Hopefully, the training information we've provided will inspire you to lace up your shoes and hit the road. But while you're doing something good for yourself, why not do something good for someone else, too? There's no shortage of races out there that raise money for a worthy cause.

Here's a sampling:
One of the most well organized and effective fundraising programs is the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. And if you're ready to run a marathon or a half-marathon, you're just in time to gear up for their Women's Marathon, sponsored by Nike, to be held in San Francisco on October 24. In return for committing yourself to raising funds for Team in Training, you'll get the kind of support you need to ensure that you cross the finish line. The program includes an intense four- to five-month training regimen that includes advice on injury prevention, racing strategies and sports nutrition. Team in Training also provides transportation to the event and lodging once you get there, plus payment of your entry fee. If you can't make it in October, there are other Team in Training events throughout the year, including marathons, triathlons and century (100-mile) bike rides. Each year, more than 30,000 participants take part, and since the program started in 1988, racers have raised $430 million, 75 percent of which goes to support cancer research, patient and community service programs and public health and professional education. To start training for a good cause, call 800-482-TEAM, or visit www.teamintraining.org.

And if something a little less hardcore is more your speed? Almost every community has a local running club that sponsors regular charitable events ranging in distances that begin at one mile. Some are even for women only. You might also check to see if your community (or someplace you'd like to travel to) offers one of the races in the largest women's-only national road race series, the Susan G. Komen Foundation's Race for the Cure. The series attracts 1.5 million female runners and walkers and has more than 100 events across the country. For information on the Race for the Cure, which supports breast cancer research and awareness, visit www.komen.org. Another series worth looking into is the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge, where company-sponsored teams compete against each other for bragging rights. (It's not a charitable race, but it's fun.) This global running series has 18 events in 15 cities in six countries on five continents. Most Challenge courses cover a 3.5-mile distance and any corporation, be it a four-woman shop or a worldwide conglomerate, can start a team. For more information, click on www.jpmorganchasecc.com.

Another non-charitable, yet still worthwhile event is the New York Mini Marathon, a 10K (6.2-mile) race held annually in New York City's Central Park. This year's edition of the Mini, which began in 1972, is scheduled for June 12th. The 10K distance is a good test of speed, endurance and, since the course consists of rolling hills, leg strength as well. If you need a good excuse to schedule a trip to the Big Apple, this is it.