Spring is a great time to grab your running shoes, but even now that the weather’s nice and you can run outside, it can still be hard to stay motivated. Try these five fun new approaches to running to stay interested all year round.

  1. Make it Social. Take the idea of running with a buddy to a whole new level (although running with a buddy is still a great idea!) by creating a blog dedicated to your running progress. You can post your daily mileage, new trails you’ve found and how it all felt after (amazing, duh!). Share the blog with friends and family and encourage them to keep you motivated by commenting on your progress, too.
  2. Treat Yo’ Self. Okay, okay, we’re stealing from Parks and Rec legends Tom and Donna here, but you don’t have to spend hundreds (or even any money at all, really) to treat yourself after accomplishing your weekly running goals. Whether it’s a new pair of sneakers you’ve had your eye on, a pedicure or just a really long bath with that swell bubble bath gel you’ve been hanging on to for the right occasion, treating yourself every so often when you stick to your workout goals will keep you lacing up those sneaks mile after long mile.
  3. Repeat After Me: Skipping is Not an Option. Here’s the thing: You won’t always have time in your day to accomplish your running goals, and that’s okay. If you turn your running log into a drudgery that you feel compelled to complete, even when you may not want to, you’ll be less likely to actually stick with it. Instead, if there’s a day where you’re low on time or simply not feeling it, commit to not skipping it, but allow yourself to throw on those workout clothes and run for as long as you do have time for (or feel like). Even if you don’t complete your full distance for the day, you’ll feel glad that you didn’t skip it completely, and you can get right back on the bandwagon the next day.
  4. Run for Fun. This can be hard to do sometimes, particularly if you’re training for something, but every now and again, allow yourself to run for the fun of it. Leave that watch at home and take to the trails with nothing but your sneakers, some awesome music and the fresh air. Reminding yourself of why you started running in the first place (new scenery, stress relief, strength gaining, sweating it out) is a great way to stay grounded in your resolve to keep doing it.
  5. Switch it Up. Sure, the treadmill’s great for keeping track of your progress, and your favorite outdoor run offers that great view of that gorgeous lake, but getting a little creative with your routes and switching up where you go from time to time will ensure that you stay excited about exploring new areas with your running, and will help you avoid the dreaded burnout that can occur from doing the same thing, day in and day out.

Tell us — how do you stay motivated to run?