It’s that time of year again: Our gift guides for every athlete in your life! This year, we’re focusing on runners, cyclists, travelers, and then some stocking stuffers and last minute gifts for any athlete in your life. And if you’re not loving anything on this list, do us a favor and quickly head over to our “do not gift” list to see the recommendations we make for what gifts to avoid.
Run All the Miles Eat All the Snacks Sweatshirt
This has been a favorite since I made the design a couple years ago, and a great post-run sweatshirt / reminder to keep eating! (My run crew and I really love wearing ours to brunch post-long run.)
Run All the Miles, Eat All the Snacks Unisex Sweatshirt
Rock a classic sweatshirt silhouette with ribbed crew neck, long sleeve cuffs, and a flat hem. Layer it up or wear it on its own for a contemporary streetwear look. With the soft fleece inside and comfortable fit, it’s sure to become your favorite everyday sweater right away!
• 100% cotton face
• 65% cotton, 35% polyester
• Charcoal Heather is 55% cotton, 45% polyester<…
Running As Fast As We Can by Molly Hurford
This young adult novel (by me!) is a fun one for any teenager, whether or not they’re into sports. About the book: Juniors Krista and Elle might have been best friends once. Not anymore. But they do have one thing in common: A distaste for school sports, and need for an athletic extracurricular on their college resumes. When they both show up to the first cross-country practice of the season, it’s a surprise to both of them. Writer and wannabe punk Krista wants nothing to do with preppy go-getter Elle, at least not anymore. But what caused the rift between the former childhood friends… and what will happen when the reason for their mutual dislike shows up with swagger? Competitive sparks will fly, but it’s going to take the two girls finding common ground if they’re going to make it through junior year and fight back against the real enemy.
Gregory Collapsible Bin
I’m going to keep putting this in gift guides because I love it. This is one of the most weirdly useful things I’ve gotten in a long time: This bin is about the size of a laundry basket, made of canvas, and collapses down on itself when not in use. It is AWESOME for organizing cycling gear, especially if you need to be organized for a weekend, but then won’t need it again for a while. (And if you’re like us and live in a spot with minimal room for storage, having a big bin like that that doesn’t take up space when not in use is SO nice. Great for a messy runner who always ends up with their shit spread out all over the back of your car when you ride to races together.
Glerup Clogs
Another ‘for any athlete’ favorite of mine: Glerup clogs or boots. I LOVE being comfortable post-run, and the clogs are so nice to slip on after you’ve been on a freezing cold run, hike or snowshoe. They’re cozy with or without socks, and the best way I can say it is it feels like you’re giving your feet a hug. Again, these are post-run brunch favorites of mine. I recommend the rubber sole rather than the leather so that they’re more durable as an outdoor shoe.
Heart Rate Arm Band
Most runners I know hate chest straps. But rather then using wrist based optical (which is basically a random number generator!), an arm band is a good middle ground. The best option is the COROS arm band but we have also had several people use the COOSPRO with good success at half the price.
“Vintage” Cycling Cap
I’m actually super into this vintage cycling cap I found on Amazon as a kitschy, fun cap to wear when running. (Personally, I’m digging the hell out of this Bic one, as a writer.) I think they’re a super fun, kind of different thing to wear when running, even though I’d likely never wear one while cycling for fear of being laughed out of the peloton. But for some reason, it’s just a fun thing on the run IMO!
Burts Bees Salve or Jet Lag Mask
Running, especially in the winter, wreaks a bit of havoc on your skin. So, I love gifting these as little stocking stuffers! I love both the Burt’s Bees Hand Salve and Jet Lag Mask from Summer Fridays as travel-friendly skin savers. The Burts Bees salve comes in a tin (great since it’s solid so no spills) and while it’s for hands, I use it for hands, elbows, and cheeks/lips when I’m out on a cold day and need that protective barrier. The Jet Lag Mask is also my go-to travel moisturizer: It’s thick, you only need a little, it’s great for sensitive/combination skin, and it really helps calm down grumpy skin whether it’s dry from flying or wrecked from the weather. (The Burts Bees is super cheap and lasts forever, Jet Lag mask is a little spendy but also lasts forever!)
Burts Bees Salve here, Jet Lag Mask here
Sprinting Through Setbacks: An Olympian’s Guide to Overcoming Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome by Micha Powell
My other new book with Strong Girl Publishing this year is great for any teen AND any runner! Commonwealth Games gold medalist Micha Powell’s memoir-slash-workbook showcases stories from Micha’s decade of professional racing experience, including vulnerable stories of growing up in the shadow of two Olympian parents, navigating injury, and finding the courage to embrace an Olympic mindset. Micha is a world-class Canadian Olympic sprinter specializing in the 400m, currently running for New Balance. She is also a 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist. Born in Montreal to three-time Olympian Rosey Edeh and Long Jump World Record Holder Mike Powell, athletics is a part of her DNA. The collection of essays covers 10 pivotal races and the lessons learned and will include workbook-style sections so that young readers can apply Micha’s learnings to their own lives. Topics include things like finding balance, personal style, a sense of belonging, imposter syndrome, finding your spotlight, and more.
