New Shoes, New Shoes!!

No - not these designer models

Or even these pretties

But these babies!!!

Sadly my 10 year old Nike Air trainers are falling apart

I'll still need these old friends though!

You know what? Only five days in and I'm loving my new fitness routine of walking( with a view to jogging, and possibly running, in due course). I met a real runner in *Blacks yesterday and she helped me choose suitable new trainers. No need for fancy soles, but MUST be comfortable. (I was lucky enough to find a pair in the sale for only £25.) When I'm ready to try a little jogging, probably after a week of walking my circuit, she advised me to do only two minutes of jogging followed by two minutes of walking and so on as I could manage, to begin with. 

I do hope I can keep this up. It's a glorious world away from the gym. It's about enjoying the fresh air and opening my eyes to the wonderful place I live in. Not only the local scenic pathways and the undiscovered nooks and crannies of the old cathedral city I live in, but the everyday streets I have previously hurried through blind to their ordinary beauty. Even the shopping streets or the footpaths along busy roads that are lined with natural foliage and trees showing their seasonal leaves and berries, often overflowing from an old hedge, or a mellowed brick or stone wall. 


I used to wish I could borrow a dog so that it looked like I had a proper purpose in walking about. Why oh why did I think I needed validation just to walk round the streets and byways of where I live? I've even found that some people will greet me, although more will bow their heads to avoid eye contact. So I've now made a resolution to shout, "Good Morning" at everyone I pass, rather like the Norman French who (in my experience) always "Bonjour" even strangers, at the slightest meeting. So I'll either be sidestepped - so giving me more room on the footpath - or I'll make some new friends!


First time out in my new trainers this morning. I reversed my route which made me a bit confabalosed at first. Also I was a bit late starting. Not a good idea on a Saturday as too many other people around getting in my way. But by reversing I found another scenic path which took me off the city pavements for a bit longer so will add it to my circuit. I also tried about a minute's jogging towards the end of the route, which confused a passing bus driver as he stopped his vehicle at the bus-stop I was approaching and waited for me!  I averted my eyes from the stares of amused passengers and then was forced by embarrassment to keep on jogging until it had passed me by. Of course by then I was puffing and blowing like a steam train and had to slow down to serious looking strides. You have to laugh! ( But not at me, mind.)

* Long-established leading UK outdoor clothing and equipment store, sadly just taken over by JD Sports one of whose horrible shops I had tried first.