Tag: gear

Your Fit Valentine: Gift Ideas for Runners and Yogis

This post originally ran on 2-5-2015. It has been updated!

With about two weeks to go until Valentine’s Day, you might be looking for gift ideas for your special someone. Or you might be looking to grab something for yourself to show off just how much you love running or yoga. This is not an exhaustive list, but hopefully it’ll give you some ideas. (And hopefully it will give the Engineer some ideas too.)

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

Runners

  • Runner necklace. I just love this gold one from AbellaBlue. All the jewelry is handmade and gorgeous. Check out her running jewelry here.
I love running Necklace, gold fill. Marathon necklace, runners jewelry
(source)
  • Race entry. Surely there’s a Valentine’s Day race in and around your city. What better way to celebrate your love than by sweating together . . . as you’re running. Hold hands the whole time for an extra bonus. JK. 😉
  • This super cool shirt from GoneforaRun.com. Such a cute design, and it comes in a bunch of different colors. I personally love the gray. They have many other Valentine’s gifts on the site too–earrings, medal racks, necklaces, socks, and so on.
    • Women’s Everyday Tee Love The Run from Gone for a run (source)

     

  • New running shoes! These are always welcome. I’m currently digging the Hoka One One Conquests. They’re certainly keeping my feet happy. Throw in a pair of Balega socks, and you’ll (or your valentine will) have happy feet too!
  • Favorite fuel (Nuun, Shot Bloks, SportBeans, Clif Bars, GU, Picky Bars, etc.). Who needs chocolate? Okay, chocolate works too. How about a fancy rocky road chocolate bar from Chuao Chocolatier? They also make chocolate-covered bacon, s’mores, potato chip or orange? Delicious.

Yogis

  • New mat. At some point or another, every yogi needs a new mat. I personally love my PROlite by Manduka, but many other companies make great mats (Jade, Hugger Mugger, and Lululemon, to name a few). Hugger Mugger is offering 20% off mats with the code 2016mats. This is a bit of an investment, but I’ve been using my Manduka for about three years, and it still looks new. Throw in some mat spray, and you’ve got an awesome gift bundle. The companies mentioned sell their own, but there are a ton of tutorials on making your own. The Hippy Homemaker offers 5 different recipes here.
Valentine's Day Gifts for Yogis | FrenchFryRunner.com
My lovely Manduka PROlite
  • New yoga clothes. What fitness enthusiast doesn’t love new clothes? I personally love Fabletics. Their Salar leggings are the bomb. Athleta, Lululemon, and Soybu also have some great pieces. For more reasonably priced ideas, check out Old Navy.
  • Yoga blocks, bolsters, straps, mat bags, and other accessories. 
  • Class pass for a new yoga studio. Many studios also have a couples class!
Your Fit #Valentine: Gift Ideas for #Runners and #Yogis. #yoga #running Share on X

Anyone

  • Massage. This is perfect for working out the knots from all those miles and fitness classes. Massage Envy offers a one-hour massage for $49.99. Of course, you might have a place in mind. Make it a date with a couple’s massage!
  •  iTunes gift card. Music is always a great idea.
  • Class pass for a class your Valentine wants to try. BodyPump or a yoga class to stretch out those tight hamstrings, anyone?
  • New earbuds (like these Yurbuds). The earbuds that came with the mp3 player only last for so long.
  • Road ID (see my review here). Better be safe than sorry in any situation. Road ID has cute badges to add to any ID, including some Valentine’s-themed ones: a heart, “love,” “be mine,” etc.
  • SweatyBands. These truly don’t slip off my head no matter what activity I do. These are a great gift for any active person. I’ve heard good things about Sparkly Soul headbands, Junk headbands, and BondiBands too. Junk and BondiBands are also appropriate for guys. 🙂
sweatybands
My newest SweatyBands

 

Other Gift Idea Blog Posts

 

 

 Is Valentine’s Day a big deal at your house? 

Our half anniversary is the day after, so we have a small Valentine’s Day and do something cool on the 15th. The discounts on chocolate don’t hurt, that’s for sure!

Any other ideas to add?

 

‘Tis the Season: Gift Ideas for Runners

Well, I’ve seen a few runner wish lists circulating–like those on Run with Jess and Active.com–so I thought I’d weigh in with some of the cool stuff I’ve seen/wouldn’t mind getting for Christmas. This is definitely not an all-inclusive list, but I hope it’ll get you started.

  • Runner necklace with a distance charm and your choice of crystal color (I like the green) from Kate’s (ShineOnSportyGirl) Etsy shop. Not only does the shop sell necklaces but they also have medal racks, Christmas ornaments, and other running-, cycling-, and triathlon-themed items. Check it out!

 

  • Run 13.1 shirt from 26.2 Apparel. It comes in a lot of different colors and is a great option for casual wear. 26.2 Apparel also offers a “26.2” option for the shirt. I know I would definitely love to get this for Christmas.

 

 

 

 

  • Runner cuff ring with 13.1 and/or Own it! (my motto) stamped on it from CharmedbyCindi‘s Etsy shop. You can customize the ring with whatever saying or distance you want that will fit. Cindi has other great jewelry in her store, including necklaces and cuff bracelets.

 

  • Bold Print Running Headband in Pink and Black from Paula’s Etsy shop (Petite Things by Paula). This is a great option for a running/workout headband, and it comes in many different colors and designs. I love all the patterns these bands come in, and they’re quite affordable.
                                                                

 Other Great (not necessarily “gender specific”) Ideas

Other Gift Idea Blog Posts

There are a thousand things that you can get for the runner in your life, but I hope that I’ve narrowed it down just a little for you. I know that I wouldn’t mind getting any of the above for Christmas.

What are some of your favorite running-related gear and products? 

PRO Compression Socks Review

I’m really excited to review my PRO Compression Marathon socks (size S/M), which I’ve had for a month or so. I used a coupon code to get 40% off with free shipping (they do deals like this a lot) and only paid $30 for them. Since compression socks can cost $50 or more normally, this was a great deal. (See below for a coupon code.) They arrived within a decent amount of time after I ordered them. I was really excited to rip the package open because I’ve been reading about compression and how it benefits recovery and even performance. Well, and I’ll be honest . . . Some of my favorite running bloggers wear them and have promoted them There. I admitted it. Feels good to get that out in the open.

Let’s move on . . .

The first thing I noticed about the socks was that they are so green. PRO Compression offers a lot of different colors, including purple and three different argyles. I thought I’d go for one of the more outrageous colors, and I was pleasantly surprised that they were the same color “in person” as they were online. I love when stuff you order online is exactly the same when you open the box. They were pretty easy to get on, and I didn’t have any bunching issues that I’ve heard other runners have. They were perfectly “squeezy”–not too tight at all–and they were a little thin. I don’t like socks that are too thick, so they were perfect. I’ve worn them both running and for recovery.

A summary of the company:

PRO Compression was born of a runner/golfer’s desire to introduce superior compression socks to ALL outdoor athletes and everyday people. For some time, runners and triathletes have been on the forefront of compression gear. However, runners and triathletes are not the only athletes who experience fatigue and weary legs which leads to a lack of focus and concentration. From marathoners to golfers to factory workers, PRO Compression socks are designed to make you better!

So, what does “compression” mean? Well, rather than trying to explain it myself, there’s a great summary of  compression research at The Science of Running.

I think I might like the socks better for recovery, but that’s what I’ve used them more for. I wore them on one of my longer runs (about 7 or so miles) and felt a hot spot developing on my forefoot between my toes. I’ve had this happen with more than just these socks, so it’s not anything about the sock, I’m sure, that caused the spot. Maybe I’m just more of a forefoot runner. I haven’t worn them on other runs since then, so I’ll have to wear them again and update you all.

I’m really not that tan (or red).

As for recovery, I really believe that they’ve helped my calves recover more quickly, especially after my half marathon. I wore them for several hours right after that race and the next day, and my calves and feet (besides the normal my foot-is-actually-injured feeling) felt great. My quads were a different story. I have to take an ice bath next time. Anyway, I really think they made a difference in my recovery time.

Summary

Pros: Color options, great for recovery, perfect amount of “squeeziness,” perfect length for my height (5′ 8.5″), no bunching or rubbing anywhere but on my forefoot (probably not because of the socks)

Cons: Rubbing on the bottom of my foot. No blister but a hot spot. Some people might want “squeezier” or thicker socks. Some runners have had issues with bunching or having to roll them down a little.

Bottom line: I love PRO Compression for recovery and hope to get more pairs soon as I start to ramp up my mileage for my next half marathon training cycle.

Coupon Code

Enter SOM12 at checkout to get 40% off and free shipping . . .

Enter FIT40 at checkout to get 40% off and free shipping until December 15. Thanks Gene from Run for It!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way for this review, and all opinions stated herein are mine. I just love this product and want to share my opinion about it.