If You're Going to Run, BUY RUNNING SHOES ! !

  Sounds simple enough right? Well to be honest, I never had proper running shoes until this weekend. So here's the story: For the past few weeks, I have been running on a daily basis in basketball shoes. Basketball shoes should be used for playing basketball and that is that! Because of this foolish blunder, I was putting unnecessary strain on my feet and joints. I soon began to have pain in my big toe (had an injury last year). I went to get it examined by a doctor. Their prognosis: that I either had the gout or arthritis in my toe. Really??? I don't eat high sodium foods anymore, and arthritis, I highly doubt it. Then the doctor asked me do I engage in regular physical activity. I told her yes I run and jumprope. Then she asked if I wear proper running shoes, which I said nope. That was the problem. I had to give up my running for an entire week. It was torture, to say the least. As much as I hated running in the beginning, I've grown to accept it as apart of my life. I consider myself to be a runner now and I need it in my life. This weekend, I went out and bought myself a pair of running shoes. Today was my first day in a week where I went back to my routine of running and jumprope. It felt great to work up a sweat like that again. And my toe is feeling better, which is most important. So once again, if you're going to run, BUY RUNNING SHOES!!!