been a fun few days. This morning I met some fellow runners at Kennesaw Mountain for an early run. They run a running store in Ohio and were visiting friends in town so we managed to get together and do about 9 miles. It was cool especially since I haven’t run with someone else in probably a year or more.

Maybe I’m anti-social? Or maybe I just don’t shower enough? They didn’t say they detected any unsavory odors, so maybe I just don’t have enough friends crazy enough to go running.

The nine miles was a good warmup for tomorrow’s 16 miler in the morning. I’ve got four long runs before the marathon. I’m feeling confident and If I can get in some quality runs during the week I’ll be ready to go.

News! News! News!
On Sundays I’ll be writing exclusively to Lil’ Geek. I’d like to give something for the little ‘un to read years down the line and see what was going through my head as the pregnancy progressed. This means my long run reports will move to Monday.

Finally, I’m moving. To the east side. Movin’ on up. After Monday I’ll be found at http://fitnessgeek.theschulmans.org. Please update your links accordingly. I’m hoping to update the look of the site, and Mrs. Fitness Geek has convinced me this is the way to go. Hopefully it’ll be a better blog in a few months. Any suggestions are welcome. Monetary donations are more welcome.

Back tomorrow with the first message to Lil’ Geek. Hope you’re having a great weekend.