Help me out here. I have some strange feeling I might actually have just gone for a run. I put on my old trainers, some shorts, and went for a 25 minute jog/walk/jog/walk type thing around Pollok Park this lunch-time.
My inspiration comes from the realisation quite recently that I don’t do any regular exercise, and seeing 20,000 people run past the end of our street inspired me to actually have a go at it myself. But then I often say that when I see ‘normal’ people doing these marathon things. Somehow though, this time it was was different. Perhaps it’s my age (33), or the fact that it’s not the first time I’ve said “I should do that”, or maybe even the smiles on Frances and her family’s faces when I mentioned I might be doing it, that meant this time I was determined to at least make a start.
It was, as is to be expected this early on, all a bit laughable really - I barely managed more than a few minutes at a time, but having a sense of reality about this is vital: It’s going to take time, so a small amount - regularly - should hopefully mean that things improve quite quickly. A minute or two’s run, followed by a few minutes of walking, meant I got round the Pollok Park circuit I had in mind in about the right time. It’ll also be a nice yard-stick for how well I’m doing. I’m already excited about the possibility of improving to the extent I can do a complete circuit without stopping sometime.
I’ve promised myself a few geeky gadgets to encourage me along the way. There’s a new iPod Nano coming soon, which I think I’ll get to while away the time, and maybe a digital watch with some wizzo features (as my mobile phone isn’t the best thing to be using to keep track of my time). Hey, a guy like me needs incentives!
I’m certainly not as brave, or as determined as Sharon, who seems to be in a similar frame of mind/stage right now, but entering the London Marathon next year!. If I’m still doing it by that time, I’ll be pleased. Whether I get as far as actually entering even a half-marathon is yet to be seen. If I’m still posting ramblings about jogging in a few months time, as the winter draws in up here, maybe, just maybe… 
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September 11th, 2006 at 5:21 pm
OK, now Richard I am going to put on my sensible head and say one thing. Step away from the “old trainers”. Throw them in the bin. Get yourself to Sweatshop (there’s a branch in Glasgow), buy some proper runners and get your running gait analysed for the right shoes. Don’t run in shoes which are no good as you will just injure yourself and give up. I bought new shoes yesterday as mine are coming up to their mileage limit I think and I wanted some which would last me through to the marathon (assuming I get in). I shall be trying them out tomorrow night, as today is a rest day
Here endeth the lecture. I also forgot to say, “Have fun”!!
September 12th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
Well, I’m impressed, Richard. Well done!
Watch out, David & Sharon. That may be Richard zooming past you at the London Marathon one day!
September 20th, 2006 at 10:25 am
[...] A lot’s happened in the short time since last Monday, when I went on my first wheezing run. I’ve realised I’m not as entirely and utterly unfit as I thought I was half way around that first run. I’m not, by any stretch of the imagination fit, but I can already feel some small progress, and it seems a little bit easier each time. It’s still very early days: I’m not setting myself any goals other than to follow the rough programmes outlined in various books/websites of running a couple of minutes, and walking. Building up strength and endurance. [...]
October 23rd, 2006 at 1:31 pm
[...] I’ve been seeing a lot of Pollok park the last few weeks, as I’m still doing my running. It’s now the sixth week of running, and I’ve managed to get four runs in each week (bar a missed day here and there where I rested for a bit longer as my bones have been feeling the strain a bit), and I’m now comfortably managing three miles each morning I run, and a bit further on Saturday - 4.5 miles just this Saturday passed. It’s certainly a good feeling when I’m in my stride, and rewarding when you go that little bit further between breathers. I do have to keep reminding myself that I’m supposed to be building endurance, not distance or speed, at this point. [...]
June 26th, 2007 at 7:56 am
[...] website, and will continue to do so as I build up to the half marathon in September: The 2006 Run, My first run, My first race, and my running [...]
September 27th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
[...] year ago I was just starting out on the running lark. I had a suspicion (once my body stopped screaming from the unaccustomed [...]
September 27th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Two years ago eh… I’ll put money down that in two years time from now Frances will be running with you too (just don’t tell her I said that!).