Spring is the perfect season to find new running friends. Head to your local running store or area races to find like-minded people to run with. Having a training group helps build your confidence and makes the miles go by a lot faster.

Have plans to run a fall half or full marathon? Spring is the right time to try out a new model of shoe. Head to your local New Balance store to find a model that works well for you. Once you do, buy a few for your training cycle.

Make sure you have the spring/summer clothing you need. Stock up on moisture-wicking items, including socks to avoid chafing and blisters. Light-colored hats and sunglasses will also help as the days get longer.

Don’t be surprised if your runs start to feel little harder than usual as the arrival of spring brings warmer temps. Allow some time for your body to acclimate and base your runs on effort rather than forcing a fast pace. You’ll soon start to see the paces you’re used to.

Long springtime runs may start out cool but warm up by the finish, so dress in light layers that you can remove as needed. Look for items that pack into themselves for easy carrying, such as the NB Lightweight Packable Jacket.

Eat seasonally. As loads of fresh, in-season produce become available, visit your local farmers market and look for fresh fruits and veggies such as baby lettuces, asparagus, berries, peas, and radishes—all chock full of nutrients to help you fuel for and recover from your runs.

If you switch from indoor treadmill running to outdoor running in the spring, do so gradually. Treadmill running and outdoor running work the muscles and joints in slightly different ways; making an abrupt switch can put you at risk for injury.

Looking to ramp up your running as the weather warms up and daylight hours lengthen? Be sure to avoid sudden or drastic increases, which can lead to injury. A good rule of thumb is to increase your total weekly mileage by no more than 10 percent a week.

Spring is a great time for a fresh pair of kicks, especially if you can’t remember the last time you replaced them. Visit a running specialty store to ensure you get the correct size and type of shoe for your foot. Make a note of when you start wearing new shoes and plan to replace them again after 300-400 miles.

Spring gives us more daylight to work with, which offers the perfect opportunity to visit different running routes and locations. The change of scenery from the limited options of the darker and colder months can rejuvenate your training.

In a similar vein, the increased daylight hours can provide the opportunity to do doubles (run twice) on some days. Just be sure to introduce the extra running gradually to let your body adjust.