Now that Thanksgiving is over, it feels we are heading full speed into holiday mode. I’ve been shopping for others and making a list of things that catch my eye along the way. I don’t know about you, but I love holiday gift guides for new ideas. So just like in 2014 and 2015, I have put together a list of gift ideas for runners. I tried to include many different kinds of ideas, from books to gadgets to fuel and more. Hopefully this will help you find the perfect gift for a runner in your life (or for yourself!)
Most of these links are to Amazon and are affiliate links. I greatly appreciate your support!
Running-Related Books
Born To Run: My favorite running book that will definitely inspire you, and may even get you to take up trail running.
How Bad Do You Want It?: Work on training that brain to help you PR in your next race.
Hit Reset: Learn about yoga poses that are essential for specific body types and needs!
Run Fast Eat Slow: Recipes for runners by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky. Read about 5 recipes I have tried here.
Compete Training Journal: Start off the new year with a place to track your goals.
Running Gadgets
Garmin 235: The newest Garmin with wrist-based heart rate monitoring.
Wireless Headphones- Jabra Sport: Ditch the wires so you can focus on running and still listen to your favorite music or podcast.
Milestone Pod: A tracking device worn on your shoe that syncs with an app to provide data including pace, distance, steps, mileage, and more.
Running Safety
Road ID: In case of an emergency, its important to have contact information in an easy to find place while you are out running!
Be Seen: These arm bands light up so you can be seen if you are out running in the dark.
Headlamp: This will not only help you to be seen, but will also help you to see where you are going if you are running in the dark.
Sabre Pepper Spray: For those of us who run alone, its important to be able to protect ourselves if we end up in danger while out on a run.
Personal Alarm: If you don’t feel comfortable carrying pepper spray, another option is a personal alarm that will hopefully get the attention of someone nearby.
Knuckle Lights: Rather than wearing a headlamp, try these knuckle lights that are simple worn around your hands to light the way.
Gift Cards for Runners
Everyone loves a gift card, right? Here are some suggestions for places runners love to shop!
Local Running Store
Running Socks
These are the three brands that I wear the most. You may want to do some investigating to see if the runner you are buying for has a favorite running sock!
Thorloses
Flip Belt: I use this to carry my phone on almost all my runs. I have also worn it during races to carry gels and ID. The new ones have a hook for a key so it won’t fall out while you are running!
Body Glide: A necessity for all runners!
Sunglasses: I think every runner should have at least one pair of sunglasses. I like to have a back up pair because I tend to lose or break them easily!
Cold-Weather Running
Yaktrax: These provide traction while running in the snow or in areas that are icy.
Gloves: These have media touch screen-friendly fingertips and snot wipe on the thumb!
Headband: I like this one that has a place for your ponytail! (I also used to have a hat by this company)
Foam Roller: The grid is my favorite foam roller, but if you have never foam rolled before I would start with something a little softer first.
Marathon Stick: Perfect for traveling or for hitting spots that are hard to get with the foam roller.
Gift Certificate for Massage
Gift Certificate for Pedicure
Runners’ Fuel & Hydration
Nuun: An electrolyte tablet that gets dropped in water. The flavors are delicious- I drink this both during runs and throughout the day.
Enduropacks: A liquid electrolyte that gets added to water. No sugar, preservatives, or artificial ingredients.
Tailwind: This gets mixed with water for fueling on the go. Provides calories, nutrition, and hydration. I haven’t had a chance to try these yet (although I won them from Wendy a while back!) but I hear they are really easy on the stomach!
Honey Stinger Waffles: I eat these before runs and they are really easy to digest.
Fun Stuff for Runners
Medal/Bib Display: Show off that hard-earned medal and bib!
Motivational Bracelet: I have one that says “Run Strong”. I like to wear it during a tough workout or a race.
Runner’s Beer Glass: Because after a run we definitely earned that beer, right?
Runner’s Wine Glass: The perfect gift for the runner who loves wine.
Which of these gifts are you planning to get for someone (or for yourself?!)
you need the lulu neckwarmer – I love it!
I am really thinking about getting the run fast eat slow cook book! The recipes I’ve seen looks great! -Are they easy to make?
The recipes I have made so far were pretty easy! Some took a little while so I made them over the weekend when I was meal prepping for the week.
Great list! Most of these are on my list already and you gave me some other ideas!
Great comprehensive list! I was all set to try some Feetures yesterday alas out of stock! I do love the How Bad Do You Want It book. Great read.
This is a) an awesome gift guide and b) an awesome giveaway! I don’t know if I have anything to add. Now find someone to buy me that Garmin, lol
I’m wanting some Knuckle Lights! And I’ve put a medal rack on my Christmas list.
I just got some Goodr sunglasses–they are amazing for $25!
I had never heard of Lumo before, but I’m on their site checking it out now. Thanks!
Wow! So many great gift options. I would love any of these. I will have to show this page to some family members for some Christmas gift ideas.
Great list! I’ve just added a few items to my Amazon wishlist so hoping my family will take the hint!!
Awesome gift guide! I have heard so many good reviews on the Lumo that I want to try it out.
My little brother just decided to start training for a half ironman… maybe a full one day. My idea for him was to get him a bunch of fuel type stuff to try out- honey stinger waffles, gus, maybe some salt tabs.
That’s a great idea! I’m sure he would really appreciate that.
I tried to click on the raffle comment thingie, but I’m not sure I did it right. Am I supposed to leave the comment here or somewhere else? Ha! I want to try the Lulu neck warmer, and I’ve been curious about Run Fast Eat Slow. I’d like to buy that book!
Yep your comment here is good! As long as you click that you commented, it should let you access the other entry options!
I’ve never thought of buying a neck warmer, but it seems like it might be a good idea! I’m a New England runner so it does get very chilly in the winter. I’m sure it would be a good investment 🙂
I have started running again and I look and feel much better like when I was back in high school. Looking forward to this winter challege. Running is going to be tough.
Great list! I really like the Knuckle Lights. They would make a nice gift.
What a great list! And thanks for doing the giveaway..I’d give Born to Run or Run Fast Eat Slow. I love books! (Side note: Have you read Eat & Run by Scott Jurek? Gives a little more insight into Born to Run plus recipes and Scott’s evolution into a runner–Highly recommend it!) I’d also gift the road id. Love mine!
I haven’t read Eat and Run but I want to! Thanks for letting me know that you liked it!
Have been wanting to get a flipbelt for a long time!
Great list – I’m a huge fan of training logs
I would love to definitely get the Milestone Pod, Lumo Run and personal alarm. Body glide is also something I’ve been wanting to try out.
What a great list….just when I was beginning to think about what I needed for my list….Perfect timing!!
Thanks!
I keep breaking my gift guides into smaller chunks, but I might just run out of time! This is a great list and I have several of the items already but there is still lots to explore.
I would love to try the runner knuckle lights. I also love to gift Milestone Pod to runners!! Tracks your run, cadence, speed and more.
The beer glass is fun! For practicality’s sake, I’d love the alarm, PRO compression socks and the neck warmer, all to get me through winter running in Chicago.
Loved your compiled list! I may or may not have forwarded this to my husband, lol!
The marathon stick is on my list this year as well as race entries and nuun
🙂🙂
I’d love to give (and get) Nuun! I’ve heard wonderful things and it would be a perfect stocking stuffer!
I definitely want to get Run Fast, Eat Slow! The Lumo also looks really interesting!
I need the knuckle lights! I already put a medal rack on my list. I think one of your book suggestions would be a great small gift for my running partner.
I have some amazon gift cards from my birthday and I’m planning to finally upgrade my garmin!
WoW! You have everything covered here! Not sure where to begin… LOL
Awesome gift guide! I’ve been wanting the Believe Training Journal for a long time now. One of these days I’ll get it.
a foam roller!
Does it count if I got a number of these things for myself?? 🙂 Great list and love how you grouped them! I did some serious damage on Black Friday and and pretty excited to get all of my purchases – gear, apparel, and nutrition!
Black Friday is a great excuse to invest in some fun running gear:)
This is a great list! I want the Garmin Forerunner 235 pretty badly, especially that teal color!
I really want to try the Knuckle lights and anything for Lulu is always something to try!
I have so many things on this list! 😮 I saw in the comments that someone mentioned Eat and Ru–I first read it after I read Born to Run and it is one of my favorite books…I have read twice and made several of the recipes. Definitely recommend! I don’t have a foam roller, so I might eventually get one, but for now I just use the ones at the gym when I’m really feeling like I need it.
I will definitely have to look into Eat to Run!
The knuckle lights and anything from lulu!
I always treat myself to some Nuun! Although, it tends to be a family stash now as even the kids are stealing it!
Great giveaway and gifts. I love running books. The journal would probably be great for my wife.
I’d like to give the flip belt to my sister.
I have used the Believe Training journal the past two years and love it!
i just read about the lumo run device and it sounds so cool!! maybe it will be a gift for myself at some point… 🙂
Awesome list! I just bought new procompression socks today, so that’s kinda a Christmas present, right? I really wanna try knuckle lights! Anything to help me see better on night runs!
Hubby has a wrist-based heart rate monitor on his list — the Garmin 235 looks like a good one to get.
Im giving some socks- injinji
My mom asked for a safety whistle. The personal alarm looks like it would fit the bill.
I am IN LOVE with that runner’s wine glass. Will definitely be putting that on my list this year!
I’ve been trying to save up and get myself a Flip Belt!
For sure I’m getting my sister some pepper spray, so she can run more outdoors.
the flipbelt looks great
I don’t have other runners in my life to shop for. But I anyways tell my family that Gu and Nuun make great stocking stuffers.
I have been looking at the Run Fast Eat slow cookbook.
I want the Yaktrax… feel like I will need them this year.
I love the Garmin 235!
going to put a pair of running socks in my wife’s stocking
I hope to get YakTrax. I most likely will just buy them myself because it is already getting pretty icy out. Ugh!
I’m planning on getting a foam roller, New running socks and hopefully a new Garmin watch for running this winter! I really enjoyed this roundup of great running gifts!
#nuunallday of course!