I love the in between seasons for running: Spring and Fall. If I had to pick one, I would pick Spring. Spring, with the returning birds, returning sunshine (sometimes), the flower and flowering trees — it’s just so hopeful. It’s entertaining stalking all those signs of Spring!
Shedding layers
There comes a point when you’re just so over running in #allthelayers. You feel like a bundled up kid — it’s heavy, and it restricts movement. Like a caterpillar slowly making its way out of its cocoon, the warming temps of Spring allow us to ditch all the layers.
It’s not all rainbows and unicorns, though, because the mornings in early Spring can be pretty darn Winter-like. It takes a while for those longer days to start warming the roads (especially if there’s still snow on the ground), so as I wrote about in Prepping for Spring here, it’s not quite time to put away all your warm running clothes.
New sights
I don’t know about you, but I really struggle to find something to photograph on Winter runs. Often it’s really gray. There’s little wildlife and no pretty flowers.
As Spring begins to unfurl its leaves. there’s literally beauty everywhere around you. Even though we often seem to skip Spring and go straight into Summer, at some point the trees will have leaves, they’ll flower, and the Spring bulbs will bloom.
I have so much fun hunting down the signs of Spring, too!
Lightening the load
You could take that almost literally, as in the days are getting longer and the sun is putting in an appearance more often — both things that just put a smile on my face.
As we move further into Spring, though, I no longer need leggings with skirt. Then I can move on to capris. And one day it’s time to run in a skirt again! There is such a sense of freedom running in a skirt — not to mention not having to be on the lookout for black ice.
Speaking of it’s not all rainbows . . .
The pretty flowers and flowering trees come at a price: for some that’s allergies, and for most of us that’s rain. Spring is often very wet, and when I lived in VT, it was known as mud season — for good reason!
I enjoy a nice run in a warm rain, but cold rain is the worst.
Can we talk about that wind? Spring comes roaring through some days — literally!
Time to race, anyone?
Spring is one of my favorite times to race. Races are sparse in Winter in these parts – but that oh so fickle weather can also get you in Spring races. Not to mention the Pandemic still chugging along.
Take stock of how you trained through the Winter. Are you really race ready, even if all you want to do is have fun? Consider building a base if you haven’t run as much during Winter. Have you kept up with strength training? Now is definitely the time to get back to it!
Consider hiring a coach to help you ease back into racing. We’ve got some great ones in these linkups!
You may also like 5 Spring Running Tips here
What’s your Spring weather like?
Do you have RL racing opportunities?
Enjoying (or sneezing through) the Spring flowers?
Linking up with Zenaida Arroyo and Kim @ Kookyrunner
This week I am also joining up with the new Runners’ Roundup linkup.
Chocolaterunsjudy 
Definitely missing the days of racing every weekend. Spring is the best season for racing.
Need to get my bike out of the basement too.
My favorite thing about spring as a FT worker is DST. Now I can hike in the evenings. Yay!
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Even not being tied to a computer all day, I really dig the longer days, too. Shorter days are really hard on me energetically.
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That’s true: there’s nothing like seeing those daffodils and the forsythias bloom in their happy, bright yellow in spring.
I am missing spring in Switzerland right now – last week I got photos of all the flowers blossoming and this week I’m getting snow pictures!
I hope there are some real-life spring races you can sign up for, Judy.
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We did have a cold week last week (and some snow), but this week is much warmer, thank goodness! We often do get snow in April.
You have such stunning scenery in Switzerland though!
There are IRL races. They just aren’t calling to me yet. I was never a big racer and all the restrictions don’t make them very attractive to me.
Glad they’re there for the people who really enjoy them!
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Right now it is nice and warm. I like it after our Winter in February and then the windy days in March. I was just thinking about the Rainbow Challenge from last year. It would be fun to do it again!
Thank you for linking up with us!
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Nothing to stop you from chasing rainbows. 😊
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I love Spring for all the reasons you mentioned, minus the heavy layering. Our winters are pretty mild in comparison but we still have a change in the season.
I’m hoping for some live races soon. I need something to train for.
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I’m still ok with just running. I have enough going on in other areas of my life!
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spring is such a great time of year, and hopefully this year more than last year, ha! I’m hoping for at least a few real races this year. Once I’m fully vaccinated, I feel comfortable going somewhere for one!
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I’m hoping to travel — most likely driving. We’re actually having some spring this year — some years we don’t, so that makes me happy.
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I prefer fall to spring, but this year I’m liking it more than usual! I feel like usually we kind of skip spring, so I’m enjoying the milder temps lately. And the sunshine has been amazing!
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We often skip spring too, but we’ve been having springlike weather (off & on). I guess we get a bone from Mother Nature occasionally. 😊
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I love the colours that come out in Spring! After our dry winters, everything looks drab so it’s nice when those colours start popping out! But in terms of running, I love Autumn/Winter. It’s a lot cooler than our summers (but without the snow, ice, etc) so I find I’m faster and enjoy myself a lot more. Also, we don’t need to run with all the layers in winter so I think that also makes a difference. Had I had needed layers, I don’t think I’d be singing the same song!
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Yes, come try a below freezing temps, windy run — some people actually love that too! We’re all different.
So you’re in your favorite time to run right now! I guess we both are. 😊
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This year, I am enjoying spring running more than usual. Seeing things bloom and knowing that people are getting vaccinated, makes me feel like everything will be blooming again. It’s so mentally uplifting!
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I think we’ve been lucky that as Springs go, we’ve had a relatively nice one. Even with the snow & rain in next week’s forecast. 😊
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Spring is definitely a beautiful time of renewal! I love seeing all the trees, blossoms, and flowers come back to life. The wind, though. It’s been crazy windy here. Recently, though, it’s been more of a balmy breeze, so it feels more refreshing than frigid.
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We haven’t had many warm days yet so not such a balmy wind. In the mornings anyway.
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I never really enjoyed spring running here because we always seem to go from winter right to summer. That said, this year spring has been amazingly mild and I’ve LOVED being out on the trails, hearing the birdsong. It has been windy but as long as it’s not an icy wind, I’m good!
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I do enjoy running in the spring! I love seeing the flowers blooming though lately I do think the pollen has been affecting me out there! April used to be my favorite month because there would usually be at least 2 or 3 races going on!
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Our spring is really just summer-lite. With pollen. It’s hot. It’s humid. It’s Florida. I’m just glad we can get outside.
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It’s funny, Jenn expressed it perfectly- in Florida, “spring” is just summer. The heat and humidity are ramping back up- winter is our beautiful weather here. But, all running is good running! Reading about everyone’s spring up north makes me nostalgic for my childhood.
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Since I really do hate winter, I absolutely love when spring comes. Those first flower buds make me so happy!
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I agree, although I’ve somewhat come to terms with winter. I’m enjoying the fruits of my husband’s labors with the bulbs. Just too bad we can’t put them in the backyard due to our dog.
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Spring in my favorite season. I love seeing everything, seemingly, coming back to life and the Spring Wildflowers are the best!
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Even with seasonal allergies, I love spring running! It feels amazing to only wear shorts rather than to be stuck in heavy layers.
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I finally got to run in a skirt yesterday. Unfortunately I chose the wrong top & was actually too hot!
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