Couch to 5k. New runner here

Track it under cardio, figure out how many minutes you ran, and how many you walked. Track those separately. As for shoes, as others have said, ignore all advice from everybody. Go try on shoes, especially at an actual running store. Everybody has different feet and "comforts". I love my Saucony shoes, my wife loves her Asics. I like one year's version of a certain shoe where other people hate that year. Try on a bunch, and see what you like.

This time last year I could do barely more than the minute on minute off, last Thanksgiving I ran 5k on my treadmill and worked up to outdoor distances. Today I ran my first proper organised 5k, it was awesome! Now I need to perfect it. It gets addicting, you can do it! Remember to take your rest days, and if it feels like you're pushing too hard, repeat a week. You're on nobody's schedule but your own.