I Can't Feel My Legs...

Last night, I started off by talking about staying up late to have some time to myself. Well, I stayed up a little bit TOO late last night, and slept past my wake-up time to go to the gym. Ugh. Not to mention I was kind of crabby all day. Apparently I DO require a certain amount of sleep! Anyway, I made it to the gym tonight, and I ran 4.5 miles in 35 minutes. Yes, you read that right, 4.5 miles in 35 minutes. For runners, that probably seems like nothing, because it's not like I was running a 6 minute mile or anything. But those of you who know me are fully aware that I HATE running. I despise it. Short girls, with short legs are meant to do gymnastics. Not run. Kellie and I talk about this all the time. We did gymnastics for a reason! We're short, we can go really hard for short periods of time...but we absolutely HATE cardio exercise. So, needless to say, for me to run any distance greater than a mile without stopping is a feat for me. Apparently this whole "consistent cardio routine," serves a purpose or something. Whatever. I just don't want to be the idiot at the Tough Mudder in July who craps out at mile 2! With that said, I'm fairly certain I won't be able to walk normally for several days. I told someone the other day that I actually like being sore after a workout. I got the whole, "Are you crazy?" look in response. I had to explain that if I don't feel just a little bit sore, I don't feel like I did anything in the workout. Is that weird? Maybe it's just me.

"Stop taking pictures, there's a cupcake in this bag!"

Naturally, after the gym, I had to go out to dinner and ruin all of the hard work I'd just done. Well, actually, Charley and I are back at my dad's house dog sitting again, and there is an awesome restaurant around the corner that has a great Greek salad. I LOVE Greek salads. Paymon's in Vegas anyone? They have an awesome Greek salad, and Janine and I will likely go there as soon as I get in town! Yummy! Sorry, ADD kicking in... Anyway, I was so excited not to cook, and was really looking forward to the meal. Sure enough, we walked in, just to find that it was no longer on the menu. Sad day for me. So, instead of being a good girl and getting a salad, I got a veggie sandwich and probably erased all the work I'd done at the gym. Oh well, it happens!

As much as I have been enjoying training MYSELF to get into shape, it's way more fun to train the girls at the gym. I honestly love the gym I work at. I've worked at some great places in my life, and had the pleasure of working with great people over the years. I've always been the more laid-back coach, who gives a lot of corrections, but is definitely approachable. Well, at this gym....I'm the MEAN coach! I think I come off that way because I'm so stinking loud, and I will call anybody out, at any given time if they're messing around. Plus, all of the other coaches are SO nice. Incredibly nice. I'm nice, but not THAT nice. Ha! I'm not really mean, but I tell all the kids I am, and when they're new, they usually believe it. What I really should say is that I'm strict. I ALWAYS warn them that I'm picky. I am. I've learned from a lot of good coaches with incredible technique, and I've become very picky. I'm also sarcastic, so if kids don't get sarcasm, I have to be careful not to hurt any feelings! Anyway, I brought this up, because I got quite a few new students in my class yesterday. I jokingly told them I'm the mean coach, and I'm very picky, but if they do what I ask them to, they'll be incredibly good little gymnasts. While I was spotting at a station, I noticed two of the girls talking. One was a girl who has been in my class for awhile. She used to kind of run the show (which does not work for me), but she has gotten so much better over the last few months. Anyway, she was talking to one of the new girls. I overheard her saying, "Oh, Lindsey's not mean. She's strict. Kind of like a teacher at school. But she's too nice to be mean." Ha! It was sweet. It gave me a little warm-fuzzy. She might have taken that statement back, if the conversation had taken place after conditioning though! Anyway, I love my little gymnasts, and that was just a reminder as to why I do what I do.

I said in yesterday's blog that I'm excited to go to Las Vegas. Here's a big reason why...This Minnesota April has been horrendous. We're expecting snow tomorrow. Accumulating snow. Seriously? Did the universe forget that it's April? I mean, come on, cut me a break. It's my first Minnesota winter in 10 years, and it's been brutal! Another snow, means another thaw, which means MORE ALLERGIES. Ugh. I can't wait to be in that fabulous Vegas weather! Just watch, it will probably snow while I'm there.  I'm also looking forward to having a little time to myself. Charley is going to get to spend some time with her father. A significant amount of time (5 or 6 days). Not that I won't see her at all during that time, but he will be the primary parent on those days. I don't even remember what it's like to just relax and do nothing. It's going to be marvelous. I took a couple of days off of work, too, so when I'm not administering tests, I'll be lying by the pool with a gossip magazine in hand. Although I'm about 4 years disconnected from celebrity gossip, so I probably won't even know half of the people in the magazines. But still....Heaven!

 Okay, a teacher story... I've talked about working in a low-income school when I was in Las Vegas. Coming from Edina, let's just say it is a totally different world. I remember my first after-school event, when the parents were going around to meet their children's new teachers. When we were all in the multi-purpose room and the principal was explaining what was going on, and welcoming parents to the school, the teachers just surveyed the crowd. There were women in pajama pants, and others dressed like they were going out to the club. There were men with pants down to their knees, and shirts with swear words on them. I looked at my friend and just said, "They know this is a school, right?" She laughed, and nodded. Anyway, I came to expect that kind of dress, as I worked there for several years. One day, when I was doing my student teaching (yes, I was forced to student teach even after I had my own classroom for two years), I walked the students out to the line. One of the parents came up to me looking for her son. As I turned to look at her, I was in shock. Remember, this was an elementary school. The woman was in booty shorts and a white sports bra. That's it. And she was NOT a slight woman. I passed off her son, and watched her walk away, in complete shock. One of my past students came up to me and asked, "Ummm....Ms. Pierron....are we allowed to wear JUST a bra to school?" "No, honey, you're not," I replied. She whistled, cocked her head to the side, in the direction of the mother, and said, "Well then she better get out of here! Because I don't think ANY of us need to be looking at that." Took the words right out of my mouth.