Runner Insight

^Click Arrow Above To Listen

This is the third (and last one before the end of the year) installment of our “Gifts for Runners” series. Because sometimes it’s hard to know what to get the runner on your shopping list, to help you out, I’ve written an eBook that you can get for free. It’s called “Gifts For Runners – More Than 50 Unique and Creative Gifts For The Runner In Your Life” It’s written in an easy to read, relaxed style in a quick downloading .pdf file format. It’s yours at absolutely no cost, just by clicking on the link above or filling in the web form just below. It’s also available via a link in the sidebar under “Pages” if you know someone that wants to download it later.

____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

In the meantime, here’s an excerpt with clothing accessory items that make great gifts for runners….the links are active, and they should all be formatted to open in a new window. So you can click on them to see pictures or get more information or even go ahead and order online and not lose your place on this page…

Not only do runners need the basics like running shirts and shorts, they need other accessory apparel items, giving you the opportunity to choose from a plethora of great gift ideas.

• Running Socks – The double-layer socks are great for preventing blisters. I wasn’t sure about these socks at first, but with a blister-free guarantee, how could I go wrong? I tried them out, and they were right! Not even when breaking in a new pair of running shoes did I get blisters. So keep these in mind as a great gift idea for your runner.

• Running Hats – I wear a running hat all the time. Any generic visor or baseball cap will perform the basic function of keeping the sweat out of my eyes, as well as blocking the glare. In the summer, it’s relief from the hot sun baking the top of my skull.

However, a cap designed specially for runners is even better, as the style and fabric is specifically designed to vent out the heat and wick away the moisture from sweat. Even in the winter, I can usually still wear my running hat most of the time, but there are days when it’s cold enough on my ears that I need a skull cap or fleece hat.

• Gloves – I like to wear the stretchy knit gloves. They are kind of a one-size-stretches-to-fit-most thing. We just got some on sale a few weeks ago for $1.99 per 2 pair of them.  We stocked up. They come in all sorts of colors, and if you lose one, who cares. At $1.00 or $2.00 a pair, it doesn’t hurt so bad to lose them. But some runners need warmer gloves, and there are many styles to choose from.

• Sweatband/Headband/Wrist Bands – There are so many different styles and colors, it’s hard to choose. They have the elastic band style; they have Velcro closures; they even have one called the Sweat Gutr Headband, which I haven’t seen in person or used, but looks like it channels the sweat from your brow away from your eyes – like a rain gutter. Hmmm. I’d be curious as to how well that one works. If you’ve tried it, let me know.

• Neck Wraps/Warmers – I like the kind by Turtle Fur. I use it as a neck warmer when I’m running in windy and cold conditions, but I also use it to tuck into my running tights over my belly.  It’s important for anyone (but especially an outdoor athlete) to avoid losing too much heat from the body’s core, so that’s one of my strategies to keep one of the most important spots warm.

If you still need more ideas, and haven’t downloaded your copy of the free eBook yet, you’ll want to do so post-haste. Just click here right now – “Gifts For Runners – More Than 50 Unique and Creative Gifts For The Runner In Your Life” The price is right anyway…

How ’bout it?

-Vision Runner

Popularity: 7% [?]

^ Click Arrow Above To Listen

Imagine giving a gift that your runner will use every time they head out the door to go running. If you’re not a runner, you are probably flabbergasted at the thought of having to come up with the inspired gift idea that your runner will treasure for many runs to come. Well, you can now set aside your “flabbergastion” and confusion.  

Yes, it’s true; you can give a cherished gift that will make your runner curious as to the source of your insight, and they’ll wonder how in the world they ever lived without it! But keep them guessing. You don’t have to tell all your secrets.

Being a runner myself for more than 15 years, I can attest to how much a runner can truly appreciate a thoughtful running gift, and you don’t have to sacrifice your self-respect by giving them the ubiquitous box of cordial cherries or resorting to the brightly colored toe socks, or whatever else you happen to walk by in the drugstore in a desperate search for something even slightly appropriate.

I know, I know….it’s not quite that bad…maybe.

To help you out, I’ve written an eBook that you can get for free. It’s called “Gifts For Runners – More Than 50 Unique and Creative Gifts For The Runner In Your Life”  It’s written in an easy to read, relaxed style in a quick downloading .pdf file format.  It’s yours at absolutely no cost, just by clicking on the link above or you can more easily fill in the form just below. There’s also a link in the sidebar under “Pages” if you know someone that wants to download it later.

____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

In the meantime, here’s an excerpt with my Top 5 Most Appreciated Gifts For Runners….the links are active, and they should all be formatted to open in a new window. So you can click on them to see pictures or get more information or order online and not lose your place on this page…

• Road ID – Most runners don’t carry any sort of ID with them as they head out for their run. Not because they don’t want to, but primarily because it’s inconvenient. You may not have thought about it, but it’s very difficult to carry a wallet or personal ID in the flimsy little bits of wick-away fabric known as running shorts. If it crossed my mind, I might occasionally remember to take a piece of paper with some general contact information on it. After a couple of runs, it would become worn and difficult to read, and I would toss it, and then forget to make a new one.

When I received the Road ID as a gift, I was thrilled to have something so small and light weight, with all my important contact information right on it.      

The Road ID is personal identification gear with your info laser engraved on a tag that’s easy to take with you, easy to read, and it comes in many different styles and colors.  I was given both the wrist band and shoe ID style. The wrist band Velcro’s around my wrist like a sports watch, bracelet-style. The Shoe Id attaches via Velcro to my shoe laces, and it just stays there, until I change out running shoes every few hundred miles. By having both kinds, if I forget to put my wrist band on, I always have the Road ID on my running shoes. They also have an ankle style and shoe pouch style. You can even choose a cool picture or logo to put on the dog tag style (Fixx ID) that will capture your runner’s unique personality. While I hope no one will ever have to use my Road ID for its intended purpose, it’s just a good layer of protection for me and peace of mind for my loved ones.

• Flashers/Blinkers/Safety Lights – I’m a big believer in being as safe as possible. And the primary way for a runner, walker or bicyclist to be safe is to be seen. Again, this was something I had never even considered using until I was given a safety flasher as a gift.

What better way to provide your runner with a bubble of protection than a blinking light that can been seen from half-mile to a mile away? Flashers and blinkers now come in all sorts of sizes and shapes; they are lightweight and the batteries last a long time. They even have flashers that clip right to your running hat! I often wear two or more, one on the brim of my hat, and at least one on my waistband. 

• Running Pocket - Now, I know this probably wouldn’t occur to the average non-runner, but to an avid runner, this is a coveted treasure. I searched high and low, long and hard for just the right clip-on pocket to run with. I knew exactly what I wanted; I just had a hard time finding it.

Most of the pockets I found weren’t really designed for running. They were bulky and bounced around a lot. It wasn’t until I was in Illinois visiting family, that I found exactly what I wanted.      

At the local running store, there it was: the perfect running pocket.  It was made by Amphipod. This handy piece of equipment is great, because it doesn’t bounce around at all, and it’s flat so it hangs comfortably on my running shorts.  The built-in pocket in running shorts is oftentimes too small or there isn’t one at all.  There are certain things I like to carry with me when I’m out running, such as Lifesavers, Chap Stick, my house key, and an extra battery for my mp3 player; not to mention sometimes I want cash or a Starbucks gift card for my caffeine fix on the way home! I can carry gels or energy beans with the pocket, and it’s great to have for races, too. 

• Pedometer - I don’t know any runner who wouldn’t love this gift. I love to chart my running mileage, and if I take a different route, I always want to know how far I have run. Omron makes a good one with a tether on it, the HJ-112 so you don’t have to worry about losing it. And it actually works for longer than two to three months, like so many of them that we’ve tried. We’ve had the Omron HJ-112 for probably a year and a half or two years now, and it’s still working great.

Most pedometers have several different functions on them, from time and date to counting mileage and calories to counting total steps versus aerobic steps to memory functions. Although the Omron HJ-112 doesn’t have a “talking” feature, it’s nice to have one that talks, that way I can just push a button and keep my eyes on the road. 

• Subscription to a Running Magazine – My favorite is Runner’s World, but there are other choices available as well. Just imagine, every month when they get their new copy of Runner’s World they will be thinking of you! And it’s just the thing to keep your enthusiastic runner motivated all year round!

Hopefully that gets you started with some great ideas, and don’t forget to get your copy of the free eBook I wrote for you:  “Gifts For Runners – More Than 50 Unique and Creative Gifts For The Runner In Your Life” .

How ’bout it?

- Vision Runner

Popularity: 31% [?]