The Black Toenail: Cool gifts for runners: GPS watches, YakTrax cleats

Runners at the start of the annual Toronto Santa Speedo Run on December 10, 2009. (Handout photo)

As a runner, you may expect a runner’s equivalent of the gift of Christmas sweaters from well-intentioned friends who don’t know much about your sport. I know it should be easy to buy gifts for a runner — we always need something, and even things we have get worn out quickly — but we are also very particular when it comes to our gear.
Stay away from shoes, unless you are really close to your runner and know exactly what brand, model and size of running shoes he or she wears. We usually settle on a particular model and size, and are not likely to change those even for a loving grandma.
Same goes for socks. There are different styles and kinds, all related to how dry our feet will be during a long run, and how many blisters we’ll avoid or get because of the socks. With such grave repercussions at stake, it’s wise to let the runner make the sock choice by himself.
If you need etiquette tips on how to politely decline such presents, the best, as with the holiday sweater, is to accept it with a smile. First, swoon over it, “My God, how did you know I always wanted this?”; pause for dramatic effect, then add, “Unfortunately…,” find a valid medical reason why the gift doesn’t work for you: “I’m a bad pronator/supinator and need special shoes.” Then politely ask if you could exchange it for what you really need.
Right, so what can you buy a running-nut? Well, it depends how much you’re willing to spend. For those really close to your heart, there are GPS watches with heart monitors, such as Timex Global Trainer series or Garmin Forerunner with popular models 405, 410, 110 and so on. Although a GPS watch will earn you runner’s eternal adoration, it will also set you back anywhere from $200 to $400.
For tech-savvy runners, especially the ones who like to use their iPhone or Android phone to track their runs, there’s a slew of apps that can be gifted. Some of the popular run-tracking GPS apps are RunKeeper, MapMyRun, Daily Mile and WalkJogRun.
Then there’s Nike+ kit, which comes with a sensor which goes to a running shoe, and sends data to an iPod or an iPhone, which gives audio updates to the runner on how fast and far she is running.
Since Christmas conveniently falls in winter here in Canada, there are other climate-appropriate gift ideas. The YakTrax clip-on cleats are life-savers on icy trails or sidewalks and hand warmers such as Grabber will be a welcome gift.
To make your runner visible to the traffic on those long runs in the dark, consider some clip-on lights. Roadid.com has a neat collection of Firefly lights. Mountain Equipment Co-op has a selection of the headlights straps, too.
Even a simple bicycle light, the annoying blinking kind, that can be clipped onto a strap or elastic band, will do.
Books can always be a to-go choice. The absolute bestseller in running circles in 2010 was Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by barefoot endurance runner and journalist, Christopher McDougall. For more book ideas for runners, here’s a useful blog.
Happy gifting! And a note to runners: don’t drink and run.