beginning to run again

Question
I am 37 and want to get back into shape. I ran the 2 mile in H.S. and would like to get back into running. How should I get started? At my age, should I worry about knee injuries, are they common in runners? Is it better to do intervals of running and walking? And for some reason, I have a mental block about starting a running program....any advice. Thank you.

Answer
I'd start with intervals of walking & running, in order to break-in more smoothly to the training of it.  Too many past runners will assume they can just get back into it, and get tanked very quickly because of the increase in demand on their body.  
Since you ran the 2-mile in HS, I would advise not approaching the activity of running with the same mental mindset that you has in HS for the 2-mile.  Simply run to enjoy the activity, not to jump into competing right away.  (A lot of former runners who return will assume they can just go back into a full-tilt mode of competing again, and rush things too quickly and get injured as a result, or have nagging problems come up in their joints).  I can't say for sure if you're going to have knee issues because I don't know your current workout history or even know what you look like.  Some bigger-framed runners might have issues with knee alignments and such, while smaller-framed runners will typically have little problems.  The more weight you have, the likelihood of something coming up to bother you gets higher.  Its just simple physics: more weight equals more force transferring throughout your body's joints, muscles, & bones.  That's why I recommend for anyone returning to take it easy, start out with the walk/run intervals.  Walk for more time than you run, and gradually decrease the walking time and increase the running time.  You could try 4 minutes walking, 1 minute running, and build to 3.5 walk, 1.5 run, then 3 walk, 2 run, etc.  Its not all in the same workout with that example, but you can get the picture.  If you keep it to 5 minute blocks of a walk/run interval time, you can do 2 intervals out (10 minutes worth) and turn around for 2 intervals coming back home. You'll find a stopwatch handy for this.

Good luck,
Rick Karboviak