Although I cringe a bit at the reality that it's already getting dark earlier in the evening, I feel excited (and maybe a bit relieved) with the prospect of cooler mornings and lower humidity. Yes, my friends, my favorite running season is almost here.

Sure, I know that we still have plenty of time for more sweltering days as we turn the corner into September, but those will become the exception, not the rule. Fall running just plain makes me happy.

Fall running, especially here in New Hampshire, is some of the best there is. It's also a time when race calendars fill up, especially with races with a little bit longer distances.

That's why it should be no surprise that my running friends are starting to think, talk and plan for fall half-marathons and marathons. There certainly won't be a fall marathon on my schedule, but I could be swayed to focus on a 13.1.

One of my favorites — whether it's for the convenience or the challenge, I'm not sure — is the half-marathon offered as part of the Manchester City Marathon. In addition to the full marathon distance (26.2 miles) and the half-marathon option, there is also a relay that allows runners to run the full course over four separate legs ranging from roughly five to eight miles.

This year's Manchester City Marathon is scheduled for Nov. 4, and promises changes to the course. Although those changes are not yet finalized, organizers say the new route is expected to eliminate some of the twists and turns on the second half and will add in some views of Lake Massabesic.

The Manchester race is near and dear to my heart; it was my first marathon three years ago. It was the race that I trained consistently for every Saturday morning with my marathon running buddy. Without fail (and even in the remnants of a hurricane), we would rise and shine in the early morning hours and meet downtown. Each week, we would tackle a part of the course, getting our legs (and minds) accustomed to the hills. (Yes, the course description of “hilly and challenging” should not be taken lightly.)

But aside from the conditioning and training and early morning runs, my memories about that race bring me to a place of camaraderie. The bond you build with a running buddy, especially one you run longer distances with, can't be underestimated. During our runs, which during marathon training could last for hours, we would cover almost every possible topic — from the deep to the mundane. At the end of months of work, we celebrated together by running every step of the 26.2 together.

Perhaps that's why I was particularly intrigued when I got an email from my marathon-running buddy this week asking if I would be interested in training for the Manchester half marathon this year. Over the past three years, the two of us have drifted apart a bit, something that I attribute to the lack of a standing weekly running date. The prospect of reconnecting, with the added benefit of training, is really exciting.

As I've shared, I've also been longing for some motivation, and a longer distance race close to home seems like it could be the ticket. Plus, knowing that someone is waiting for me, donning running shoes and fuel belt, is probably the best motivation to get out of bed for a run. I certainly don't want to leave my friend waiting.

While I jumped at the suggestion when I received her email, I also got a little knot in my stomach. I'm not sure what her running has been like lately. What kind of mileage has she been running? What kind of pace is she comfortable with? Has she slacked as much as I have? At our best, we are a good match when it comes to pace and distance. But I know I'm not at my best and might have a pretty big challenge ahead — a challenge just to be ready for training.

Still, I told her to count me in for weekly training. So now my focus is on training for training with my buddy.

Teresa Robinson's NH Runner column appears every other week in the New Hampshire Sunday News. She can be reached at NHRunner123@gmail.com. Twitter: @teresakrobinson