Running is one of best types of exercise out there and can help to fight the flab and even delay the dreaded ageing process. So what are you waiting for?

Some people take up running to get rid of those last few unwanted pounds, while others use it as a way of achieving more drastic weight loss. As many as 60 per cent of us start running to keep our weight under control, which is just as well as running is second only to cross-country skiing when it comes to burning calories.

Sitting in front of a computer all day does little for your posture. It also makes muscles and bones weaker. Running lengthens the skeleton and places demand on the muscles and bones to keep it healthy. It is also thought to encourage the secretion of the human growth hormone which some celebrities inject in a bid to retain a youthful look.

Running also helps to fight disease by encouraging the production of lymphocytes (white blood cells that fight disease) and reduces the chances of getting a stroke or heart disease by strengthening the heart and lowering cholesterol levels. It also increases the 'good' cholesterol which limits the risk of blood clots and maintains the elasticity of the arteries as they expand during running.

As well as the considerable health benefits, there are also social benefits. Running often has its own community and culture and anyone taking up running can become part of it. New members of all abilities and ages are welcome and the camaraderie between like-minded people can be invaluable.

A bit of healthy competition between friends can be the difference between incorporating running into your daily routine, or giving up at the first hurdle. Non-runners often won't understand your interest or routine, so being able to meet up with people who know what you're going through during training is one of the most useful benefits.

Getting into running can be a great way to give something back to the community around you. Many races are run for charity and one of the better known examples of this is the London Marathon (www.london-marathon.co.uk), which raises money for two charities each April. Two official charities are nominated every year. Another great example is the annual Race For Life (www.raceforlife.org), which takes place across the country each summer and raises money for breast cancer charities.

There are also some seriously wacky races out there to put the fun back into running! In the Great Gorilla Run (www.gorillas.org), as many as a thousand entrants run seven kilometres dressed as gorillas, all in name of charity. As crazy as it might sound, the Great Gorilla Run is fast becoming the bandwagon to jump on in the London running scene.

The fun day in September is all in aid of the Gorilla Organisation, which raises money to help save the remaining 700 mountain gorillas left in the wild. Mountain gorillas are now on the critically endangered list.

Registration for the Great Gorilla Run costs £100, and you have to raise at least £400 for charity but there is support available to help you achieve this and at the end of it all you'll get to keep the gorilla suit! If you want to sign up later for a second race you'll get a 50 per cent discount on the registration fee.

In East Anglia, December 2006 saw the first ever Santa Run which raised money for EACH (East Anglia Children's Hospices, www.each.org.uk). The run is one mile and entrants are required to run in a full Santa outfit to get into the Christmas spirit!

The registration fee is £10 and the obligatory Santa outfit is yours for an extra £5 if you buy it at the same time as registering. Unfortunately, one size fits all, so you'll probably need to make some adjustments! There are Santa Runs in Bury St Edmonds (2 December), Colchester (9 December) and Cambridge (16 December).

There are lots of reasons to dust off your trainers and get running this year. If the health and social benefits don't grab you, think about doing it for charity and giving something back to those in need.