By Jonathan Lessware BBC Scotland news website

Running events have seen a rise in numbers taking part in recent years

But now thousands of Scots are taking up running, with record numbers entering events across the country.

Almost 13,000 entrants recently took to the streets for the women's 10k race in Glasgow.

Many major events have seen numbers grow by up to 25% in the last few years.

Running experts say people who previously thought they were too unfit to jog are now pulling on their trainers.

Many of those new to the sport are taking part in runs such as the Great Edinburgh Run, held last month, to raise money for charity.

Packed schedule

The Scottish Executive is actively promoting running in its battle to improve Scotland's health record.

The dozens of 5k and 10k events for women have seen entry numbers soar in recent years with most filling up months in advance.

In September, the Great Scottish Run will take place in Glasgow and organisers are expecting more than 20,000 competitors to turn up.

The runs form part of a packed schedule of events this summer.

We now have people out running who would never have run before Katie Alexander

The popularisation of the sport has been helped by beginners' running groups.

Katie Alexander, director of Glasgow running shop Achilles Heel, said that in the last six years the type of people visiting her store had changed dramatically.

She said: "We now have people out running who would never have run before. Six years ago it used to be just diehard runners coming in but now we have all types of people.

"Previously heavier ladies and those that saw themselves as unfit wouldn't dare go out in the street running.

"They would have worried that people would have shouted at them.

"But if they can go out in groups with other beginners then it makes it easier."

'Huge resurgence'

Jog Scotland, an executive-backed project to increase the number of people running, now has more than 200 groups with 6,000 people taking part across Scotland.

They include a leader who helps train beginners from their first outing through to their initial race.

Alistair Currie, manager of Jog Scotland, said: "We are in the second running boom. There was a big one in the early 1980s and that died down a bit and a lot of events and marathons fell by the wayside.

"But since the 1990s there has been a huge resurgence.

"A lot of people are running for charity now but we want them to continue doing it rather than it being just a one-off."

THIS SUMMER'S EVENTS 11 June: Edinburgh Marathon 18 June: 10k For Men, Glasgow 25 June: East Kilbride Half Marathon 3 September: Great Scottish Run, Glasgow

On Sunday, 18 June, the UK's first all-male 10k run will take place in Glasgow. The event has already run out of places with 1,500 signed up.

Event organiser Mark Ward, national co-ordinator for the Men's Health Forum Scotland, said they had set up men-only running groups in Glasgow to encourage males to take part.

He said: "Women's running events have become so successful, we thought there was an opportunity for a men's race to become an annual fixture."

The coming months will also see the Race For Life 5k events for women held in 11 of Scotland's towns and cities.