Christmas List for Runners

Running is a sport that can be done with little or no gear; essentially you need to wear some clothes and you're set (look at some of the greatest runners of all time- some didn't even wear shoes!). That doesn't mean that there isn't any cool running gear available. There are high tech and low tech gift options including clothes, books, journals, treadmills, foods, drinks, and more. Here's a run down of some cool gift ideas for the runner on your list.

Cheap gifts:

If you're tight on cash or you aren't that close to the person you are buying for here are some great choices for gifts.

Gel (or goo) ($0.75-$1.50 per pack)- Sounds gross, but runner's goo is actually a carbohydrate snack that is easy to digest on the run. Generally long distance runners use goo; if your runner only runs short distances, like a 5K, skip this gift. Many flavors are available from many different brands.

Clif Shot Blocks (about $1 per pack)- An alternative to goo, these are small gummy bear-like snacks for endurance runners. I prefer these over goo.

Jelly Belly Sports Beans (about $0.75-$1.00 per pack)- Instead of goo or gummies you can also have jelly beans on your endurance run. I think these are the yummiest of the three options.

Accelerade ($1.99 per bottle)- A recovery drink that has the magic 4:1 ratio of carbohydrates and protein. I love this drink during longer runs or even weight workouts. It is more expensive than Gatorade, so your friend might appreciate a few bottles as a gift.

Nike+ ipod sport kit ($29.00)- A great motivational device that plugs into your ipod nano. It tracks workout history, distance, and time, as well as giving you updates on your run. You can even choose a power song for when you hit the wall; press a button and skip to your favorite track to get your juices going again.

Sunblock ($7+) - A good sports sunblock is good for any outdoor run, whether or not it is summer. Here are some good brands: Vaseline Intensive Care 25, any Bullfrog sunblock, or Neutrogena SPF 45 Sunblock with Parsol.

Socks ($7.00-$20.00) - Running socks can be expensive when you look at them from a per pair cost, but as a gift they are pretty cheap. Some great brands are: Balga, Smartwool, PowerSox, Nike, and Under Armour.

Shirts ($15-$50)- Running shirts can run much higher than the price range I've listed, but you should be able to find a good shirt within this range. Moisture-wicking fabric is all the rage with athletes in many sports. They are much more comfortable at the end of a workout; no more having a wet, sweat-sodden cotton shirt clinging to you. Some good brands that produce moisture wicking shirts are: Nike, Brooks, Asics, Under Armour, Fitness Gear, Ativa, Mizuno, and Adidas.

Shorts ($20-$50)- Like running shirts, the price can run higher, but a good, solid pair of running shorts can be bought in this price range. Look for moisture wicking material with shorts as well. All the same brands listed in shirts make good shorts as well.

Journals ($10-$40)- Running journals are a great way to keep motivated and to track training trends. You can use them to spot prerequisites for good runs (maybe all days that you got 8 hours of sleep you had a great run) or for pinpointing the cause of injuries (after three runs in your new shoes you developed ankle pain- not enough support for overpronating). I use Runner's World Training Journal, but there are other brands that are good too. You can find running journals at bookstores, running specialty shops, and online.

Pricey gifts:

Garmin Forerunner 205 or 305 ($250-$400)- This nifty GPS device tracks your workout history in running, biking, or a multisport mode. The 205 model tracks calories, distance, time, pace, and route traveled; the 305 does all of this as well as track heart rate. Both come with software to track your history and progress. Very cool item! (I have the 205 and love it)

Horizon Performance Series T1200 Treadmill ($1500-$2600)- This is an awesome treadmill. It has a docking station for your ipod and premium speakers. It also has controls for your ipod so that you can control your ipod more easily while running. It includes a workout history and running programs.

Running shoes ($50-$200)- This is a gift that you'll either need to bring the runner along to pick out or give a gift card. Choosing the correct running shoe is a very individualized process. The runner's shoe size is only one of many factors that need to be considered (gait, width, running terrain, etc.).

I hope this helps you pick out a great present for the runner you know. Maybe I'll forward this article to my family...