My advice would be to get fit with proper shoes for your stride type, having worn/improper shoes is usually what causes knee pain.  Start with a couple kilometers and slowly increase your running distance if you feel fine.  Good luck.

Hi B - 

Much depends on what kind of running you plan to do: what surfaces and what distances.

Assuming you're just medium distances (5-10kms) for fun and on level tarmac though, it is important to have good running shoes - make sure that they support your foot's arches and have gel cushions in the heel. If you're running regularly you should really get new shoes as soon as the old ones start to feel "different" too.

The other important thing is to make sure that you stretch before and after your runs - focus on the muscles in the backs of your calves and both back and front of your thighs, in particular. Also, while you're running, keep your shoulders back so you don't strain your lower back, and try to "spring" when you step, rather than pounding the pavement.

The other thing (which is a bit more obvious) is not to train if your joints hurt. Ever ever. Obviously, sometimes you're stiff and you can train through that, but if you think you might have twinged or pulled something anywhere give your body a day or two (or more) to recover. 

I hope that helps. A tip for upping your fitness fast though (so longer distance running is more fun) is to do sprints before you head out on a jog.

Best of luck! 

Shoes are definitely important.

Try them, don't listen to people's advice, everyone's feet are different.

The best option: go into a running shop,

in Geneva: Running Planet (if you mention Amandine @ FitForLife Personal Training, you'll get a discount)

Start slow with a maximum of 5km even if you can do more.

Increase distance and speed progressively.

If you can avoid tarmac, are at least alternate with grass, track, ... it would be better for your joints.

Main thing: listen to your body and think long-term.

Have fun!

The starting tip with  the  5 km (ideally three times er week)  makes a lot of sense. If you then eventually  want - to start thinking about longer distances, once a week a visit to the stupid, boring  gym to strenghten your body helps a lot to avoid injuries as running is definitely not the most balanced sport to do. 

Three  years ago, I started from zero running training to running a full Marathon by training only four monts intensively. I had never any pain - neither during the training  nor the race. The trick was to follow strictly one of the dozens of training plans you find in all kind of running books. Their suggestions - running fequency, gym session, etc. depending on your goals -  make a lot of sense to me. So: If you really want to become better: buy a book and find someone to accompany you to all the runs in order not to loose the fun!

Regarding shoes: The best shop around Zurich is "Ryffel running" in Uster at the Greifensee.

Cheers

Sabine