WHEN the starter's hooter sounded at Surakul Stadium about 6.30am this morning, runners and joggers and even a mother carrying a baby took off into the sunrise.

It was the beginning of a bright and sprightly community run, organised by the local Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and about 200 people put on their running shoes to join in.

The runners, joggers and the mother with her baby were bound for Baan Kuku, across a few main roads on the other side of Phuket City.

Young and old took to the sunrise and the road with great enthusiasm.

Regional Tourism and Sports organiser and Phuketwan's Man of the Year for 2007, Promchote Traivate, ''Mr Ideas'' as we called him back in January, keeps coming up with ways of encouraging Phuket to exercise.

His campaigns have been extremely successful this year and communities of locals are enjoying the sanuk of staying fit together.

Individuals of all ages benefit, and so does the island's overburdened health system.

Keeping communities fit also has the support of Phuket's new OrBorJor president Paiboon Upatising, who turned out close to dawn to wish the runners, joggers and the mother with the baby well.

The morning's happy, friendly outing was a warm-up for the 21st Standard Chartered Bangkok Marathon, which is expected to attract more than 50,000 Thai and international participants to the capital on November 23.

As our large photo album shows, you are never too young or too old to join in, have fun, and keep fit. Check it out.

Everyone was a winner.

Having put on their cool padded shoes, some of these youngsters could be running for the next 80 or 90 years.

When the last one finishes, we will let you know.

Runners looking to sign on for the Bangkok Marathon can do so online at www.bkkmarathon.com, call 1595, or pop in at SC branches or MacDonald's.