Category: Triathlon gifts

Some people may think that running — even if it is in one (or several) of the 15,000 5Ks or 2,000 half marathons in the U.S. each year — may get old after a while. Believe it or not, that’s rarely the case, especially with the increasingly creative and unique options available in terms of themed races. Here are a just a few of the wackiest themes from 2014:

How Do Runners Celebrate April Fool’s Day?

In a survey of 3,500 runners, 40% said they ran to lose weight and another 54% stated that they run to stay fit. That may not be the case for participants in the April Fool’s Day Twinkie Run. The Missouri race celebrates the now hard to come by treat by offering the 5K runners unlimited Twinkies at the starting line, the one-and-a-half mile mark, the finish line, and, of course, post-race.

A Change Of Costume Can Make A Big Difference

Food isn’t the only thing that can set a race apart. In fact, many 5Ks earn their fame thanks to their unusual dress codes. The international 5K Mustache Dache, The Bad Prom Run, and The Zombie Run are just a few, self-explanatory races featuring unusual attire.

What About When It’s Over?

There is an unfortunate thing about all of these themed races: they end, and some of them are one-time events (or, if you’re lucky, they may reoccur once a year). Thankfully, there are plenty of fun ways to celebrate these memories — anything from running necklaces, running decals, running jewelry, or personalized medal hangers may be available for sale at the race or available to custom order online.

A 5K or a half marathon is a memorable event — and even more so when there is a fun and wacky theme. Remember the good times with commemorative jewelry, trinkets, and accessories, like running necklaces or medal hangers.

Though personalized gifts for runners may not seem like a thriving business, the fact is there are millions of runners in the United States that would absolutely love these kinds of gifts. Fifty-seven million Americans run or jog at least once every year. More than 500,000 Americans participate in a marathon every year as well, and there are over 2,000 annual half-marathons and 15,000 5K marathons to choose from. From runners recovery sandals to running jewelry, there is no shortage of gifts for gift-givers to choose from — much like there is no shortage of runners to receive them!

What runner wouldn’t, for example, love his or her very own runners ID bands? ID bands are a must for any serious runner, so why not give that special someone personalized ID bands for the big race? If ID bands aren’t “personal” enough, how about running necklaces? Although these necklaces aren’t designed to be worn during the race, they are perfect for many other occasions. Show your pride for running with necklaces with “26.2” (the number of miles in a marathon) brazened in the locket.

If jewelry isn’t something your special someone will not like, how about something like running decals? Specialized running decals are perfect for runners who love running as well as their car! Nothing says you are dedicated to running like a giant foot on the side of your car. If decals aren’t your cup of tea as well, you can always look into runners LED lights. LED lights are perfect for runners who like to run at night. With LED lights attached to the runner’s body, drivers and pedestrians alike can look out for runners during poor visibility.

There are a number of other gift ideas for runners, all equally spectacular as they are unique. No matter what, though, runners gifts will be sure to brighten the day of a runner you happen to know and care about.

What do you think about running gifts like runners ID bands and runners LED lights? Feel free to leave a comment or question at the bottom.