Gifts for Runners

If you're looking for the perfect gift for a runner, here is my list of ideas.

• The Stick. No runner should be without the best Massage device. I use mine every day, and it makes a big difference, helping me avoid injuries and easing sore muscles. It's $32 at Amazon.com.
• Foam Roller. If your runner already has The Sick, then the Foam Roller is the other great tool for keeping their legs working. It's $25 at Amazon.com for a good quality version that will last.
• Books. The recent bestseller 'Born to Run' is well written and entertaining, as well as thought provoking ($11 at Amazon.com). I've included some other book suggestions below, focusing on entertainment rather than technical advice.
  • Once A Runner, by John L. Parker. Often considered the best book on running, and a worthy read. $10 at Amazon.com
  • Running on Empty, by Marshall Ulrich. An ultrarunning classic. $11 at Amazon.com.
  • Eat and Run, by Scott Jerek. The autobiography of an ultrarunning legend. $17 at Amazon.com.
  • Feet in the Clouds, by Richard Askwith. On British fell running. $13 at Amazon.com.
  • Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, by Kenny Moore. The story of the Oregon coach and founder of Nike. $13 at Amazon.com.
  • The Silence of Great Distance, by Frank Murphy. The story of competitive women's endurance running. $18 at Amazon.com.
  • Ultramarathon Man, by Dean Karnazes. Dean seems to be loved and hated by an equal number of people, but I enjoyed this book. $10 at Amazon.com.
  • What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, by Haruki Murakami. A somewhat rambling tale of running. $10 at Amazon.com.
• Halo Hat. This is by far the best running hat I've found, and I wear mine for every run, regardless of the weather ($22 at Amazon.com).
• Offer to crew. A different gift is to offer to crew your runner through a race or training run. Crewing an ultra is a big undertaking, so don't make this offer lightly. Another option is to offer to drive so the runner can do a long point to point run.
• Foot rubz. While it's not as critical as The Stick or a Foam Roller, massaging your feet with this little ball feels great and is only $6 at Amazon.com.
• Gloves. I've come to love gloves that have a finger cover to make them 'convertible mittens', as they work in a wider range of temperatures. The best I've found are the Saucony Ulti-Mitt which comes with the light and has a place for it to clip on that works well. They're not the cheapest gloves, being $50 at Amazon.com, but they are worth it.
• Sugoi Helium Jacket. This jacket weighs less than 3oz, is windproof, water resistant and is my favorite. (Men's is $54-100, Women's is $65-100.)
• Socks. While socks are unexciting, they make a good fallback. Buy the type of socks your runner normally wears, as a different sock can change the way their shoes fit. If you runner is not using good socks, then consider giving them a modern technical sock. See Blister Prevention and Socks.

Other ideas

These are great gifts, but I'd suggest you ask your runner to find out what they'd like.

• ID Bracelet. Hopefully they'll never need an ID bracelet, but it's an important safety measure just in case. There are a number of options available, such as Road ID for $20. However, if they have any medical conditions, I'd recommend going with MedicAlert.
• Music. Small MP3 players like the SanDisk Clip Zip ($35 at Amazon.com) or iPod Shuffle ($50 at Amazon.com) are ideal for running. For better sound quality, the most important factor is the headphones, so give a pair of Koss SportaPro ($21 at Amazon.com).
• Running light. You need to talk to your runner about their preferences for running lights. Have a read of my running light guide for more details.
• GPS Watch. I recommend the Garmin 310XT for any runner, but there are cheaper options and smaller options, so read Best Running Watch before buying.
• Compression Sleeves. These sleeves are all the rage, and for a good reason. They make a nice gift, but they have to be sized correctly, especially the calf circumference, which makes it tricky for them to be a surprise gift. Of the many calf sleeves on the market, I'd recommend the 2XU Sleeves ($40-45 at Amazon.com).
• Race Entry. Races can be pricy, so buying your runner a race entry is a nice gift, but make sure it's a race they want to do!