When my husband and I first got married, our budget was tight.
We could barely cover the cost of groceries and the mortgage on our house. I certainly couldn’t pay for a monthly gym membership or afford fitness equipment. Striving to keep myself in good physical shape, I started jogging. It was free to go for a run around the local area. When I first started, I didn’t have the stamina to maintain a running pace for a full mile. It didn’t take long, however, before I was running anywhere from six to ten miles every morning. Unfortunately, I was using a cheap pair of sneakers I’d picked up at Walmart. They weren’t meant for running and lacked sufficient arch support. I developed some serious issues with my knees, ankles and feet. I was eventually diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. I had no choice but to quit running for quite a while. The pain was severe. I struggled to walk or sleep through the night. Resting my feet, icing and stretching them slowly provided relief. I was anxious to start running again but was worried about the consequences of it. I researched running tips and learned the proper way to warm up and prepare for a run. Thoroughly stretching my muscles and loosening up my joints makes a big difference. I am conscientious about drinking a lot of water. I also tried running barefoot. I am thankful that I have a sizable amount of land that allows me to run the perimeter of the lawn. I’ve worn a dirt path into the grass that is smooth and super hard. Running barefoot has been a game-changer for me. My feet feel so much better and healthier. Although I no longer run every single day, I still run extensive distances.