This is my second year creating a gift guide on the blog. (If you missed it, you can check out last year’s gift guide here.) I LOVE the holidays, and I LOVE gift giving, so this is something I really look forward to putting together. If you’re looking for gifts for the runner or active person in your life, I hope this gives you some creative ideas. Or maybe it helps you pad your own wish list! I like to think outside the box when gift giving, so the items on this list aren’t all *running-related*, per se, but they’re things a lot of things runners like – good gear, good food, strong coffee, and comfortable loungewear for in between training sessions.
Also like last year, I try to include as many small and women-owned businesses as possible.
(1) Lululemon Align Short (6″) – $58
Bike shorts are obviously super trendy right now. I’ll be honest – I’ve never liked this length of short, but the Align line (truly the most amazing fabric ever) converted me. These shorts are super flattering, SO soft and comfortable, and I love the black camo color. I use these for cross training workouts, weights sessions, or for casual everyday wear. (I love pairing them with an oversized crewneck sweatshirt, a la Princess Di!)
(2) Lululemon Down for It All Jacket – $198
If you regularly run in really cold temps, this is THE jacket to have. It will be your secret weapon for Winter running. It’s pricey, but high-quality, and you’ll have it forever. I recommend going up one or two sizes, as it does run a bit small.
(3) Oiselle Flyout Wool Long Sleeve – $86
Oiselle’s amazing base layers never disappoint. Their Flyout Long Sleeve is already a favorite of mine – the Flyout Wool Long Sleeve looks even better, and perfect for Winter running. Who doesn’t want cozy new gear to help you get out for cold, dark Winter miles?
(4) We Run on Art prints – $18
Jess is an amazing creative and small business owner, and she creates the most beautiful pieces of art for runners. Someday when we have a home (and I get a real home office) I want to purchase several of these for a gallery wall. They’re fun and cute and capture what runners are all about.
(5) Lift Run Perform run coaching – $119 – $199/month
Shameless plug (you can read more about my coaching with Lift Run Perform here), but I think run coaching makes an amazing gift for anyone looking to get faster or reach their performance goals in 2021. Whether you’re just trying to start running, have a big PR goal, want to tackle a new distance, or are trying to return to running after having a baby, there is no substitute for hands-on, individualized training. Feel free to reach out via our website (linked above), or e-mail me personally here. We can help you to gift anywhere from 3-12 months of coaching to someone!
(6) Hanselmann Pottery Thumb Cup – $30
For the coffee- or tea-loving runner in your life, there is no better gift than a really great mug. This one from Hanselmann Pottery is one of my favorites, and guests always love it and ask about it when they come over. It has a little indent in the side where your thumb is supposed to go, and is basically made for cozying up on the couch with a warm beverage.
(7) Farmhouse Pottery Mini Mug Ornament – $32
How cute are these mini mug ornaments?! Hanselmann Pottery and Farmhouse Pottery are two of my favorite sources for great handmade ceramics (we have a bunch of their dishware) – and bonus: you get to help support a small business.
(8) Garmin Fenix 6s watch – $699.99
If you’re looking to splurge on someone you love, this is the newest version of the GPS watch I have, and I can’t recommend it more highly. It has a ton of amazing features I’m still learning and playing with, but what I love most about it is how it’s pretty enough to wear as an everyday watch, too.
(9) Jaybird Vista earbuds – $179
This was the best piece of running gear I invested in this year. I have Apple’s AirPods, which I love for walks and doing chores around the house. But these, hands down, are the best wireless ear buds for running. They’re waterproof, sweatproof, have a super long battery life, and have a lot of cool, thoughtful features that tell you they were definitely designed by runners. (For example, you can tap the earbuds once to pause your music, and twice to skip to a new song. I love this feature, since I usually run with my playlist on shuffle mode.) I also love how they come with three different sizes of eargels, so you can find the right fit for your ears.
(10) Chappy Wrap blanket – $135
A Chappy Wrap is on the top of my wishlist this year. I’ve only heard amazing things about the softness and quality of these blankets (they also come in the cutest colors and prints!), and people love how they’re machine washable. I have my eye on the Sea Watch Plaid color, which I think looks so festive for the holidays. (Note: certain styles sell out really fast, so order soon or get on the waitlist for ones you like.)
(11) Sheex Performance Sheet Set – $147
Once you start sleeping in Sheex, you won’t be able to go back to sleeping in anything else. Their performance sheets were created by two former athletes (and NCAA coaches) who wanted to make bed sheets out of the soft, breathable dri-fit fabric they wore to practice. The sheets are designed to keep you cool (great for sweaty sleepers) and comfortable. We have the Performance Sheets in Graphite on our bed right now!
(12) Boathouse Holiday 2-Layer Neck Gaiter – $12.98
How cute are these holiday-themed gaiters from Boathouse? Gaiters and buffs are obviously a necessity for runners these days, and you can never have too many. What I love about the Boathouse gaiters are how they’re double-ply. They’re truly the sturdiest and most protective-feeling ones I’ve run in, which gives you great peace of mind. If you’re feeling really festive, you can also check out their holiday-themed compression gear, as well.
(13) Indie Lee I-Recover Mind & Body Gel – $48
This Indie Lee product has a cult following and is great for rubbing on tired, sore muscles. (People say it’s also a miracle worker for headaches or migraines!) It smells amazing and is made from totally ‘clean’, nontoxic ingredients – great for the health-conscious runner or active person in your life.
(14) LAKE pajamas – $78 – $122 (price varies)
Oh my word – LAKE pajamas are the best of the best. I have been slowly collecting them over the years and have maybe half a dozen styles now. I also got a few of the maternity styles after having Brady, and they were great for middle-of-the-night feeds. This year I bought a set from their holiday collection for Ryan, Brady, and myself, and I can’t wait to give them out on Christmas morning. Their new dreamknit material (henley set linked here) looks absolutely heavenly, too.
(15) MATE organic thermal loungewear sets – Top ($88) and pant ($138)
What do women want? Loungewear! It’s 2020 – don’t buy us jewelry. I have been coveting the thermal loungewear set from MATE the Label for pretty much forever. They use the most amazing sustainable, nontoxic, organic fabrics that truly feel like butter on the body. (Their organic t-shirts are also amazing, too!)
(16) UGG Flufette slippers – $89.95
I love UGG slippers. I think they’re supremely comfy, and they last forever. These slip-ons are equally perfect for resting your feet between training sessions, and snuggling at home on the couch. What better gift to give, since we’ll all be trapped at home this Winter anyway?
(17) Slip Large Slipsilk Scrunchies – $39
These are a must-have for runners and active people, as our hair takes a real beating from all the sweating, washing, and tight ponytails. I wear these silk scrunchies in between training sessions, as I like to give my hair a break from damaging elastics. Bonus: they look really cute, and scrunchies are very much ‘on trend’ at the moment.
(18) Sprouted Kitchen Cooking Club gift membership – $30 (3 months) – $100 (12 months)
I love love love what Sara has created at Sprouted Kitchen (her cookbooks are amazing) – and even moreso what she’s created with the Sprouted Kitchen Cooking Club. SK Cooking Club membership is really cheap (IMO), and you get SO much with it. Each week she sends you a meal plan with 4+ recipes, a full grocery list, tips and shortcuts for planning ahead, and ways to modify things if you have food allergies/different dietary preferences. It was developed for people who hate or feel overwhelmed by meal planning but want to cook more. I love meal planning and cooking already and still get a ton of value from being a member. The library of recipes you get access to is amazing, and I constantly find myself utilizing it in my own meal planning. I think this would make such a thoughtful, unique gift!
(19) Thrive Market Curated Reds, half a case of clean wine – $83.94
For the health-conscious runner in your life who has been wanting to experiment with ‘clean’ wines – this is a great starter pack. All of the wines included come from low impact, organic, or biodynamic vineyards, and the set is hand-picked by a sommelier to be the perfect complement to your holiday festivities. Fans of clean wine say they give you less of a headache and hangover than traditional wines, thanks to the low sulfite content and no added sugar.
(20) Scratch Pasta Co. Quarantine Care Package No. 1 – $32
Support a small, women-owned business, send someone great, homemade pasta, and help a runner fuel their next training session… win-win-win. Scratch Pasta Co. was created by a former chef with training in Italy, and I think her pastas (especially this boxed set) would make a GREAT gift for anyone who appreciates high-quality food and good carbs.
(21) Bolt Coffee subscription – $18+/month
I’m giving a local plug to our favorite roastery. A coffee subscription was one of our favorite investments this year. We started it after COVID hit, and after we had a baby, so having our caffeine delivered right to our door was much appreciated. If Rhode Island does two things really well, it’s donuts and coffee. PVD Donuts unfortunately doesn’t ship, but Bolt Coffee does. I can’t recommend their beans more highly, and the ‘Roaster’s Choice’ package is especially fun as you get new blends to try in each shipment.
