It is that time a year again where we try to find the
perfect gifts for our significant other, children, and parents. If they are runners, you are in luck because
there are plenty of great products for under $50 to choose from. I have put together a list of some of my
favorite products.
Runners who train at night:
This is a very simple product that can keep you safe when
you run at night. The pair of clip-on LED lights are bright and can either
provide a steady light or a strobe effect for more visibility. I like to run with one red and one blue light
clipped on the front of my hydration backpack.
People definitely see me coming.
The Nathan
Sports Orion Strobe light combines a LED light to guide your way and a red
light to make sure you are seen. The
lights can be set to solid or flashing in many different combinations. It clips to your clothes or the included
belt. You will never have to buy
batteries because the Orion Strobe Light comes with a rechargeable lithium ion
battery and a built in USB charging.
If you get
hurt on a run, would the paramedics know how contact your loved ones? With the
Wrist ID Sport from Road ID, they would. It is a comfortable bracelet with
reflective strips and a metal plate that your emergency contact information is
engraved onto. It comes with a Velcro enclosure for ease of use.
For the new runner:
Swiftwick claims their socks are “the best socks you will
ever wear guaranteed.” Their claims have
merit to them. Swiftwick socks are durable
and feel great thanks to the premium materials and compression technology. That means that you will have a blister free
run with superior wicking. If you don’t
like them, Swiftwick will buy you another pair of socks. Now that’s a guarantee!
Having a
good pair of sunglasses that won’t bounce around and aren’t polarized can go a
long way in making your run more enjoyable.
XX2i makes great sunglasses that are light weight and come with a
case. You also get the best guarantee in
the business. You have 365 days to test them out and if you don’t like them for
whatever reason, you can return them and get your money back. They also have a lifetime warranty where they
will replaced if you scratch or break them, you just pay a nominal shipping
fee.
Do you know when to change your running shoes? Most people
don’t. The Mino is a pad that you put under your insole. The LED lights on the
Mino will tell you when to buy a new pair of shoes before you injure yourself
from running in shoes that are worn out. It’s that simple. Get one for every pair of shoes.
Products for Race Day:
Little things can make a huge difference. I will never pin another bib to my
shirt. The Nathan Race Number Belt is a
soft elastic belt that won’t chafe you.
It is adjustable and will fit most people. There is a plastic clip and two toggles to
hold you race bib on.
Nothing is worse than taking a shower after a race or long
run and finding out that you have chafing issues. Blue Steel’s Anti-Chafe Cream protects
against blisters, skin rashes, chafing, and won’t stain your clothes. It is made with tea tree oil which can soothe
irritated skin as well.
When you are
running for long distances, your body needs fuel to keep working at its peak
performance. Gu Energy Gels are only 100
calories and essential electrolytes.
There are dual sources of energy from maltodextrin and fructose for long
lasting energy. If you have ever been on
a long run and ran out of energy, than you know how important fueling can
be. Gu’s Energy Gels are tasty and
convenient.
Products to make your muscles happy:
OOFOS makes the most comfortable recovery sandal
around. Maybe your boss will be okay
with you wearing them to work? Not only
does OOFOS foam absorb 37% more shock than other materials, but they cradle
your arches as well. They are machine
washable and float. Beware, once you put them on, you won’t want to take them
off.
Many runners
say that compression socks help to reduce swelling, enhance blood circulation,
and reduce muscle vibration allowing you to run more efficiently and recover
faster. It may look like you are wearing
knee high socks, but if you can get past that it may help your poor muscles
recover for that next punishing run. The
Allrounder is an extremely comfortable compression sock that uses true
graduated compression, unlike some of the cheaper compression socks out
there. They use seamless TekWeb
technology to prevent blisters. The
Allrounder is also made with antimicrobial fibers to keep the socks from smelling,
and they provide a cooling effect.
Stretching
your muscles out on a regular basis will help you recover quicker, increase
flexability, and reduce the risk of injury from running. The OPTP Stretch Out Strap is 6’4” in length
and has multiple loops to make it easier to hold while stretching. The included exercise book comes with 30
exercises to help you along the way. I
use mine almost every night.
Sometimes you need to ice your muscles after a long run,
but don’t have time to sit and break out the ice cup. Dr. Cool has a solution in
their Ice/Compression wrap. Their wraps come in multiple colors to suit your
personality and you can even get a travel case/cooler (the Dr. Cooler) for an
additional $9.99. You simply wet the wrap, throw it in the freezer for 20-40
minutes, and wrap up that troubled area. Then you can go about your day while
icing that pain in your… knee.
Awesome Deals:
Altra uses the best materials in their wide toe box shoes
with zero heel drop. These are some of
the most comfortable around. Altra made
these shoes light weight, responsive, and flexible. The Instinct 2.0 weighs 9.5 ounces and the
Intuition 2.0 weighs 8.1 ounces. They
came out with the Instinct/Intuition 3.0 so you can get a killer deal on a pair
of the Instinct/Intuition 2.0’s. Get
them while they last.
If you are a
new runner or have been around the block a few times, you probably know that
running brings out some smells that you never thought would come out of your
body. That leads to stinky clothes. The good news is that Sport Suds can keep
your clothes smelling and looking like new.
They have a variety of sizes to choose from as well as a washing machine
cleaner.
Runner’s
World magazine has great articles on how to improve your form, exercises, and
nutrition that can be vital for newer runners. You also look at all of those
runners that have 2% body fat and use it for motivation on your next diet.
Runner’s World magazine has been around since the 1960’s so you know there is a
lot of knowledge there.
Find a
professional running coach who can help you to improve your form, becoming
faster, or reach your goals. Go to the CoachUp website, answer a few questions
and they will provide you with running coaches in your area. There are various
prices based on the coach you pick. Become a stronger runner with help from a
professional, not your friend Bob who keeps tripping over his own feet.
I have been running quite a bit lately, either early in the morning or
at night after I put my kids to bed.
Both times require me to run in the dark. While I live in an area with well-lit
sidewalks, I prefer to run in the bike lane on the road (facing oncoming
traffic). In doing so, I need to take
extra precautions in order to ensure cars see me. Clip-on lights, light vests, and reflective
clothing are all great to wear. Some of
these items can be rather pricey like my favorite light vest, the Noxgear 360 (on sale for $52.50, regularly $69.95).
I found a cheaper option though.
The Apace Vision LED lights are inexpensive and come in a package of
two. You also get 2 spare batteries, Velcro
straps, and a miniature screwdriver, which you will need to change the
batteries. 
Great price 
