10 Ways to Fall In Love With Running Again This Autumn

Beth Shaw
Written by
Beth Shaw
For much of the country, fall means infusing all of our favorite treats with pumpkin spice. But for runners, this means the start of race season. From Turkey Trots to fall marathons, it’s go time. With all that impending fun, how could a runner possibly “fall” more in love with running? Here are 10 ways!
Change the Scenery
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If you are bored of your summer running route, meet up with friends and traverse a new trail or running route you've been meaning to scope out. Be sure to load up on reflective gear as it gets darker earlier.
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Dress It Up
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Fall means Halloween, so find yourself a Halloween-themed race. Halloween is a chance for your imagination to run wild. Get creative and come up with an awesome a Halloween costume as a sure fire way to add some spice to your running life.
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Stop Running
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Take a break from it all. Yes, to love running more, sometimes we need a little break. As the weather cools down, take time to curl up by the fire, read a book or watch a documentary (about running, of course) and recharge.
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Buy New Threads
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In order to prepare for the cooling temperatures, take yourself on a little shopping spree for new gear. From running hats to protect your ears to those long-sleeved shirts with thumb holes, prepping in the fall with some new running gear will bring warmth to even the coldest runner's heart.
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Try New Flavors
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Many runners are creatures of habit, so we eat and drink the same things for every run. While it's best to stick to tried and true nutrition for race fueling, it's nice to try new things and find a new favorite between races. Fall flavors will be hitting the store shelves, so try an apple spice oatmeal pre-run or a warm butternut squash soup as part of your recovery meal.
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Run Longer
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If you've been running shorter miles in the summer, now is the time to ramp up the mileage and use the cooler weather to your benefit. These longs runs can help you reignite that passion for distance running that fell out of favor during the hot summer months.
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Run Less
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Try something new! For new runners, this is easy—add in a fartlek or tempo run to your normal training schedules. For experienced runners, why not try a hot yoga or barre class? Mixing in cross-training will help you love your runs that much more.
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Treat Yourself
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Finish your run with an autumn treat. If you have been training hard for an upcoming race, it's ok to treat yourself after such an effort. Apple cider donuts, anyone? And with a myriad of fall flavors to choose from, there's never a better time to treat yourself.
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Compete Against Others
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Fall races occur just about every weekend. From mud runs to costumed road races, you won't have to look hard to find an event to lace up for. And with the leaves and other foliage changing colors, running is the best way to scope out the beautiful views that nature has to offer.
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Set a New PR
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Nothing will make a runner fall more in love with running than the sense of accomplishment that accompanies crushing previous records. So get out there and get your body in the best shape possible to put old records to bed.
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About the Author

Beth Shaw
Beth Shaw
Beth Shaw is a USA Track and Field Certified Coach and a US Masters Swimming Certified Coach who has completed numerous marathons, road races and an Ironman triathlon. Beth writes a fitness blog called Discombobulated Running and has contributed to Women's Running. She also coaches runners to reach their athletic goals. You can follow her on Twitter.