By the Numbers

We had our second blood test this morning to make sure everything was still going well. The HCG number was supposed to have doubled. Ours tripled. Our baby be growin’!

For the uninitiated HCG is an acronym for something that doctors check. I think the G is growing, but I’m not positive. I’m pretty sure the H is for Hair. I hope the little ‘un has more than me.

After we got home and got the good news I went out for a run. I was hoping for 16, but knew it would be tough since I hadn’t been drinking a whole lot and didn’t have a whole lot to eat today.

The first 12 went just fine with the first two miles under 9 (way too fast) and the next 10 around 9:20. I was hydrating the whole way, but around that 12th mile I just couldn’t quench my thirst. My running slowed and my head started to ache.

I managed two more miles and was feeling a bit better, but not good enough to go another two miles. I was beat. Bad hydration beat me in. I thought I was going to be OK, but I was wrong. I’m normally good about these things and I usually run in the morning to feed off the carbs from the previous night.

Tomorrow I’ll hit the bike before we head to my parents for a third and final birthday celebration for Mrs. Fitness Geek. And yes, we’re still ecstatic that we’re having a baby. We can’t stop smiling. I’m sure that’ll change once the midnight feedings kick in, but I won’t mind. In fact, I look forward to it. It means we have a baby.

Our first ultrasound is in two weeks and I promise photos!

Words… we don’t need no stinkin’ words

For those that can’t tell, that’s the positive test.
No run today on account of the torrential downpour. But who cares!

Yes.

We just took a home pregnancy test.

Pregnant.

We’re having a baby.

After two tough years of negatives, tears and dashed hopes.

We are pregnant.

Thank you everyone. For the prayers. The kindness. The comments.

We’re having a baby.

One day to go…

What else is there to say? I did a short workout this morning, but it didn’t do much for me. The rain means I won’t be running today, so I’ll have energy to burn before bedtime tonight. I’m thinking an exhausting ride on the bike is the way to go.

Tomorrow. In 24+ hours we’ll know. Will be become a family or …

I don’t want to think of the alternatives. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, etc. Head over to Mrs. Fitness Geek’s blog and tell her hi.

I’ll update tomorrow as soon as I know.

Tuesday Addictions

I woke a little later than I wanted to this morning so my workout was cut short. On the bright side, what I did get done was pretty good. I’ll hit the bike tonight after work to get some cardio in for the day.

Well, we’re now approximately 53 hours away from finding out. Will life change for the better…or the worse?

As the days draw on, I think about it more and more.

On to the Addictions!

1. 24 – How great was last night’s ep? My only concern is the president’s daughter. Can they go one season without a conniving woman? The answer is no, but it was still a great hour of television.

2. 52 hours and 58 minutes…

3. Running – After this past weekend’s run, I’m starting to feel more confident about the marathon. Yeah, maybe I should have picked an easier course for my first 26.2 miler, but what’s the fun in that?

4. Recovering – Rolling, is there any leg muscle it can’t help?

5. The weekend – A long run, time with my family and most likely cake. Not a bad trifecta.

Sore and photos

I’m still a little sore from yesterday’s long run, but I’m confident some rolling in a few minutes will work out the worst of it. I’m still pretty happy with yesterday’s run.

With that out of the way, here’s some photos!

That’s Mrs. Fitness Geek blowing out her candles.

Here she is with quite the smile.

AJ and Callie enjoyed their trip outside yesterday, but were not thrilled about being picked up for a photo.

The Hills Have Eyes*

This morning’s run was a great 16 miler over numerous hills, some of which were killer. It was the longest distance I’ve ever done on this course that includes two very steep, long hills at the 4/12 mile marks(that’s an out and back course).

I felt great after 12 miles when I crested the second of the two hills for the second time. I finished the run with a not-so-fast time of 2:40, but I had plenty left in the tank at the end. I never felt tired during the run and I attribute the slower time to the fact that there a lot of hills that forced my speed to drop a bit.

I think it’s most important that I felt so great at the end despite the course. I only used a single gel and drank a lot less than I expected.

Yesterday was spent with Mrs. Fitness Geek’s family in celebration of her upcoming birthday. She’s a bit uppity that she’s getting older (not old), but I think she’s mostly just nervous about the big test that’s on the same day. I’ll post some photos of her birthday tomorrow.

Speaking of which, we’ve had more good signs of late, but nothing’s official of course. As excited as I get about thinking of a positive, I also know we’ve haven’t received that “YES” yet.

Tonight we’re going to grill out veggie burgers and watch us some Amazing Race and Desperate Housewives. As for me, I’m going to try to do my strength workout tonight but I may push it back a day. We’ll see.

* I thought the title was clever since it’s a movie reference, but I couldn’t find a way to tie it in. I failed as a creative blogger…

Early Bird

I was up this morning at 4:50. I missed a workout last night and was determined to get one in today since I didn’t want to run before my 16 miler tomorrow. I made it out of bed and by 5:30ish I was starting up an exhilarating upper body workout.

We’re through five days of waiting. Yesterday was a bit more stressful as Mrs. Fitness Geek had a good deal of pain that the doctor later diagnosed as “normal, don’t worry about it too much” pain. However, last night’s shot hurt a good deal and that was no fun. We’ve gone through so much, yet we’d go through so much more for that positive result.

Last night’s Office was a prime example of why the show is more than a comedy. It was dark, uncomfortable and built up characters in ways not seen in most sitcoms. You felt bad for Jim, but felt worse for Michael. Who hasn’t been in a job where they felt underappreciated or misunderstood.

But then out of the darkness comes golden lines like “I thrive in unaccountability.” Hehehehe.

Tomorrow will be busy. My 16 miler plus two hours of concession stand work for Kiwanis before heading to Mrs. Fitness Geek’s family’s house for lunch and an early birthday celebration. She’s a year younger than me so technically that makes her my trophy wife, right?

Four down and a half marathon

Woke up early and did four miles this morning in my new shoes. It was on a hilly course that I haven’t run in a few weeks.

The toughest part was getting out of bed. I had about five hours of sleep last night. But I dragged my lazy butt out to the road and finished in 36:28. Not too bad.

Today is also the fourth day until the big test. Not that I’m counting. Not even a little.

Last night on The Biggest Loser the contestants went home for a week and also had to run a half marathon. It was pretty inspiring, but there were some questions: how come some got to run indoors on a track while others ended up outside? I understand they probably ran outside if the temperature wasn’t too bad, but tracks are flat and there is just about no way the outsiders didn’t encounter a few hills.

Also, did anyone not tell the inside runners that running on a track in the same direction for more than a few miles is REALLY bad on the knees. Every running magazine, book and web site I’ve read warns about going in the same direction for more than a few miles because it can injure the knees. It was no surprise then when runners started to complain about knee pain.

And while I’m ranting, Aubrey ate cookies to penalize someone but it was never shown. Did she really not try to penalize the two top people? I find that hard to believe.

Well, I’m climbing off my soapbox now.

Ups and Downs and Addictions

I got up reasonably early this morning for a nice hill workout. I did 8 repeats on a nice steep hill for a good 21 minute run. My calves were tight at the end, but I’m thinking that’s mostly due to not a ton of stretching and a pretty tough run up those hills.

In these last two and a half months before the marathon I’m trying to adapt my training to what I’ll be facing in the race: hills. Lots of hills. Last night I biked for about 20 minutes a good chunk of that on a pretty high tension level. That combined with this morning’s hills did some good for my legs.

Tomorrow I’ll go for a nice longer run, 6 miles probably.

Mrs. Fitness Geek and I remain positive, but not confident. Today is day 3. We’ve tried to keep busy and that’s helped. Last night’s 24 was a great distraction. This season is shaping up to be one of the better ones. On to the addictions!

1. Our hopes – I can’t stop thinking about it. We’ve waited so long. Hopefully our wait is nearly over.
2. Lost – Is it tomorrow yet?
3. Happy St. Patrick’s Day – Drink one for the Irish!
4. Nice weather – It’s about freaking time.
5. Books – I’ve got about a dozen I need to read…