Many people simply prefer running alone, but it’s worth trying with a friend—you may find you’ll motivate each other, and have more fun. “Running can be very social. It’s something you can do with friends and family. Just choose your partner carefully and get someone around the same level of fitness and with similar goals,” says Alan Brookes, Toronto-based race director of the Canada Running Series.

And running with others—whether just one partner or a group—helps you stay committed, says Wendy Pauls, a personal trainer and running coach in Waterloo, Ont. “The group dynamic is helpful because of the built-in accountability and the social interaction and support.”