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Unique Holiday Gift Items for Marathon Runners
 | Running shoes and running apparel, always popular holiday gift items for marathon runners, have lots of competition these days. There are several websites which offer an alternative to the norm when it comes to gifts for marathon runners. Here is a look at some of the more unique sites and products the web has to offer:
Identification Products – Marathon runners spend a lot of time alone on the road and trail, and should carry some type of identification in case of an emergency. Two companies offer a unique (and stylish) solution to this problem. Runners ID (www.runnersid.com) is a small plastic tag (pictured here) which attaches to a runner’s shoe. Up to 6 lines of a runner’s personal information is imprinted on the card. Runners can choose a colorful design that will also go on the tag. ID On Me (www.idonme.com) sells a colorful ID bracelet that is worn on the wrist. It holds all critical data such as name, address, emergency contacts and medical information.
Hydration Products – There are a pair of websites which offer the latest in hydration technology for marathon runners. Camelbak’s Catalyst hydration system (www.runcamelbak.com) is a lightweight pack that straps around a runner’s waist. It has a built-in tube that allows runners to drink without using their hands. Camelbak has a first-rate website, but doesn’t sell its products on the site. Instead, it includes a list of suppliers which carry its products. Amphipod (www.amphipod) also has a cool website and also carries a full line of super high-tech hydration systems, as well as many other running accessories. Like Camelbak, Amphipod’s products are available only through suppliers and cannot be purchased directly on their website.
Reflective Accessories – Since marathon training is a time-consuming activity, most runners find themselves running in the dark at times. For high visibility reflective accessories, check out Re-Flex Safety Gear (www.reflexsafety.com). This site offers a wide variety of reflective products, including belts, wrist bands, arm bands, vests, tape and stickers. Another site, www.cyberglow.com, offers many of the same products as Re-Flex Safety, but also sells popular items for runners such as adjustable body straps, sew-on tape and stick-on tape.
Electronic Gadgets – What better gift idea for the marathon runner who has everything than the FS-1 Speedometer from FitSense (www.fitsense.com). This watch measures speed, pace, distance, heart rate, calories burned and splits, and with the touch of a button all information can be downloaded to a PC. If that’s not enough, try the Altimeter Watch from Oregon Scientific (www.oregonscientific.com). This watch measures barometric pressure, altitude, outside temperature and your elapsed workout time – all from your wrist. The OS website features several nice gadgets for marathon runners, including heart rate monitors, pedometers, pulse rate monitors, blood pressure monitors, and weight and body fat monitors. Not to be outdone, Highgear (www.highgear.com) offers a similarly impressive selection of gadgets, including a digital audio player, a digital altimeter, pulse readers and pedometers. Visitors to Highgear.com will find a well-designed website and some great gift ideas for marathon runners.
Marathon Art and Pottery – The Art of Running (www.artofrunning.com) carries the annual official lithographs from several marathons, including Boston, Chicago, New York City and Walt Disney. For someone who wants a more personalized marathon painting, go to Running Art (www.runningart.com). Here, sports artist and runner Coreen Steinbach will do a custom portrait of an event. Her site also offers a nice selection of running prints and posters.
Another custom gift idea comes from SportsPottery (www.sportspottery.com). Picture frames, goblets, mugs, gift balls and other items can be custom-ordered and made to specifications. The site also is the official supplier of these pottery items to several marathons, including Boston and New York City. Marathon running cartoons can be found at the JunkerToons website (www.junkertoons.com). Cartoonist Guy Junker features four marathon-related cartoons for sale on his website. The cartoon prints are 8x10 and come double-matted and signed by the artist.
Health & Nutritional Products – Foot & Leg Lotion from The Soap Opera (www.thesoapopera.com) makes a great gift idea for marathon runners. The lotion has eight natural oils and cooling menthol smoothe for sore feet and legs. BlisterShield from Two Toms (www.2toms.com) is another popular gift idea for runners. This product is a powder and can prevent blisters, chafing and other skin ailments.
Perfect Equation (www.perfectequation.net) offers a product called Prepair, which is a dietary supplement taken prior to beginning a run. Prepair contains Tex-OE, which is an all-natural extract formula derived from the fruit of the prickly pear cactus. Another supplement popular with marathon runners is Carb-BOOM Energy Gel (www.carbboom.com). Carb-BOOM is offered in several flavors and comes in small foil packs which make it easy to carry on runs.
A product that is gaining in popularity among marathon runners is Baker’s Breakfast Cookies (www.bbcookies.com). Baker’s comes in a wide variety of flavors, are high in fiber and provide a good source of complex carbohydrates. Baker’s has a fabulous website and cookies can be ordered online.
Accessories – Need a discreet way to hide your valuables while running? Try Luzit shoe wallet (www.luzit.com). This wallet is small enough to attach to a running shoe, but large enough to carry some keys, money and credit cards. It’s made of a durable nylon, is water-resistant and comes in three colors.
Athletic Optics (www.athleticoptics.com) carries a wide selection of sunglasses for marathon runners. Frames from Nike, Adidas and others are available. The site also sells sunglasses for a large number of sports, including cycling and swimming.
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