I’ve always been an athlete, not a runner. It’s one thing to run up and down a basketball court or run the bases in a softball game, but running for an extended period of time hasn’t always appealed to me.

But during the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to assist with the Windmill Whirl 5K Run during the Batavia Park District Windmill City Festival. There’s something very exciting about seeing a first-time runner cross the finish line.

It’s made me think about what it would take to get started. You might say “just start running,” but there are a few key things to think about before hitting the pavement. According to Caroline Cayton of Dick Pond Athletics, it takes two items to get started: a good shoe and a good sock.