Featured Fit: A Birthday Gift Basket for a Runner.

By Jess in Minneapolis

Today marks a special day for one of my running friends. She turns 30!

To celebrate this momentous birthday, a group of us went to Chicago (Fits on the Road posts to come!) but I dropped off her birthday present last week for her husband to give to her today, on her actual birthday.

I got the idea for her birthday present from a charity gift basket auction that we recently had at work. My work team put together a "Complete Your Look" accessories basket, full of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc. (including some unique pieces by LL, my younger sister)

LL's necklaces for the charity gift basket

The gift basket was auctioned off for United Way. I believe the winning bid was nearly $300! The accessories basket was great, but this time, I wanted to customize a gift basket for my dear running friend.

Do you have a running friend with an upcoming birthday? Still looking for a Christmas present for one of the runners in your life? Try a running gift basket!

Here's what I did:

First, I purchased the basket from Jo-Ann fabrics, as well as a cello wrap for the basket, a bow, and some matching shreds for basket filler:

Then...the fun part: picking out running related items for the basket!

I had to include some Sweaty Bands. They are my favorites (as well as BIC bands), and I know the birthday girl likes them too. (They don't slip, seriously!) I bought her one of the reflective ones (the green and white stripe) for night running. The red-and-white polka dot Sweaty Band reminds me of Minnie Mouse, don't you think?

Remember my post about the Runner's World Cookbook? (read it HERE) I loved the cookbook so much that I purchased an extra copy for a future gift, and this birthday basket was the perfect place to use it!

Next, I stopped by one of my favorite local running stores, Gear Running Store, for more running favorites. The people at Gear were so helpful, and they seemed to enjoy helping me with my birthday basket idea!

What else was included in the basket? Let's see..there was some Body Glide. What runner couldn't use an extra one of those? I also picked up some "Gear Bombs" at Gear , which are odor eliminators for your shoes.  I included some FitSox (love those!) and of course some runner fuel: a GU, some Honey Stinger chews, Honey Stinger gels, and a Honey Stinger waffle.  I also included some NUUN, which is one of my favorite ways to hydrate on a run.

One of my winter running essentials from this post was Aquaphor to prevent chapped lips. 

I figured why not throw one of those in this runner birthday basket as well for good measure?

And you can't forget the card. 

30 does look good on you, my friend!

The Finished Product

Happy birthday!