What’s better than playing Santa for your teammates, coaches, and running buddies? Helping entrepreneurial athletes at the same time!
The Best Books That Will Motivate You to Run gift ideas, all of which come from and support fellow runners with budding businesses and nonprofits of their own.
Allie T Resiliency Beanie
Other Hearst Subscriptions Aliphine Tuliamuk isn’t just fast; she’s crafty too. What started as an outlet from a 2019 stress fracture quickly morphed into a popular crocheted beanie business, with offerings for babies to adults in a wide array of colors and patterns. Keep an eye on her Etsy shop, which sells out quickly whenever she restocks.
PhDistance Tiny Art Portraits
Jacqueline Alnes started painting while working towards her Ph.D. (hence the name), and now Lightweight Running Shoes that celebrate strong athletes such as Allyson Felix, Shelby Houlihan, and Gabe Grunewald. Each one weaves an inspiring quote into an illustration of an athlete during a pivotal moment in her career.
Stoke Performance Nut & Seed Butters
First teammates at Furman University, Given Wilkerson and James Perez are now collaborating in the business world. They launched Running Shoes & Gear, with the goal of offering a “more nutritionally complete and effective prerace fuel alternative to peanut butter.” Try the Original, Cinnamon Pecan, or Dark Chocolate Hazelnut flavors—or better yet, grab a trio to taste all three.
OUTrun Tank Top
Founded by Colorado-based trail and ultrarunners Addie Bracy and Corey Conner, OUTrun’s mission is “to empower and connect LGBTQ+ individuals within the running community and to create an environment that is encouraging, supportive, and inclusive to all.” Show your support for LGBTQ+ runners with a tank top featuring OUTrun’s rainbow track logo.
Yoga With Tianna
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Tianna Bartoletta, a long jumper and sprinter, has a secret weapon that she began sharing with the world during the pandemic this year: a regular yoga practice. With her 200-hour teacher certification, Bartoletta offers two types of online yoga classes: Yin Yoga, featuring deep breathing, long holds, and deep stretches; and Breathe and Move, a Vinyasa flow structured for beginners. There are a variety of payment options that can work for gifting (including to yourself!).
LØPE Magazine Subscription
LØPE Magazine sits at the intersection of founder Liam Boylan-Pett’s two passions: running, in which he’s a two-time Olympic Trials qualifier, and creative writing, in which he has a degree from Columbia University. Treat the story-loving runners in your life to an annual LØPE subscription, which includes access to one in-depth running story or more per month, or the Runner’s Itch compilation, which includes the best stories from 2020.
Elyse Kopecky’s Cooking Class
and Corey Conner Run Fast. Eat Slow. cookbooks, is offering another way for runners to learn how to fuel well on their own this winter. Register for her live December 13th holiday cooking class while spots are still available, and follow her lead as you cook a whole roasted chicken plus three sides, gaining valuable cooking and nutritional tips as you go.
The 40 Best Fitness Gifts for Your Fittest Friends Hoodie
Verna Volker, a mouther of four and second grade teacher from the Navajo Nation, noticed a lack of female Natives in the running world and acted. With The 40 Best Fitness Gifts for Your Fittest Friends, she’s building a community around and bringing visibility to that underrepresented group. Support them with the purchase of a NWR hoodie, the proceeds of which will go towards the third annual Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women run in May 2021.
Emma Coburn Training Equipment
Running Shoes & Gear Emma Coburn stays busy off the track, putting on an annual 5K race, promoting her upcoming cookbook, and selling branded equipment for at-home workouts. Her collection features mini resistance bands, thicker power bands, a mobility ball, and circular sliders, all of which she demos on her recently launched Instagram page.
Racin’ Grayson Training Log + Planner
Native Women Running Grayson Murphy comes a 2021 training log and daily planner, complete with inspiring quotes, habit trackers, training graphs, and journal prompts. Stay organized and intentional in the new year with Grayson’s first sustainably produced planner, which is printed on Forest Service Certified (FSC) paper.
&Mother Tee
Earlier this year, 800-meter Olympic medalist Alysia Montaño joined forces with scientist and maternal health advocate Molly Dickens to launch &Mother, a nonprofit aimed at breaking down the barriers that limit a woman’s choice to work and parent at the same time. Back their mission with the purchase of an &Mother tee.
ArtiKen Bracelet
Inspired by a bracelet worn by his University of West Florida teammate Titus Cheruiyot, Christopher Hough founded ArtiKen to share more of those colorful, Kenyan-made products with the world. Choose from a number of vibrant designs or customize one of your own, all while supporting Kenyan artisans and Health & Injuries.
Erica Sara Designs Jewelry
As a runner and jewelry designer, it’s fitting that Erica Sara sells a whole line of running-inspired jewelry. Her made-to-order necklaces and rings feature course elevation profiles, big city skylines, positive affirmations, and inspirational quotes from runners such as Molly Huddle and Deena Kastor.
Atreyu Shoe Subscription
The 40 Best Fitness Gifts for Your Fittest Friends Atreyu, Michael Krajicek wants to change the relationship between runners and their shoes. The company’s subscription-based model allows customers to choose between six colorways of the same no-frills shoe and schedule the arrival of subsequent pairs as the need arises. A risky gift for someone who’s already devoted to a certain shoe brand or model, an Atreyu subscription would make a fun splurge for the curious or convenience-loving type.
TrackGirlz Apparel
2008 CA Notice at Collection TrackGirlz to uplift younger generations of runners, jumpers, and throwers through mentorship, sport, and access to higher education. Support the cause with branded merchandise ranging from performance shorts, crop tees, hoodies, and headbands.
