For the past three months, driving in Boulder hasn’t been too bad. It’s what I like to call a big small town (or a small big city) and it’s just the perfect size to me. But as I was sitting in traffic on Baseline Rd. last week, I noticed the long line of cars ahead of me at the light. Then it dawned on me: today is move-in day for all of the CU Boulder students.

To me, this marks the official last days of summer. I can remember my own move in day at ISU, and how it’d still be pretty warm for a couple weeks. I’d spend mornings and evenings roller blading down the bike path with my roommates before we’d move our outdoor activities to between classes in the afternoon, when the days got shorter and the temps started dropping. I’ve always loved being active!

That feeling has stuck with me ever since college, and while I was waiting…and waiting in line at that red light on Baseline Rd., it got me thinking about this coming fall and how I was going to transition my current outdoor exercise into the coming season.

For the past 3 months, I’ve been waking up and getting out of the house as quickly as I can so I can beat the heat during my runs on the trails.

One thing I love about summer is the ability to leave the house in a tank top and shorts at nearly any time of the day and be fine. The trade off is only having a couple hour window in the morning and night when the temps are mild.

As we come to the beginning of September, just like every year, I’ve been noticing much cooler temperatures in the morning, cooler days, and the sun lazily creeping over the horizon around 6:30 rather than 5:00 am. I’ve made it no secret that I am a summer lover through and through, but this year I’m actually looking forward to transitioning my outdoor workouts with the seasons.

While I can’t just wake up, slap on a pair of shorts or a running skirt and go, I can put forth the following practices to keep up my outdoor workouts with family and friends:

1. Switch up my workout times.

Fall is great because it basically allows you to work out outdoors at any time of the day. Instead of rising and running, I’ve been enjoying the lunch break run or hike every now and then. It’s nice not to worry about the temps soaring into the 90’s mid-day, and knowing that the brutal heat won’t be there to stop me during my workout.

2. Layer up.

Especially here in Colorado, the temperatures can shift 10 degrees depending on if the sun is out or behind a cloud. Additionally, with hiking being one of my favorite forms of exercise, ascending a good 1,000-2,000 feet – especially in the fall, can be the difference between mild and chilly. In the picture above, Shane and I went hiking with Lauren and Greg at Lily Mountain, just outside of Estes Park. Those capris I have on are actually convertible pants, which I rolled and buttoned up when the sun came out in full force.

I also really like this must-have long sleeve tee from Target® C9 to wear over a tank.

3. Find the sun.

In the summer, I tend to hit up trails with lots of shade and tree cover in order to dodge the heat. It’s nice to visit those open, sunny trails in the fall when a little more warmth is tolerated or even necessary!

4. Use a head lamp.

If your schedule limits you to exercising before dawn or after dusk, a head lamp is a great investment for your workouts. I just bought one for fall and winter hiking and backpacking, and it’s super light and comfortable. Safety first!

5. Join a fall or indoor sport.

Many intramural or recreation sports start up in the fall, and it’s a great opportunity to switch up your routine. I’m actually joining a volleyball team with some girls I met from my spin class that starts up this month, and I’m also planning on joining a rock climbing club! I’m looking forward to the change and the sense of adventure!

I’m also flirting with the idea of signing up for a trail running race this fall. I haven’t raced since 2011, so it will be a well thought-out decision for sure!

How do your outdoor workouts and activities change as summer changes over to fall?

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Target® C9 through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Target® C9, all opinions are my own