Fitness Geek

A busy (good) week

Friday at last. It’s been a good, but hectic week. Starting with last weekend:

I got in a great 12-miler Saturday morning and then headed to the in-laws’ house. Sunday was a baby shower for Lil’ Geek.

That’s Mrs. Fitness Geek opening some of her stash. We had a great time and it was really touching to see how many people are happy for us and cannot wait to spoil her.

We’ve spent this week running all over the place. An inpromptu visit to the hospital Wednesday night kept us out until after 2 am. Everything checked out, but we were exhausted when we arrived home.

I ran on Wednesday and Thursday, four and six miles. Wednesday was great with sub 9 minute miles the whole way and one sub 8 mile. I took it easy Thursday and coasted along.

Lil’ Geek continues to grow and squirm and kick and generally just be adorable.

We’re five weeks away now, of course she could come at any time. Woo!

Tomorrow I’m scheduled for 14 miles and 3 on Sunday. Sunday is also our local baby shower for friends and family. The guys are all off to a local place for wings, football and beer. Perfect.

Lil Geek #21

Oh, Lil’ Geek, how we can’t wait to meet you. Today was another trip to the doctor and once again you got a glowing review. You were bottoms up, and that means you’re getting ready to be ready. Soon you’ll be here.

I appreciate the fact you’re trying to get ready ahead of time. I just hope it lasts. This a spot of contention for your mother and I, especially when it comes to getting to events, movies, etc., early.

Me, I leave early enough that only a jet crashing on the highway would cause us to be late. Your mother, not so much. Take movies for example. I like to be there BEFORE the previews. Your mom, and this comes from her parents, like to arrive hopefully by the end of the credits.

I know. I don’t understand it either. Baseball games, appointments, whatever. I aim for early.

You’re a girl, as you know. This means the urge to leave early may not always be strong in you. That’s OK, little one. My sister was never one for on time either.

I’ll do my best not to get upset when you’re running late because nothing fits right or you don’t like your hair. Just promise to not get mad at me too much when I embarrass you when you reach middle school. Because it’ll happen. A lot. I’m sorry in advance.

Our hearts are yours and you are our everything.

Pressure…crashing down on me

Specifically sinus pressure. It’s no fun. I did manage to get in an easy, but cold three miles. I’m still not used to the cold. This morning it was 30ish degrees when I hit the park.

I realize that possibly running a marathon on New Year’s Day (contingent on Lil’ Geek’s scheduled appearance) I know I need to get used to the winter weather. It was another good run, and I’m beginning to feel confident about the race.

Lil’ Geek is expected on Dec. 2. I know I’ll be missing quite a few runs for a bit after she’s born, so I’m working hard to be get my fitness level up now. I’m not naive enough to think I’ll be running regularly a day after she’s born. I don’t want to be either. When she gets here, she’ll have our complete and undivided attention.

However, I’ll be headed back to work a week or so after she’s born. At that time I’ll try and get back on the track. If I’m running a good bit now, it won’t be too tough to get back up to par after the break.

It’s time for bed now. I’m hoping this headache is gone. And that I can get my lazy, sinus-congested body out of bed tomorrow for another early run.

Seeing the light at the end

It’s been a good week. Normally this is the time for a letter to Lil’ Geek, but I feel like it’s good to catch up on some good developments. First, I feel like we’re getting more and more ready for her to arrive. We’ve been cleaning the house and the nursery is pretty much done! Woo!

I’ve also become more organized in a lot of ways. That has really helped me feel a bit less stressed about work/Lil’ Geek/life in general. I’ve found Remember the Milk
to be a lifesaver as well as Lifehacker.

On the running front, I had a great run yesterday of 10 miles at just over a 9 minute pace. That’s pretty much what I was hoping for this early on in my current training round. This week I’m continuing to get in the miles and work on the speed bit by bit. Saturday’s goal is 13 miles. A half marathon. I feel I could have done that this weekend, so I’m not too worried.

Lil’ Geek continues to grow both in her mom’s (round) belly and in our hearts. Mrs. Fitness Geek continues to glow and be beautfiul.

This week will be a busy one for me. I’m doing a talk Tuesday morning and a radio interview Wednesday. Live. That’ll be something else.

There have been days where I felt life was pulling me along and I was trying to keep my feet underneath me. Now I feel that I’m the one on the move and the one making the moves. Try and keep up!

Lil’ Geek #20

Balance, lil’ one. Not just in what you do, but in how life comes at you sometimes. There will be good days, and there will be bad days. I wish I could protect you from all the ugly in the world, but some much you will have to fight on your own.

Some days will start well enough and end poorly. Others, vice versa. Just remember, my daughter, that when life seems at its worst, it will get better. Keep your head up and stay focused.

Life can be tough, but you are tougher. No matter how bad some days seem, there is always light around the corner. I’ll do my best to be that light for you. But when I can’t help, just remember: you are strong. Stronger than even you realize.

Bad times or bad days can only last for so long. Then life balances out and the world seems brighter. Those good days return.

Balance, lil’ one. There is night and darkness, but the sun will eventually rise. Just stay positive. Life will work itself out.

Our hearts are yours and you are our everything.

Motivation please…

Tonight I’ll be finally posting all the wonderful things Mrs. Fitness Geek did for my birthday. But I wanted to mention how unmotivated I’ve been lately.

And all over the place, mentally.

I should have been up early to run, but I didn’t get up. I wasn’t too tired. I just was…not getting up.

I feel like I’ve been getting nothing done the last few weeks. I’m hoping to get back on track soon. With everything…

For now though, I should offer a sneak preview of my birthday post tonight. Mrs. Fitness Geek has photos of me hitting a pinata and wearing a birthday hat. If that doesn’t make you come back tonight, I don’t know what will.

Lil’ Geek #19

Lil’ one, you have a new niece. That’s the big news today. I’m sure you two will have fun growing up together.

I guess it’s time to talk about books. You’re going to be a reader, honey. There’s no way to get around it. We’ve already been reading to you, even if it might have sounded a bit muffled to you.

Reading has always been a big deal for your mother and I, and I can’t imagine it’ll be much different for you. I’m sure you’ll read the classics as a child, and hopefully the other classics as you get older… you know, authors like Koontz, Tolkien, Adams and anything else I can pass to you.

And yes, there’s a chance, a very good one, that you’ll more enjoy the books from your mother. That’s fine.

It’s important not what you read, but that you know how important it is to read. And that you enjoy it.

So pick up a book, grab a spot on the couch and read.

And maybe, one day, you’ll discover the answer to life, the universe and everything is very simple: it’s 42.

Our hearts are yours and you are our everything.

Wow…

So it’s been a really long while. A really long while since I blogged.

Since then I’ve had a surprise birthday party, ran a race, saw 3D images of Lil’ Geek, worked, stopped running due to injury, had a 30th birthday, gained a niece and …

I’ve blogged about none of it. I think a lot of the reasons I haven’t blogged are pretty simple. Procrastination. Writer’s block, and a feeling that this past year has been sort of a wash in every aspect except Lil’ Geek.

I was looking back and I realized that I accomplished zero of the things I wanted to this year. Zero. I ran a marathon. But it was slow and I finished nearly dead last. I’m now more out of shape than I was 365 days previous. I haven’t written, which I love to do, in weeks.

Yes, I am busier. But that’s no excuse. At all. Plenty of busy people get stuff done. I just don’t feel like one of them.

And no, the recent bout of shin splints are no excuse for the amount of running I’ve done this year. They came on only recently.

So here’s the new plan. For the next few days, beginning tomorrow, I’m going to be catching up on all the stuff I haven’t blogged about that’s happened as well as progress I’m making in getting back to where I want to be. Mrs. Fitness Geek is always asking me to post more photos, so I’m going to do that too.

Hopefully in two weeks I’ll be back to regular blogging and maybe back to being happy about where I’m heading.

I’ll leave you with this adorable photo of Lil’ Geek: