The best Christmas gifts for runners

The best Christmas gifts for runners

Have you ever tried to find a Christmas gift for a running friend? Then you probably know that finding a Christmas gifts for runners is not easy. We runners are very picky. And we probably already have everything we need. (or we think we do) So here is my guide on how to find the best Christmas gifts for runners, and which gifts to avoid.

 

Gifts for runners: what to get

Books

One of my favorite things to give are books about running. Fore me these are the best Christmas gifts for runners. Usually these books are a nice read, feature inspiring stories, delicious recipes or great training tips. My favorites are:

Another tip: a lot of running books also have an audiobook version. They make great gifts for runners as we can enjoy listening to them on our weekly long run. And if you give them a membership on Audible they can enjoy all the audio books they like.

Movies

Yes we runners have restdays where we do not run but just chill and watch movies. And we love to watch movies about running.

Accessoires

There are lots of running accessoiries that make great Christmas gifts for runners. My favorite ones are:

Gift Vouchers

Gift vouchers also make a great Christmas gift for runners. Because then we runners can get exactly what we want and need. So if in doubt you can get a voucher of your local running store. and if this still does not resonate with you, what about giving them a voucher for a nice massage or pedicure? Trust me, all runners need massages and pedicures from time to time.

Gifts for runners: what maybe not to get

Shoes

Running shoes are a very personal thing for every runner. So unless you know exactly what shoe in which size and which color your running friend wants, avoid it as a Christmas gift. Better give them a gift voucher for a local running store (see above). There they can have a gait analysis done and can then pick the right shoe for them.

Races

So you think a race entry for this cool Marathon in this cool city is a good idea as a Christmas gift? Please check with your running friend again. They might already have other race plans and this race will not fit their training plan at all. And it would be very complicated to defer and sell this race spot again. So please do not give them race entries.

But there is one exception: if it is a trip to one of the big 6 World Marathon Majors, which all Marathon runners love to run. I have already done 4 of them: Berlin, London, NYC and Chicago, and they are definitely worth the expensive trip.

Running nutrition and supplements

As with the things mentioned above, running nutrition and supplements is way too personal. So they do not make good Christmas gifts for runners. Better buy them a nice gift voucher, so they can exactly get what they need.

Gifts for runners: what to absolutely avoid

Everything that is not about running. Just joking. We love all gifts that come from our loved ones. Happy Holidays!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to help cover the costs of running this website

Do you have more gifts for runners? Just leave me a comment below!

Marathon Gear Essentials – the ultimate shopping list

Marathon Gear Essentials – the ultimate shopping list

If you have ever run a Marathon you know that racing is not only about training and nutrition, but also about your gear. Wearing the wrong outfit, getting blisters from the wrong shoes or chafing can not only ruin your Marathon goals but also take all the fun away. So I have compiled this list of the most important Marathon gear essentials. Proven in more than 20 Marathons that I ran, including the 12 Marathons that I did in 2018.

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My Two Oceans Marathon experience

My Two Oceans Marathon experience

I have had the famous Two Oceans Marathon on my bucket list for a while. To be exact, I had it on the “when I am fast enough to run an Ultra Marathon” bucket list. Because it is one of two famous South African Ultra Marathons, and the classic distance is 56km. I had thought of doing it in 2018, when my Dad was probably also fit and fast enough to run it.
So when I suddenly got the opportunity to run the Two Oceans Marathon via a “first come first served” give away on adidas runners Germany I immediately said yes. I did not really believe I would get the spot because I thought a lot of other people would also apply.

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Everyday Hero Manuela Dietzinger: How to lose 60 pounds and become fit, fast and fearless

Everyday Hero Manuela Dietzinger: How to lose 60 pounds and become fit, fast and fearless

Are you trying to lose weight? Are you running to shed a few pounds? But are a bit lost? Don’t worry, I would be too. That’s why I have teamed up with my friend Manuela Dietzinger who runs in my OCR team Munich Elite Warriors and at Adidas Runners Munich. While I met her when she was already super fit and fast, I recently found out that she once weighed around 60 pounds more than she does today. And who should give better tips about sustainable weight loss than someone who has achieved exactly that.

How to run in the cold

How to run in the cold

Winter is coming! Where I live, this will mean temperatures well below freezing. I will definitely switch parts of my training routine indoors where I will do some spinning, yoga, strength training and lots of pole dancing. And I will do some winter sports outside, like skiing and ski mountaineering. But I want and need to keep on running outside too. I’ve already written a blogpost about how to run in the dark, so here are my top 5 tips for running in winter.

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