Yesterday I had hoped to post about my run with the lightning and my Monday exercise, which I plan to do each week: Kettle Bell crunches.

A few things happened, though.

I got back from my fantastic run, which took me through the streets of town for 5 miles. In the distance, lightning crackled against the sky every few minutes, peeking behind a large cloud. This was really spectacular since we never have lightning here in Southern California. I stared at it like a person in the desert who has just stumbled upon some water: In awe. I ran toward it, rather than from it. I know, stupid, right? But it was far away, I could tell that, and it was incredibly beautiful, filling up the night sky, and then the pre-dawn as the sun came up over the mountains in the east. I’ll miss these mornings. I love the mountains, and it is going to be hard to say goodbye to them.

I looked for a video or picture of the kettle bell crunches I have been doing and couldn’t find one, and then the girls woke and we got started on our day. Our day consisted of ordinary Monday stuff, like grocery shopping, a Target run and a walk after quiet time in the afternoon.

Then my mom called. You know how you can sort of tell when people are pulling one past you? She was being very evasive about what she was doing today with her day off of work, and did say her doctor, the one who has taken care of her since her stroke in December, wants her to go to an ob/gyn appointment today because she hadn’t been since she had her hysterectomy about thirty years ago.

I agree with the guy. I have this thing: I go to the doctor for regular checkups, get my skin checked once a year. I am terrified of the big C, as she had it when she was my age and others I know have had it too. I remember my girlfriend telling me when I was just seven or so that my mom would probably die while in the hospital because she had cancer and that’s what happens. It was the girl I was staying with as my mom had the cancer removed.

So I offhandedly asked about her mammogram, which I figured had gone okay. Being a daughter raised by a single mother, we are really close. Then she said, “Well, they found something. Just a little something. I forget what they called it.”

Later she remembered they called it a nodule and that she goes in today for a sonogram.

So, that news fairly stopped me in my tracks.

I had planned to find that crunch video or at least sit down and post last night, since my husband went out to a going away party for a coworker and I had the evening, and the remote, to myself. Instead I looked up breast nodules.

Then I began to watch Oprah’s story about heroin in a small Ohio town and I about lost it. The entire video made me sick to my stomach. Haven’t seen it? You should. It’s about this community in Richland, Ohio where many of the people, families even, are addicted to heroin. They showcased two families. One, a family of five. The parents and two teenage sons, addicted. The baby, thirteen months old, along for the ride.

Okay, I totally get the fact that they are addicted and need help, but why is that child still in their care? He was in the car as they shot up, as they drove to Columbus to get more drugs. I really felt sick after watching this show.

So, that is why the post yesterday never materialized. I was so busy considering breast nodules and heroin that I totally forgot the beautiful lightning I saw in the morning sky.

I’m heading off this morning to swim. I hope that the exercise will make me forget for just a few minutes about this nodule thing. My mom says they are often non cancerous, and that is my hope. She has had so many health issues since last December that I think it’s time she take a break.

My favorite kettle bell/ab exercise. I actually enjoy this ab exercise more than most others because I can really feel it later that day.

Crunch with Kettle Bell:

Standard crunch holding the kettle bell. I start off with a 15 pound kettle bell, and I hold it over my head and back just a little as I’m down on the ground. I lift with my abs up, pulling up the kettle bell and ending up with the kettle bell above my head. Down. Up. Down. You get the picture. Talk about a fantastic burn later that day! Hope you enjoy it. If you don’t have kettle bells you should really get some.

I live in Southern California and I wear flip flops.

Sounds like the beginning of a Shoe Aholic Meeting, yeah? Believe me, if you live in So Cal, you own your share of flops, and you purchase them in every color at the beginning of summer since your feet don’t see another type of shoe for months on end.

In fact, in my parts it is common to wear them year around.

But my love of flip flops has come to an end. Now that my knee has begun to hurt, I believe one of the primary reasons could be my love for these sandal-like shoes.

I’ve worn them completely, totally and absolutely for the past several years. Unless I have on my running shoes, my feet are adorned in flip flops.

No sandals. No slip ons. Very rarely a pair of ballet flats. Flip flops it is.

This study shows, though, that the stride you take when wearing a pair of flip flops can harm your ankles, soles and feet. I believe, too, it has hurt my knee. I can feel it when I’m walking in one particular pair of my favorites, a brown Old Navy. They are simple yet cute and they get me everywhere.

Rather, they did.

Today I’m taking my daughter to the store and we are searching for a pair of good, comfy, probably potentially very dorky looking cushioned sandals. I have to save my knees. I have a marathon to run.

Bye bye, flip flops. It was fun while it lasted.

Ok I have always been the one runner in the pack with the belief that it doesn’t matter what you are looking like when you go out there: YOu are running, for Heaven’s sake! Running, sweating, grunting, breathing heavy. Who the hell cares how cute your outfit is, right?

That was pre-getting ready to turn 40.

Now that I’m just two years shy of that big 4-0 I’ve kind of hit this wall. Hm, how do I explain it? I’m feeling my age, so to speak.

Not that I feel old. No, I still feel quite young, actually.

More like I understand what 40 represents to many of the younger folk (OLD) and that soon I will be 40 (OLD) even though I feel very young. Others may think otherwise (OLD!)

So I’ve been working out like crazy and trying to look my best and I’m fairly proud of the recent results. I mean, after having two kids, two C sections, that’s fairly tough on the body. And I have to work out a heck of a lot more than I have in the past just to look the way that i do now, but it is working.

So I decided to treat myself to some new, cuter running clothes. I spent a few days shopping various stores and not finding what I wanted. I tried a running shop nearby, a sports store and Mervyns. Nada.

Then, today, just on a lark, I stopped at TJ MAXX.

JACKPOT!

I thought I’d spend $50 on one outfit. I instead purchased two pairs of running shorts, one sports bra, a new one piece for swimming at the gym and a cute top for $74!

I’m so excited about the new running shorts. My old ones are not flattering at all.

Yes, I understand I will never look 25 again (though I’m only 28, right?!) but at least I can FEEL good as I get out there and sweat my ass off!!

I’ll post some pics of them soon!

I remember when my youngest was a baby, before preschool, and I would load her up in the jogger, take her to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and jog its entirety-three full miles.

She hated that thing. The entire run she would scream and kick and cry to get out.

Now that baby is in preschool (ah, where did the years go anyway!) and I have another baby that I load up in the same jogger. She’s much better with it. She actually climbs INTO the thing! She enjoys her three mile, half hour or so run.

I, however, really don’t.

First off, I got the jogger at my baby shower, and I had chosen it but it wound up being the cheapest of the bunch. l have a difficult time turning it, have to really lift it off of the ground to make a turn, and the darn thing is just so stiff and uncomfortable to use.

Secondly, where we live in Southern California traffic is horrendous, and while our neighborhood has a few quiet streets, those that surround us are busier than most small town freeways. Seriously, everyone believes they have to go ninety from light to light, which is half a mile (I know, I have tracked it on my GPS).

I’m always terrified when I venture out to run on the streets to get from one track to another, because who wants to run three miles around one track-meaning about six full circles?

I could load it up and take it to the park, but again, it’s such a pain to do this. It’s heavy and awkward and really doesn’t fold up well.

I’m sure some of the more expensive joggers are much nicer. I’ve heard great things about the Bob. I just wound up with one that isn’t so great.

My advice: First, if you are going to run when your baby is an infant, try to do it while they nap. Much easier!

And if you can’t, find a stroller that works well. Do some research, read reviews and ask other runners. I have heard great things about the BOB stroller.  Expensive, yes. But if you can run with it and it is comfortable, totally worth the price!

I used mine from the time my babies were quite young by propping pillows and blankets up around them. Some joggers allow you to really recline the seat, so find out if yours can do this.

Consider the front wheel when doing a test run. Mine does not move or turn. Some people swear by those that do, some say that those that do aren’t as easy to maneuver on different surfaces. I don’t know, I have never used one like this. I wish that I could test one out to see.

Does the jogger have shade? Mine does, and it works well for my daughter. I borrowed a friend’s double for a while when the baby was born and it did not provide any shade, which was brutal for the girls. I ended up trying to tie a blanket in place but it kept falling off.

Always inflate the wheels. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve started off without checking them and figured out halfway through a brutal run that the reason I could barely push the thing was because the tires were almost flat!

Make sure it has a storage place for your water. You really don’t need a down below storage unit unless you plan to jog to the store and stock up on groceries. But you will want a place to put your water bottle as you run, along with your keys and other essentials.

Make sure it turns easily when you test it out. Mine does not, and every single time I have to make a turn, large or not, I have to lift the stroller to do so.

Check the tires. Do they go along a straight path? Mine don’t. In fact, every few minutes I have to pick the stroller up and align it forward again because the wheels veer over to one side. It’s a hassle, and I always wind up with a stiff back and neck after the run because of how difficult this jogger is to steer.

For now, I only use it when I absolutely have to. All of the other times I wake early in the morning and run, so I can be back long before the kids rise from bed.