When my best girlfriend and her husband were running a marathon, I did a lot of research to find out what runners need after a marathon. Post-race recovery is super important and I wanted to spoil my friends a bit and take gathering post-race supplies off their hands. Here are a few great ideas for gifts for runners, packaged nicely inside a post-race gift basket.
Marathon runners (and half-marathon runners) have a lot to think about. Training schedules, pace, the right gear, playlists, hydration, counting macros, and many many other things need to be considered. On top of that, there's the mental game. Believe me when I tell you, by the time race day comes, they're going to be so excited to finally accomplish their goals, but also ready to relax once the race is over. I wanted to put together a post-marathon gift basket for my friends to show my support and to take one small thing off their plates.
I scoured the interwebs for recommendations about what runners needed most post marathons and post-half-marathons. Here's what I came up with in my post-race recovery gift basket. Since I have an on-going partnership with NOW Foods, I also included a few items from them that fit perfectly with this theme.
Gifts For Runners for Post-Race Recovery
Band-aids. More specifically, Hydro-Seal Blister Band-Aids. These come in a few different shapes and sizes. I chose the ones for heels and for toes. This waterproof bandage provides the optimal wound healing environment and is designed to provide cushioning against painful blisters or wounds to shield from further rubbing.
First-aid mini kit. I picked up a tiny kit of bandages, cleansing wipes and antibiotic ointment for any other scrapes or cuts they might endure.
Instant Cold Packs. These ready-to-use packs come in handy during post-race recovery and it's nice that they don't need to be refrigerated or frozen ahead of time.
Epsom Salt. A post-race soak is always a good idea. You can find Epsom Salts at your local grocery store or even on Amazon.
Joint & Muscle Cream. As a NOW Wellness Ambassador, I use a lot of NOW products. I was excited to include this NOW Joint & Muscle Cream with capsaicin and boswellia. This cream is also paraben-free and cruelty-free.
Post-Workout Freshen-Up Spray. I created a DIY essential oil body spray to help them feel fresh after their race. It's got a great, clean scent and my friend said she really loved using it.
Lip Balm. Help prevent dry and cracked lips with lip balm. My absolute favorites are NOW's Completely Kissable Vanilla and Completely Kissable Pomegranate. They're organic and smell SO amazing.
Complete Cookies and protein bars. I purchased a variety of post-race snacks like protein bars and Complete Cookies. Protein is essential for post-race recovery and these snacks would be good starting points.
Makeup Remover Wipes. Not that my friends would be wearing makeup while running, but these pre-moistened wipes are great for washing your face on-the-go.
Water and Electrolyte Replacement Drinks. This is all personal preference but I figured it couldn't hurt to include a few extra drinks for them. I love Nuun tablets for added electrolytes.
Ibuprofen. I always like to have a little ibuprofen on hand for minor soreness and aches. I figured this would be necessary after 26.2 (or 13.1) miles.
Body Glide. This is a MUST-HAVE for runners. Chafing happens folks and Body Glide is like pure magic for prevention.
I think I included a lot of key items for post-race recovery, but I also thought of a few other general runner gift ideas that you can use for holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries.
Other Gifts for Runners:
- iTunes or Apple Gift Cards. Being able to download a certain song, or even better, being able to subscribe to Apple Music and having endless amounts of music at your fingertips is pretty amazing.
- Gift card to their favorite running or sporting goods store. Good running shoes are expensive! Help subsidize their next pair.
- Sport Sunglasses. These are super important for protecting the eyes from those damaging UV rays. A normal pair of sunglasses won't cut it and these have special grippers at the nose and above the ears to keep them in place.
- Race Medal Hanger. There are some adorable options on Amazon and Etsy!
- FitBit or another activity tracker. Get one that includes heart rate monitoring for serious runners. I absolutely love my FitBit Charge.
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