With Shane and I both running and racing almost every weekend we usually don't hesitate to buy things that make running, recovery, and tracking workouts easier. We seemingly have everything and it just keeps getting harder to buy for eachother as the years go by. So this year I'm starting early with some brainstorming and I wanted to share. I hope this helps with shopping for the athlete on your list!
Starting on the inexpensive end you may want to check out the iFit app, available on iTunes for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod. It can sync with other iFit enabled devices (your gym's treadmill, etc) as well as track weight, calories, and workouts. You can set a metronome to work on your cadence, hear voice prompts to keep you on track, connect with a heart rate monitor, and more. And it's all only $1.99!
Moving onwards, every runner needs (good) advice and some help with planning their training. Depending on your runner's history and level of running I've come up with two great choices for getting them off on the right foot but less expensive than hiring a coach! The first is the Big Book of Marathon and Half Marathon Training from the folks at Runner's World Magazine. This book offers everything I wish I'd known or done when I ran my first marathon. It will cost you $27.95 on the Runner's World website.
The second book is for the more advanced runner and is extremely popular with those looking to PR by a large margin or qualify for Boston. Pete Pfitzinger's 'Advanced Marathoning' offers a look at the physiology behind each workout and why it should be included in your training. From diet to cross training to plans ranging from 55 - 100 miles per week this book has it all! I found this book as low as $13.57 on Amazon.com.
The next item is for the athlete in your home who seems to have medals jammed in every corner or hanging from every possible space. Maybe your daughter is earning cheerleading medals every other weekend or your son is racing through his karate belts and winning tournaments. No matter the medal or award Allied Medal Hangers has something for you to display it on. We currently have 4 of these in our house plus two extender bars. They are virtually indestructible, beautiful, and hold more medals than I ever thought possible! Ranging from about $40 up to $100+ you can choose from any of the awesome styles available or design your own.
The LG Tone+ is a revamped version of the LG Tone I reviewed last year. You may already be familiar with LG products through your radio or television or mobile devices. The updated Tone contains all of the features and quality expected in an LG product plus some. Listening to music on the Tone+ is a great experience. It has all the sound quality of the really expensive headsets and even offers bass response and noise reduction. This makes it great for listening to music at the gym when you want to block out the grunting guy on the weight set or craptastic canned music they play. If you have a smart phone and the right app you can also experience text to speech so you can have your text messages read to you instead of digging for your phone while walking, driving or working out. With 10 hours of music listening and up to 15 of talk time you don't have to worry about your battery dying during the day. Lastly, the connection to your phone or device uses Bluetooth technology so there's no more wires to get tangled or bounce. The LG Tone+ is available online and in stores. So far the lowest price I've found is $52.99 at Newegg.com.
With the earbuds stowed
Earbuds loose for easy listening
For the stylish runner in your life you can't beat INKnBURN. I talk about INB gear all the time and I wear it even more than I talk about it! I can honestly say that I never experience chafing or constriction while running in their clothing. And it doesn't fade, bleed or lose quality even after tons of times through the wash. For women my favorite items are the camisoles (see the Roses below) and for men I love the Run or Die shirts (who am I kidding? I have one too!). With everything from headbands to calf sleeves to Halloween running gear INKnBURN has something for every budget and every style plus their gear is made in the USA!
I hope this holiday shopping guide helps you stuff plenty of
Disclaimer: I was provided with free product for several of these reviews. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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