Jogging
I believed it was worth the effort to get fit before the operation.  A jog of maybe 30 to 40 minutes, 100 yards running, 100 yards walking, a couple of times a week, and 20 minutes on the rowing machine a couple of times a week did the trick.  It had the added benefit that I lost some weight too.  Had I known that I would lose half a stone (7 lb) while in hospital, maybe I would not have bothered!

After the operation and the recovery period, jogging was not an option for quite a while.   My sense of balance was not good enough and a brisk walk was enough to keep the blood flowing.

However - I enjoyed eating.............  Two years later and I weighed 14 st 2 lb (almost 200lb) - nearly 10lb more than ever before!!!

My doctor grumbled about my weight and my lack of fitness - so two weeks before Christmas 2001, I started a diet and undertook some exercise, at least 20 minutes, 5 times a week.  Starting with the rowing machine but moving on to jogging.  Soon I could run for 40 minutes, without walking or resting.  I have lost 26lb, am lighter and slimmer than I have been for 10 years or more.

When running, I have to look at the ground about 15 feet in front of me.  If I look into the distance, the horizon moves up and down in an uncomfortable manner.  Apart from that, running is a satisfying way of demonstrating to myself that I live a normal life.

What about a marathon?  I think not - if I could run that far, it would take me about 6 hours!  Maybe one day...

Just to keep my doctor and wife happy, I wear a heart rate monitor while running - a sports gadget that tells me my heart rate and I moderate the effort I put in to keep my heart rate in the aerobic region (about 120 to 145 beats a minute for someone of my age).

2009 Update
I found that road running was affecting my hip joints so I joined a gym in late 2007 and still go every weekday for an hour followed by a short swim to cool down.  I complete a varied programme, alternating cardiovascular exercise and body building ever other day, changing each programme every 3 months, under guidance from a personal trainer provided at no extra cost by the gym.