I've been running now for four weeks. No, not continuously, every other day! So why has it taken me this long to write about it? Honestly? Because I didn't believe I would get this far. Every week I have been absolutely convinced that I wouldn't be able to move on to the next stage and then, somehow.... And, for me, once it's written down, it's real. If I start writing about it, I'm doing it; I'm a runner; I am someone who runs! No going back then.

My friend, Caitlin, has been trying to get me to run for years. She is a woman whose whole approach to life can be summed up with Yoda's philosophy, "Do, or do not, there is no try". She is positively evangelical about running. Our first session involved more walking than running and I thought I would pass out. I can't believe how quick the progress has been; I still feel like I might pass out but it takes five minutes instead of one.

The only two pieces of kit you absolutely must have are some decent footwear and a good sports bra. Doesn't it make you wince when you see a young woman running in her ordinary bra? I want to grab her and say, "Stop! Look at me! I am the ghost of bosom future. This will happen to you even if you don't believe it ever could; ya cannae change the laws of physics!", and march her off to the nearest sports shop. After that the great thing about running is that you're out your door and going - absolutely no faff, no journey time, go home and have a shower in your own bathroom.

Going to get my first running shoes was terrifying. These are not environments for the faint hearted and I'm as likely to go into one as I am a fan boy comic shop. Geeks ahoy! I found I was not alone in feeling intimidated - a quick Twitter poll revealed that, even committed runners, had to steel themselves to buy their first running shoes.

But Caitlin pointed out that people who are passionate about their sport are delighted when a complete novice shows interest. They want to help you, it isn't in their interests to put you off and make you feel silly. They love their sport and they want to share it. Either that or they need fresh meat for their bizarre rituals.

So, I deliberately chose a quiet time of day and went in when I could see that there was no one else inside. Feeble isn't it? I was armed with my well rehearsed opening line, "I'm completely new to running but my friend is going to take me out with her and she's recommended your shop to me". May I suggest that you use this line even if it isn't true? You get to play the, "I'm a complete idiot, please help me", card and put all the responsibility on to someone else.

Apart from the shoe shop man looking askance at the state of my socks and telling me that I should cut my toenails, it wasn't too embarrassing. Okay, the socks and toenails thing was pretty embarrassing but I have no shame and I emerged with a lovely new pair of running shoes. £70 in the sale - not cheap, I grant you, but a lot cheaper than gym membership. 

Up until now, I've used 'not having proper running gear' and not wanting to invest in it in case I didn't like running as an excuse not to run. Oh, look, I've painted myself into a corner! But enough of putting my life off until some indefinable moment when everything is perfect - for now, my old trackies will suffice. But feeling the part can't be a bad thing in winning some of the psychological battle and it's been pointed out to me that I'll "sweat like a fat lass at a buffet" in cotton and fleece when it gets warmer. So, when I'm sure I'm infected with the running bug, I'll get something neon Lycra. Look out world!

More on the actual running soon...