Getting into Jogging

I’ve started jogging semi-regularly recently and I just wanted to talk about how it’s going so far.

Why I Started

I think it was a combination of several things. The biggest motivator was probably stress relief. When things are getting really bad you can go on a quick run, and by the time you get back and you’re in the shower everything starts to feel better.

I also wanted to improve my general fitness. If you essentially never exercise, you only need to run for a little bit to realise just how unfit you are. It would be nice to feel as if I had some stamina, or if I could run somewhere if I wanted to.

I also have started to get eye problems from having too many hobbies that are screen based, so if I can do anything off the screen that’s just a bonus.

What Equipment?

I think at first I only went out in my running shoes, I was still wearing jeans! I have massive difficulty buying shoes so while the shoes felt ok when I first bought them, it didn’t take much walking to realise how bad they were for me, and unsuitable they were. The problem is that when you first run, it’s a lot of walking mixed with running, so if they’re only comfortable for the running it’s definitely not the best choice.

I’m now using a general sports trainer, which isn’t specifically marketed for running, and it’s treated me much better so far. When I have enough stamina to go for a proper run I will probably switch back to the running shoes or buy better ones.

Since that first run, I’ve also dug up some jogging bottoms, received specialised running socks for Christmas, and bought exercise specific bluetooth earphones to listen to things while I’m outside. The earphones essentially just have a little strap on the back so that they stick to my ear better.

For the first time I’ve also tried the “Zombies, Run!” app which looks incredibly fun. It seems to be an immersive experience where you roleplay as a runner (or runner in training if you are just starting) during the zombie apocalypse. It’s pretty genius. The audio kind of broke halfway through my last run after receiving a phone call, but I think it’s because I didn’t set the permissions correctly. I hope to get this sorted next time!

It’s very cold in the UK right now as well, so I am also wearing a random jumper as well as a normal T-shirt, ideally one I don’t really care about – it doesn’t look like exercise gear at all, but honestly it gets the job done, and nobody has ever looked at me strangely.

What I’m doing

I am mainly going to two parks nearby. One isn’t that great, it’s just got one path and the rest is grass which you don’t always want to run on, but it does have a park with a great swing which I like to use if nobody else is around. Unfortunately that isn’t often the case.

The other park is only 5 minutes away and is kind of tucked in a corner meaning I didn’t spot it until recently. It is really amazing. It’s got a really massive circuit, with cut-throughts and alternate paths to take and possible shortcuts depending on how far you want to go. It also has a playground with a set of swings I can go on too; they’re not as good as the swings at the other park, but they are basically always free.

I’ve just been doing a mix of walking and running at the moment, going no faster than a slow jog unless I’m late for the bus on a different day, and it has been really nice. I suppose now I have the zombies run app, I will follow their guidance or go further if I feel able to.

Dealing with Pain

Exercise is really hard to get into if you aren’t used to doing it, as it won’t take very much at all to make you ache all day or get injured. I’ve really tried to listen to my body, so as soon as I’ve got joint pain I’ve stopped and just walked instead. The aches haven’t been great, they were really bad when I tried to run three times in one week, but it’s completely manageable if you’re going at a good pace.

Even on days when I don’t jog, I’ve always tried to go on a reasonably long walk as well just to enjoy being outside and I think that definitely helps during times when you can’t get out for a while.

Goals for 2026?

It’s really hard for me to come up with good goals to be honest because as long as I am generally a bit more healthy at the end of next year I will be happy. It would be nice to have some good stamina, to be able to consider a 5k run quite easy etc but I’ll also add that it would be nice to get some extra strength from just going on the swings whenever I pass them by. I’m definitely not fat but I’m also certainly no longer skinny, it would be nice to lose my double chin!