Hate is a really strong word.

I don’t hate a lot of things.

I dislike some things.

I dislike being stung by a bee. I dislike seasonal allergies.

Roughly eight months ago, I hated jogging. Everything about it as a matter of fact. I really despised how bad my joints hurt after doing it. I found it tedious and cumbersome. I couldn’t understand why people did this for pleasure. There was nothing pleasurable about driving 330 pounds into the ground, one foot at a time.

And I heard the same thing from a lot of different people; biking is better on your joints – just bike.

Don’t tell me what to do!

I had to prove to myself that I could jog.

My goal has always been to run in my first 5k.

The reason this is my goal -I’ve never run in a 5k.

I’ve never enjoyed jogging. It really is a mind over matter thing for me. I have to prove to myself I can do it. Much like losing weight, it’s about changing my own thinking.

I’m not there yet. I’m not ready to run a 5K.

But I am a lot closer than I was eight months ago.

I’m working myself up to running two miles on each jog.

I’m jogging three times a week.

I’m taking it slow.

I’m learning how to enjoy jogging.

Until about three weeks ago, my body still hurt after each jog.

I finally stopped being stubborn and bought a good pair of running shoes. I didn’t believe the hype. I didn’t think a better pair of shoes made that much of a difference… They do.

After researching it endlessly, sorry honey, I bought a pair of Saucony Guide 8. Like cars, shoe lines update every year so I bought last year’s model to save money.

By the way, if you’re writing a blog about shoes for heavier runners, you might want to include at least one pair that comes in an extra-wide size.

Ultimately that’s why I settled on the Saucony over the Mizuno’s that were also recommended. I could find the Saucony in extra-wide in my size – 13.

Wearing a better running shoe made a huge difference for my joints, still having a little hip pain the next morning but the joint pain in my knees and ankles is gone.

I’ve found that I now relax when I run and for the most part don’t think about my breathing.

Now my big concerns are socks that won’t stay up and what music too listen to while I run.

In the last eight months, I no longer hate or even dislike jogging. I get excited when Jodi says she’s ready to go for a run.