Holiday Gift Ideas for Runners - $25 and Under
Here are some holiday gift ideas for less than $25 for the runner on your list:
Books
The Kindle is a popular gift this holiday season. If the runner on your list has (or is getting) a Kindle, here’s a book to add to their digital library. The Runner’s World Complete Book of Running by Amby Burfoot is on sale for only $2.99 until Dec. 3.
If they don’t have a Kindle, they can still read it on a number of different platforms, from a PC to an iPad to a BlackBerry. You can give a Kindle eBook as a gift to anyone with an email address and specify the delivery date. You can also print it and deliver the gift in person. If they don’t want the book, they can exchange it for an Amazon.com gift card.
Here are some other books that you might want to consider:
In Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights, award-winning journalist Alex Hutchinson answers 150 fitness questions, drawing on the latest research from over 400 peer-reviewed scientific journals and interviews with over 100 researchers. Despite all the science, the book is very easy to read, with short sections covering each question and a summary “cheat sheet” at the end of each chapter.
One of the books that helped me change my training and set some new PR’s this year was Dr. Phil Maffetone’s new book, The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing. Dr. Maffetone has trained a number of world-class athletes and is the author of several books on endurance training. His Two-Week Test to determine the optimum level of carbohydrates you need and Maximum Aerobic Function (MAF) heart rate training alone are worth the price of the book.
Matt Fitzgerald’s Racing Weight Quick Start Guide is the companion to his earlier book, Racing Weight. The idea behind Racing Weight is that your performance in endurance events (and many other sports) is a function of your power-to-weight ratio. The less you weigh, while staying healthy and maintaining muscular strength and aerobic capacity, the faster you will be able to run or cycle. The Racing Weight Quick Start Guide lays out a very practical approach to reaching your optimal racing weight.
Magazines
Subscriptions to magazines like Runner’s World and Running Times are always a good gift.
RoadID
For the last several years, I have run with a Road ID Original emergency ID tag attached to my shoe. The Road ID Original tag allows you to provide 5-7 lines of information (depending on the style of tag) for emergency personnel.
Mine has my name, address, phone number, my wife’s cell phone number, and my blood type. The Road ID Original costs between $16-$30. You can get a 15% discount until Dec. 6, 2011, by using the Coupon Code pcSanta215.
Huarache Running Sandals
You can get a kit from Invisible Shoes that your runner can use to make their own Huarache Running Sandals. It’s very easy. You can make a pair of sandals in 10-20 minutes. Invisible Shoes are on sale for 25% off until midnight, Nov. 28, 2011.
Socks
Injinji Toe Socks are a fun gift for the runner on your list. They help prevent blisters and can help you feel more connected to the road. They are also are an essential companion to the Vibram FiveFingers running shoes. Injinji has a new series of Outdoor Series Toesocks made from NuWool. If your runner is planning to run in their VFF’s through the winter, they might appreciate a pair of these.
I’m also a big fan of SmartWool socks for winter running. They keep your feet warm, but they don’t get overheated and sweaty. They never give me blisters, either.
Handheld Water Bottles
Earlier this year, I bought the lightest, most comfortable handheld water bottle I could find, the Nathan Sprint.
It holds 10 ounces of fluid and has a race cap with a high flow, one-way valve. It has a thin mesh hand strap that doesn’t require you to grip the bottle. If you need a handheld bottle with a little more capacity, the Nathan Quickdraw Elite (22 oz.) is a good choice.
Electric Shoe Dryer
As we head into the winter season, an electric shoe dryer is a great gift keep your runner’s shoes dry (and to warm them up before winter runs).
What’s on your holiday gift list this year? Tell me in the comments.
Disclaimer: I received review copies of The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing and Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights and a couple of pairs of Invisible Shoes for evaluation.
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Holiday Gift Ideas for Runners - More Stocking Stuffers
Great Black Friday Deals for Runners
Book Review - Racing Weight Quick Start Guide
Can You Get Fast By Running Slow?
Have You Taken the Two-Week Test?
Win a Copy of Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?
How to Make Your Own Huarache Running Sandals
