I'm a very naughty blogger!

Yes, i know i haven't added anything to my blog for a few weeks. It's not good enough and i'm sorry. I'm a very naughty blogger! However, i do have a partial excuse.

I am continuing with my running/jogging/shuffling regime. I now jog twice a week very early in the morning so as few people as possible see this purple faced wheezing excuse for an athlete passing by. I hate meeting other joggers and walkers because instictively i feel that i have to speed up and cutail my rythmic grunting noises to give the impression that i'm a fit veteran runner! One day maybe, but not at the moment.

However, i am making an improvement, albeit slowly. Very slowly. I jog the same route (i think it's just under 4 miles) and i time myself every run. My times have improved. At the beginning i had to stop several times. Then i alternated between jogging and fast walking. Now, the last couple of times i have gone out  i have completed the route without stopping. Only a few weeks ago i thought that was impossible. So, deep down i am really pleased with my progress.

I just wish i could breathe better when i run. I smoked quite heavily for over 35 years so the legacy is that my lung capacity is not brilliant, but hopefully this will improve as well. I'm glad that i forced myself to start running and know that i will continue barring injury.

Is jogging good for you?

It's an age thing i know, but i've noticed over the past few years that my girth is gradually increasing in size. It's not a beer belly, but it is certainly well rounded and her indoors has been dropping a few hints lately, so i have finally decided to do something about it. I'm not a gym person (not yet anyway) so i have started jogging for the first time in what must be over 20 years.

I am taking it seriously. I even went out and bought some jogging bottoms. However i haven't  bought a pair of running shorts yet. I think i'm embarrassed about showing off my legs! That could be why i prefer to run when in the dark when there are not many people about.

I'm running (by running i mean shuffling) in old trainers that are over 5 years old, so i must make the effort and buy a new pair. I did have a look in town the other day but was overwhelmed by the choice and the range of prices and i didn't know what sort of shoes would be best for me. I would appreciate any help or advice on that from anyone.

I have decided for the moment to jog over the same route and time myself so that i can judge whether i'm getting faster. I think my route is around three miles. I've been out four times now and with a mixture of jogging and fast walking i'm out for about 35 minutes. I'm taking it slow, jogging for three or four minutes,  walking for a minute, and then jogging again. I'm finding it very hard. I've no stamina, i am breathless and my legs are very heavy. Hopefully things will improve as i go along and get a bit fitter.

But, am i doing the right thing? Some people have told me that i shouldn't jog because i could damage my joints and i would get fitter and loose weight by fast walking instead. The trouble is i want to be able to jog. I want to have the stamina and fitness to go running pain free for an hour or so. What do you think?