GIFT GUIDE: Runner Edition

If you are late to the party, the gift-purchasing party that is, we have got you covered. As a mamas and athletes, we are all about practical gift giving that won't clutter your home. But it is a gift, so let's make it cute and special...ya know?  Christy and I are sharing a few different gift guides this year that target the various women in your life and we are customizing them based on our pillars. There will be a gift guide for Get Outside, Sweat, Damn Good Food, and Mom Up. Now there may be some crossover because let's be real, the pillars all work together. BUT this one is focused on SWEAT.

We had a few goals with this gift guide: 

1. Support small, local, female, or black business.
2. Consider a reasonable budget of $50 or less.
3. Find gifts that the runner in your life will actually want and need.

‍

Oiselle Bad Weather Gloves $44

These gloves are made for runners who are living in colder climates. They have a weather resistant shell that can cover the warm gloves or be put away when not needed. If you don't need a heavy duty glove, consider their Lux Running Glove as a "luxurious" alternative. We love Oiselle, since it's local to Seattle and it's "by and for women athletes." Hello, yes please. We will support that! 

‍

Janji x Balega Running Socks $16

We LOVE this collab!  Balega is Ives's favorite running sock and Janji is on a mission to improve access to clean drinking water. This sock is manufactured just outside of Cape Town, where Ives studied abroad in grad school (serendipity?  maybe) and 2% of each purchase is given back to clean water projects in South Africa.

‍

Erica Sara Jewelry Mantra Bead Necklace $48

Practical?  Mmmm maybe not, but we love a good accessory moment. Erica Sara designs jewelry for women, mothers, and athletes. She had a lot of great pieces at different price points. As marathoners, we both have mantras we repeat during races to keep us focused. We love the idea of customizing a mantra necklace. Such a special, personal way to show love to the runner in your life.

‍

Stocking Stuffer with Snacks $7+

So we couldn't pick just one option here. I mean we love snacks and fueling is so important when you are training.

Picky Bars is all about real food for performance. They have a range of bars, drizzles, granolas and are made by athletes for athletes. If you love them, they even have a Picky Club which offers a subscribe and save option. Oh and full disclaimer, we are Picky Bar Ambadassadors and love their bars!

Hydration is just as, if not more important, when training and in every day life. So why not jazz up your water with some Nuun hydration. Nuun makes drink tablets for everyone: sport, immunity, rest, and pre-workout. They are plant-based tablets and will make you want to drink more H20. These fizzy tablets are they perfect stocking stuffer and won't break your budget! 

Bonus, both of these companies are local to the Pacifiic Northwest. Oh and if you want more feel good moments, read about Picky Bar's Sustainability story here.

‍

Gift Card for Recovery $25+ 

If you live in or near Seattle there are two amazing black-owned businesses that Ives has used for recovery when training. City Sweats is the first infrared wellness spa in WA and lucky for you they have a couple locations. Stretch22 has a team of stretchologists, who use the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique to produce deep stretches that increase flexibility. Stretch22 recently opened an Eastside location and they have virtual stretching as well. If you don't live in Seattle, but love this idea research a local business near you.

Dee and her team at City Sweats have a menu of amazing offerings, but our favorite is a "hot" date in their infrared sauna cabin. You can even sync your phone and listen to your favorite podcast while sweating out those toxins.

Ja'Warren, former Olympic sprinter and UW Hall of Famer, co-founded Stretch22 with chiropractor Dr. Sasaki. They focus on stretching to improve mobility and flexibility. Book yourself an appointment to help soothe sore muscles from everyday activities or aches and pains from rigorous training

‍

We hope this gift guide leaves you  with some fun and affordable options. Maybe it even inspires you to shop small, shop women-led, or shop black-owned.

‍

xx,

‍

Ives & Christy

‍

‍