This list is one of a few to come this holiday season so keep checking back for more ideas and search the label "Gifting Health in 2020" for my other guides! Need your gifts in a hurry? Several of my recommended items are available for quick shipping through Amazon Prime. Don't have an account already? Try it out for 30 days free on me!
For a sport that's just "go out and run", I've found that there are a LOT of great gadgets and accessories that make it so much better. If you've got a runner on your list (or you're a runner looking for a list of ideas to send on to someone else), I hope this guide helps! Special thanks to my running fam group text for sharing some of their favorites too!
I have found it so tough to find headbands that fit well and stay put without giving me a headache so I've gotta give a shout out to my longtime friend and honorary little sis, Jasmine, for making the softest headbands that actually STAY PUT for me regardless of what activity I'm doing (if you follow my
Instagram stories, you've probably seen me wearing some of her designs). I can't get enough of her perfect fabric choices and stylish but functional design.
And the best part? When I asked if I could link to her Etsy shop, she offered to create a promo code just for us! Use GABI15 to save 15% on her shop through her Christmas 2020 gift deadline of December 19th.
You can browse her entire Etsy shop
here (don't miss her limited edition holiday headbands!) but I've also linked to a few specific ones that I think are extra cute.
Personally, I don't find the waist band / fanny pack water bottle carriers comfortable. I'll wear a
running belt but it's gotta be lightweight and I don't put more than a few hydration gels, keys, and
maybe my phone in it.
This handy carrier fixed that though. I can strap it on snug enough that I don't need to grip or tighten my hands unnaturally and it makes seeing my phone easy without making me pause or mess with my stride to take it out of my running belt or twist my arm to see it through an arm band window (and arm bands always seem to fall down on me). I ran the Detroit marathon with this last year and while I shifted it from one hand to the other over the course of the 26.2 miles, I found
this to be my favorite way to carry water and have my phone handy over every other accessory I've tried!
BEVVY - this 15 calorie tea supplement includes decaffeinated green tea phytosomes, brewer's yeast peptides, and fiber to help curb cravings without synthetic colors, artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, gluten, dairy, or soy! Personally, I prefer the pomegranate flavor but the lemon is good too!
Hydrate - even the slightest dehydration can knock you off your game so it helps to have a little extra help with absorbing fluids and electrolytes. Your usual sports drinks are filled with artificial ingredients and sugars that can actually dehydrate you but this formula is free of artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives. It's designed for workouts but I even use it on rest days to kick off my day with as much hydration as I can get from my first bottle of water! Oh and for the marathon, I actually made these into little
hydrate /
energize gels for a little extra help along the way!
Energize - this is another one that I drink on rest days too (usually just a half dose on those days) for focus and an energy life. A lot of pre-workouts leave you with that buzzed feeling but this formula leaves out the artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives. Oh and it tastes great so it's a win win! I like mixing the lemon and mixed berry flavors a lot but the fruit punch might be my favorite. You can't go wrong though with any of the flavors IMO.
Whether your runner prefers casual 5Ks, full marathons, or anything in between, they're going to start collecting medals and that's a lot more fun when they have somewhere to display them! I've been hanging mine off of shelves for a while with the help of some weighted objects and tape over the ribbons while the medal dangles over the edge of the shelf but I've got these two on my wish list and I'm sure your runner would love
something like this too!
It can get scary to do outdoor runs when the weather is anything other than 100% sunny and clear. I'm so grateful for my friends who recommended this vest because WOW! I've gotten a lot of compliments on how visible it is and I love that it doesn't add a lot of bulk or funny, offset weight to my stride. It's easy to wear, quick to adjust, super lightweight, and does the job well. 10/10 highly recommend!
Speaking of visibility, bright clothing can make a big difference too.
This tank top is not only one of the most comfortable I've ever run in (no chafing!!) but it practically glows on its own!
I definitely don't lack curves or height (I'm 5'10" for those who don't know) so it can be tough to find leggings that stay put, don't roll, and flatter, so I can't not tell you about
these leggings! They're my favorites for runs, yoga, weight lifting... I can't get enough of them. Good leggings can get super expensive but dollar for dollar, I've been really happy with the quality of
these - no loss of color, stretch, or support so far! (Oh - and they have a pocket!!!! My phone and ID both stay put on even long runs - big win!)
This recommendation comes from my running fam as a big help for getting over and moving through all sorts of soreness and muscle tenderness that comes from hard runs. It's not greasy, doesn't have a strong scent, and is based on natural ingredients - a total win and a great stocking stuffer!
Another great recommendation from my running fam and another great stocking stuffer - calming magnesium!
This one doesn't have any added sugars and will help your runner relax and get the rest they need to be ready for the next run. As someone with anxiety, I can tell you I'm definitely up for anything that might help calm my worries and settle my mind!
Another favorite among those who need help with anxiety and getting better rest between runs (I think there's a strong correlation between those with general anxiety and those who run... maybe it's just me?) is a
weighted blanket. I love mine but the amount of recommended weight depends on the size of the person so you may want to search around a little. I recommend finding
one with a removable cover for easy cleaning!
Ok so the theragun gets a lot of attention and I've heard a lot of amazing things but a close runner friend of mine recently got this one for only $40. He's been using it a lot and he's had his own fair share of running injuries, soreness, even surgeries. I've never heard him rave about a product like this one so you'd better believe I'm including it here... and on my own wishlist!
Looking for a lower tech massager?
This one is an all time favorite of runners. I think I've seen it recommended in every running magazine I've ever read and for good reason. It's simple and gets the job done for those annoying little knots - especially along the calves which are notoriously tough to stretch!
As anyone who has run or watched The Office can tell you, chafing is real and it's awful (I'll spare you from the bloody Andy gif here but if you know, you know). Nearly every runner I know swears by
Body Glide on those skin to skin or sensitive skin to fabric contact points. Help your runner stock up on this distance MUST!
There's a fine line between no-show socks and socks that disappear under your foot and into your shoe but
this brand makes it happen! Since your socks can make or break a good run (I once had to take more than a week off of running when a bad pair of socks resulted in awful and deep ankle chafing),
these will be a pair your runner will be happy to find under the tree!
In cold weather, nothing can bring a run to a halt like cold fingers and toes and sometimes even the best socks and mittens can't make it happen. Toss a couple of
these hand and toe warmers in your gift for your runner or anyone else who spends time outside in the cold!
Running on the roads with normal headphones can be risky because they can make it harder to hear the sounds of cars around you.
These headphones do the job because they don't actually sit in your ear but still deliver great sound to keep you moving to the music without blocking out those important audible cues of a car engine or tire sound!
These have become a popular item in runner goody bags and for a good reason! You really can use these as headbands, neck warmers, for holding hair back... the possibilities really are endless. I actually use two of them for runs in the winter - one as a hat that doesn't slip off because it doesn't have to hold all my hair and one over my neck - because they're lightweight and don't leave me feeling sweaty, just warm! (I also use them for protecting my curly hair at night - bonus!)
They come in a variety of colors and patterns so you're sure to find at least one that your runner will love!
No matter how trained up your runner is, we can all benefit from some extra coaching! A lot of runners also find it easy to forget about balancing their runs with strength training and stretching... fortunately we've got a trainer to help with that!
This program is designed to improve your pace and stride - regardless of your baseline - and has audio or video for running both out on the road or on your home treadmill. There's even a workout option for those days that running outside is a no-go but you want the right cardio anyway. Got questions on how to make the most of picking this program? Shoot me a note at
gabi@gabiford.com and we'll talk!
I hope you like those ideas and find them helpful in supporting your favorite runner with fun gifts this holiday season! If you think of any others, I'd love to hear them! You're also welcome to send this list on to anyone who might need a little hint ;-)
Happy Holidays! Hope you and yours stay safe and healthy!
Gabriella Ford is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com at no additional cost to you! All opinions are my own!
