Author Archives: thefasteryoupedal

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About thefasteryoupedal

Hi! I'm Liz and I am a 38 year old teacher from Las Cruces, New Mexico. I'm also a fan of mountain biking, road biking, running, and traveling. I'm always up to try something new! This blog is for me to share ideas and also to receive new ideas!

17 Weeks!

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How far along: 17 weeks, 2 days

Maternity clothes: Love dresses!  I can wear all my normal ones and not feel so claustrophobic! I feel REALLY big this week and I’m not even halfway there.  Curse you short torso!  It’s time for me to be creative.

Stretch marks: No

Sleep: I’ve been sleeping a lot better because I have been wearing myself out doing all sorts of projects around the house.  I also make myself go upstairs to bed now instead of falling asleep on the uncomfortable bean bag!  The bed is my favorite place!
 
Best moment this week: Not being sick anymore and going for a bike ride with Mike and Kimball.  Love being on a bike! Can’t wait to tear it up this summer!
 
Miss anything: Running and group fitness classes. I really, really miss my quality workout times with my husband.  I love working out with him!
 
Morning sickness:  No.  I just get really, really hungry in the morning.
 
Movement: I am supposed to feel the baby this week.  I am excited!
 
Food cravings: Donuts.  Mike and I had one a couple of weeks ago and ever since, I can’t stop thinking about them.  Terrible!
 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Teriyaki chicken, skim milk, and anything with heavy meat.  Mike had me try a McRib sandwich (because I had never had one before) and hello heartburn! Needless to say, we will avoid that situation again. 🙂
 
Have you started to show yet: Yes…a little too much for how far along I am! Gotta be careful…
 
Gender prediction: This whole time I keep thinking it is a boy, but then I start thinking it’s a girl because I keep thinking it’s a boy!
 
Labor signs: No
Belly button in or out: In…when it pokes out I am going to be weirded out!
Wedding rings on or off: Actually wore mine this week.  
Happy or Moody most of the time: I was seriously WAY moody this week and felt sorry for anyone in my path.  I actually felt angry and enraged after work a lot over the stupidest things.  Thankfully the people around me are saints.
 
Looking forward to: Finding out the gender in a couple of weeks! And Thanksgiving this week!

15 Weeks!

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How far along: 15 weeks, 5 days
Maternity clothes: I went to Phoenix this weekend and found a TON of maternity clothes and since I was with my mom, I bought most of them.  (She is a good person to shop with if you want someone to tell you “Yes, buy it!” Hehe.) I COULD wear some regular clothes if I want, but it’s just more comfortable and me looking less like a sausage. 🙂
Stretch marks: No
Sleep: Still meh.  It’s my fault because I can’t shut off my brain.  My doctor gave me some advice and hopefully it will work!
Best moment this week: So many things this week.  1.  Listening to the heartbeat and finding out everything is right on track! 2. Mike winning first in his triathlon and winning first overall in the bike time!! YAY! I can’t wait to join him.  I was able to do one while I was pregnant, but am excited to use it as motivation after the baby is born.  3. Going to Phoenix with my mom was a lot of fun and a good break from work.
Have you told family & friends: Yes! My seventh graders from last year are finding out too because they look at me with a puzzled look when I am standing in the hallway.
Miss anything: I miss getting a GOOD workout in.  I did pick up on working out this week and it feels so good.  The workouts now are just to stay as much in shape as possible.  I also miss roast beef sandwiches from Subway too.
Morning sickness:  None. I have been very lucky.  I finally had to ask my doctor if it was ok that I wasn’t getting it.
Movement: Totally thought I felt it once.  But I think it was my imagination.  When we went to listen to the heartbeat, the little one was moving around a lot.  The doctor told me it was good that she saw that because it means the brain/reflexes are working.
Food cravings: Anything not good for you, then again, I crave that when I am not pregnant!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Swimming for a long period of time.  Eating dinner is hard for me sometimes too.  I definitely make up for it at breakfast!
Have you started to show yet: Yes! It seems to show more in the evening than in the morning but I am popping out! Looks like the next couple weeks I should be showing a lot more.
Gender prediction: Boy
Labor signs: No
Belly button in or out: In
Wedding rings on or off: Off
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy… it has been a fun week.  BUT I do have my crying random moments with my coworkers and my husband and they look at me all funny.  It makes me feel like a complete lunatic!
Looking forward to: Finding out the gender! 4 weeks and counting!!!

Las Cruces Road Race

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A month ago the Zia Velo team went on a Saturday ride along the Las Cruces Road Race route.  Mike did the whole thing with them and I went along for the last part of the ride.  I was glad to be able to at least know where they went when it came time for the race this weekend because I became the designated photographer for the whole thing.

Mike and I were laughing because on Jason McClure’s bike (that Mike is borrowing) it has the words “Daddy is the best”.  So fitting in many ways.

At the beginning, they rode up Dripping Springs towards the new high school.  It is such a smooth road with a gradual incline (it is also the same road we do the Turkey Trot on too). 

The crew was yelling spontaneous things like “Liz + 1” and “Stalker” at me the whole time, but I was trying to get some good shots!

I like this picture because Mike is waving at me.  You can hardly see it, but it makes me laugh.

My favorite part of the ride is the part that passes the pecan orchards and heads over to Stahlman Farm.  I LOVED the weather mixed with the view too.  Couldn’t have asked for a better day to do it.

Matthew Busche who rides for Team Radioshack came along for the race as a tribute to his hometown.  Mike was able to get a picture with him and we sat with him at lunch and chatted it up for a while.  Nice guy!

Also, in honor of Barney’s birthday I took him on part of the route and this is what he was acting like:

What a beast.

14 Weeks!

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How far along: 14 weeks, 6 days

Maternity clothes: One outfit.  I bought some jeans a size up that I love to wear.  Someone suggested that to me and it was such a good idea!

Stretch Marks:  No

Sleeping: It depends.  When I get home from work, I sleep so well.  When it’s nighttime, I’ve been waking up at 3 in the morning and can’t shut my brain off!  I’m teaching myself to sleep on my left side.

Best moment this week: Getting my energy back and working out.  It feels great to not be so tired all the time!
Have you told family & friends: Yes! My kids at school are all in a frenzy about it!
Miss anything: Roast Beef sandwiches from Subway, Sushi, and lots of soda.  Also, mountain biking.

Morning sickness:  None
Movement: Not yet.

Food cravings:  Fried rice, spicy food, and grapes.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Sometimes the thought of chicken makes me sick.

Have you started to show yet: In the morning, no.  About half way through the day, my gut starts to hang out. Anyone else have that happen?

Gender prediction: Boy
Labor signs: No
Belly button in or out: In
Wedding rings on or off: Off
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy… I did randomly cry when Mike was talking to me the other day.  I even told him that I had no clue why I was crying.

Looking forward to: My doctor’s appointment this week.  I would love to talk them into doing an ultrasound.  I really want to know if everything is ok!!

13 Weeks!

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How far along: 13 weeks 2 days

Maternity clothes: Not yet, but I have used my hair bands as a belly band.  I am trying to hold out as much as possible.  I’m eyeing these cute clothes I saw at Kohls in Vegas though.

Stretch marks: No

Sleep: This week I am definitely a lot less sleepy than the first trimester.  I have been waking up in the middle of the night a lot and can’t go back to sleep.  My dreams are so crazy and super emotional.  I feel so anxious about everything! (Work doesn’t help.)

Best moment this week: Making it to this week.  After miscarrying before, every week is a miracle.  Also, having Mike on day shift has been great for night-time because we actually get to sleep together at the same time.  I sleep so much better when he is home!

Have you told family & friends: Slowly.  I am typing this before we tell everyone and leaving it as a draft.  Mike says he wants to be the one to drop the bomb and claims within the next few days he is going to do it.  Silly guy.  I have told a few of my students and co workers at work because my clothes are kind of giving it away.  I never realized how most of my clothes were form-fitting.

Miss anything: Mountain biking and races.  I love having something to train for.  Also, SUSHI!

Morning sickness: None at all.  I was a little nauseous for a while, but never enough to think of throwing up.  I am very lucky.

Movement: Nothing to be felt yet… but at my ten week heart monitor check, I heard the heart beat for a second and then it would keep disappearing because the baby was moving around. Hyperactive maybe?

Food cravings: SPICY food, garlic, grilled cheese, and grapes.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Microwave food for a while.  Today I actually made a microwave meal and ate it without feeling disgusted.  The thought of Teriyaki Chicken makes me sick.

Have you started to show yet:  A little bump..mainly in the evening after work. It pretty much looks like I am fat, not pregnant.

Gender prediction: Boy
Labor signs: No
Belly button in or out: In
Wedding rings on or off: Off.  I gave up a while ago because I was retaining water so bad.  I don’t want to risk it.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy until about eight o clock when its time for bed.  Then I am cranky. 🙂

Looking forward to: The next ultrasound and doctor visit so we can have a peace of mind.

Mesilla Valley Corn Maze

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 The one thing about living in a small town like Cruces, is that there is always something going on that involves corn, chiles, or some type of farm activity.  We are very lucky to have the Mesilla Valley Corn Maze down the street from us.  Mike and I went a couple of years ago and had a lot of fun just hanging out and having a date night.  We wanted to go again!

It was really nice to hang with Mike because during the work week we hardly see each other. The weather was so awesome!  Love me some fall weather.

You take a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch to pick out  a pumpkin.  We weren’t planning on getting one, but still wanted to go look.

Mike wanted to find a really big one that was “manly” looking for his picture. 

I had to grab a small one. 🙂

Of course, he had to make a remark and demonstrate as to why there were zucchini growing out there.

I loved this pumpkin because it had a Curly Q on top.  The girl next to me got a similar one too.

We were one of the last people to go in the maze and only had twenty minutes to find the lookout and then come back.  The last time we went, we got a little lost.  We decided to play it safe and just walk straight there and straight back.

Of course Mike had to try out the little bikes.  He was having a hard time getting this one going.  We didn’t notices until we saw the picture that one of the tires was flat.  That would explain it!

Around The House

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Since I haven’t been racing lately, I’ve been working a lot around the house on the weekends trying to get everything fixed or cleaned up.  During our busy bike season, things just get thrown every where and I am one that needs a clean house!

My laundry room has always been so plain.  This week I am in the process of installing baskets for all of my cleaning supplies, but until I get a picture, I wanted to show you my wall decorations I put in there.  Two reasons why I am embarrassed of this:

1.  NO ONE goes in the laundry room, so why do I bother?

2.  I have always been one to be against the “stickers on a wall” decorations, but I have to admit, I kind of like it.

 

Second, is organization.  Our kitchen counter looks like a doctor’s office with all of Mike’s vitamins, supplements, gels, and whatever he needs for riding.  I finally put this in.  I tried to get one to fit in our kitchen cabinet, but we have too much stuff.

When I was in Vegas, my mom gave me the idea of freezing tomatoes for when I make my homemade pizzas.  I am making them at least once or twice a week and I HATE tomatoes.  She says that when you freeze them and add just a little to it that you don’t even taste it!

When I was in Vegas I also made a craft using black and white paper to hold my envelopes in the kitchen. I found this cute box at Wal Mart for two dollars and thought I would use it to put our extra biking supplies in.

Fall is here!  I am so excited that I can put out my pumpkin and get out the fall candles.  I love the smell of pumpkin in the air.

So, not much to write in the ways of biking and running, but maybe it will get you motivated to organize and clean the house!

It’s Been A Long Time Vegas!

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 I was thinking about it the other day, and I could not remember the last time I saw my family in Vegas.  Most of my family has come out here to see me, which has been very nice, but in the last month I have been able to go twice!

The sad part is I hardly took any pictures!  When I went a few weeks ago, I met up with my sister and niece for a Saturday run.  They have been practicing for a 5k and I am getting ready for a 5k this Saturday, so it was nice to go out and jog it.  My niece has gotten so old!  She looks like a pro!

Future marathon runner in training.  Speaking of that. I have committed to my other niece (who is 15 years older than this niece), that I would love to join her for the St. George Marathon in October 2013.  I am so excited to train for that!  I never thought I would try a marathon, but I REALLY want to do this and I’m using it as my motivation for the next year. (Plus I heard there was a lot of downhill on it.)

Running is awesome. Too bad while you are running it isn’t fun, but the after effects are what keeps me going.

The other set of pictures I have from Vegas are when I went for my Mom’s birthday/Mike’s Viva Bike Vegas trip. 

It was nice to get the whole family together so we could catch up, even though it was such a whirlwind weekend!

I mean, look at these cute faces!  How could you not miss that??

Can’t wait to see everyone again in December!

 

 

Hiking and Biking The Ocho

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 So I have been taking it easy the last couple months now that school has started (stay tuned as to why I haven’t been racing…I’m sure you can guess!).  So I decided to go on a hike while Mike biked the Ocho course.  Love that course!  I love how it has an awesome, long, drawn-out climb, and then once you get to the top….it’s all downhill from there!

I could barely geta hold of Mike on the downhill because of his super speed down the hill!

Meanwhile, Barney and I decided to take a stroll, and of course had to play a quick game of fetch.

We then proceeded to go the top of the hill and see what was on the other side.  Since it was close to sunset, we heard a pack of coyotes VERY nearby.  If any of you know me, I am insanely afraid of them, plus add the fact that my dog is miniature in size and well…we booked it!

It was nice to get a little jog in on the hike to make it feel somewhat worthwhile.  I can’t wait to get back into the exercise routine again.

P.S.  Here is Barney’s Halloween costume this year:

Viva Bike Vegas!

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 Well, its been a LONG time since I have been in the blogging world.  I blame it on work and lots of things happening.  Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to take pictures of EVERYTHING we have been going, which makes me so sad.

So Mike and I took off for our pilgrimage to Las Vegas for his third Viva Bike Vegas race back in the middle of September.  It’s always a good time because I get to see family in the process and we get a good bike race in the process.  This year it went 122 miles, which is the longest race Mike has ever done.

Here is Mike and his crew at 5 in the morning ready to take on the day!  It was a LONG day…

Mike was so funny because he saw me taking this picture and he hurried to the front to get a shot.  All for the sake of an awesome photo.  This was pretty much our view the whole day…driving around in a van and getting out of window shots!

The best view was when we went through Lake Las Vegas to Lake Mead.  It was sunrise and so beautiful!

I was making fun of my dad because he has this American flag all day.  I was embarrassed, but Mike was so proud of him and how he supported him throughout the race!

My dad kept stopping traffic to make sure Mike was getting his water bottles.

It was pretty cool because my nephews and my brother came out to support him.  We all got fired up to go biking when we come down for Christmas.  These guys were awesome helpers!

Overall, it was a great success,  Even tough Mike busted his bike at Lake Mead and we had to rent him a bike, he still was able to finish the whole thing thanks to the help of the family.  Here’s to hoping that next year goes a little smoother!