Many of you tell me I inspire you and you want to run (for the first time, or to get started again), but you are Truly Terrified. You don’t think you can keep up with me. You think you’ll embarrass yourself if you take me up on my offer to get you started with running. You think you’ll get left behind gasping for air while I run ahead.

I am here to tell you that’s not the case. I am here to tell you I was once in your shoes. I’ve been there, I know how it is.

Compared to most other runners, I am slow as molasses. In all my races I don’t rank in the top 50 per cent of my age group, but I still do it, because I love it. If I can do this, anyone can. I want to help you get started running again.

I’ve convinced my friend Scott Garman to come out to Beacon Hill Park by the petting zoo, Monday night, May 31, 2010, 6:30 sharp, to start running. Slowly. Baby steps. Anyone is welcome to join in.

Here’s the deal: there’s an 800-metre loop that passes by the Children’s Farm petting zoo (map below). If I’m running fast it takes me about 4 minutes to get around it, but if I’m slow it can be 5 minutes or more – and believe me on Mondays I am slow – it’s a recovery run for me, and I will have just done a full-body weight workout. I don’t want to be running any longer than a total 20 minutes.

If you can do one lap, good for you! If you can do half a lap, good for you! If you can run 2 minutes, then walk 3 minutes, then walk 2 minutes — well good for you! I will be there to clap and cheer all along the way.

The point is – you just show up. Because half the battle for anything you do in life is just showing up.

View Run routes in a larger map

Couple of things though before you stop by:

• Please don’t come if you have a health condition that prevents you from doing physical exercise safely. See your doc first and get the go-ahead.
• I’m not a certified personal trainer, I’m not a health care professional, I’m just a passionate volunteer and I want to demystify this whole running thing.
• I can’t tell you how to eat, run, lose weight, or find enlightenment. I just know what has worked for me, and that a thousand mile journey begins with a single step.
• Therefore I command you to go at your own pace and don’t try and keep up if you’re not feeling it. Huffing and puffing is one thing, but wheezing and gasping are another. Take it slow, that’s the whole point of this exercise.
• Likewise, muscle fatigue is one thing, but sudden acute pain in muscles or joints is another. We’re here to honour our bodies, not hurt them. If it hurts, stop.
• I’ll be trying to do this every Monday night, and everyone is welcome, but it really helps to strengthen the muscles and support the joints before attempting any real running. If our little runs inspire you to keep it up and run longer, I recommend getting into a good personal trainer or boot camp to avoid injury.

So please comment below and let me know if you’re coming, or just – show up in your sturdy runners and some sweat pants.