I've had people say to me, quite apologetically, "I'm not running yet but I'm going to or used to or insert excuse here." Here's the truth. I DON'T CARE IF YOU RUN OR NOT. The more important question is, "Are you moving daily?" Do you walk your dog every day? Squats and push ups during commercials?
Let's get real. I'm big time into walking. I LOVE me lots of walking. Running makes it hard to find money, take pictures, play with snakes and mud puppies on the side of the road and generally screw around. Half the fun of my "running" is screwing around and finding treasures. I'm not a serious runner. Don't apologize or make excuses to me, the Screw Around. Find out what YOUR thing is and DO IT.
Often people start out with lofty goals, don't write them down and plan out a reasonable schedule or any schedule at all and then they get injured or fail. It's disgusting. Don't get up off the couch and do five miles if you've been sick for three years. For hell's sake, go to halhigdon.com and find a nice, reasonable WALKING plan that you can stick to for six or eight weeks. Find someone who will hold you accountable. Report back to them daily Be nice to your body and don't damage it right out of the gate. Exercise shouldn't hurt mentally or physically. Find something you love.
You can do anything I can do. Chances are, you can do it much, much better than I can. I'm a hack. Find what you love and get a reasonable program to get you there. It doesn't matter how you get your miles in. Biking, swimming, running, martial arts, walking, hiking, rock climbing, gym ratting, CrossFiting, WHATEVER! Commit to something, set your goals high, progress reasonably and move your ass each and every day. You can and you will feel so much better for it!
Don't compare yourselves to others. Compare yourself to you last week. After a month of moving, compare yourself to the you of a month ago. After six months, set your goals higher and be proud of where you've come from. Do more, be more, shoot for the stars. Start today.