I make sure to thoroughly warm up my muscles
When my husband and I first got married, we had very little money. We struggled to cover our student loans, car payments, insurance, mortgage, utilities and the cost of groceries. Although we were both working, our entry level positions didn’t provide much of an income. There was no room with the budget for extras such as a gym membership. I certainly couldn’t afford to buy equipment to set up a home gym. I needed to figure out how to exercise for free. I started running. Initially, I had very little stamina. I could run for approximately half a mile before I was forced to slow my pace to a walk. However, I gained endurance very quickly. It wasn’t long before I was going for six to eight mile runs around the neighborhood. I worked to increase speed and distance. Unfortunately, I was running in cheap sneakers that lacked proper support. I didn’t realize the importance of a proper warm-up and cool down. I didn’t make sure to sufficiently hydrate. I eventually caused damage to my feet and developed plantar fasciitis. With every step, it felt as if the bottom of my foot was tearing open from heels to toes. The pain became so excruciating that I could hardly walk. There was no way I could run. I also couldn’t afford to go to the doctor. I rested and iced my feet and took ibuprofen. I switched to riding my bike for exercise. It wasn’t until my husband and I increased our income that I was able to invest in specialized inserts for my shoes. I bought a decent pair of sneakers and gradually started running again. I am now smarter about my workouts. I make sure to thoroughly warm up my muscles. I never run two days in a row. I drink plenty of water and I buy new shoes every year.