Fit Fanatic: 10 Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for the Runner in Your Life

Valentine’s Day is this Friday!

I am pretty excited, as I actually have the day off of work. I will be attending a friend’s wedding (the same friend for whom we ran the Securian Half Marathon for her bachelorette party!)

I suppose Dustin got off easy this year for Valentine’s Day- he doesn’t have to plan anything, as we’ll be eating, drinking, and merry-making with all of our friends downtown, celebrating love in the best way possible.

Anyways, no matter what you’re doing to celebrate Valentine’s Day, you might still be looking for a few ideas to make your Valentine feel special this Friday. Flowers are always great, but let’s assume your Valentine is a runner (though flowers are great for runners too!). If your Valentine is a runner, here’s a list from the Right Fits of 10 Valentine’s Gift Ideas for Runners!

1. Carbs! Valentine’s Day is on a Friday, and most runners do their long runs Saturday morning. So take your Valentine out for some pasta Friday night. Treat him or her to some lovely carbo-loading  Locally, I am a fan of Broder’s Pasta Bar, or you could just have a casual evening at Punch Pizza (or buy a gift card for your runner to enjoy at a later date) For a fancier pasta meal, head to Bar La Grassa for really a scrumptious dinner.

2. Race Registration: Races are expensive, and the prices are only going up, (unless of course, you’re registering for the Ron Dawes 25k- that race is only $5- I signed up!) So if you know your Valentine is training for an upcoming race, but hasn’t registered, sign him/her up yourself! That's not a bad idea for me...Dustin hasn't registered for Flying Pig yet- maybe I should sign him up!

3. Running Gear: This is an easy one- just check out my winter running essentials list, and pick up one of those items that your runner doesn’t have yet…Knuckle lights, Craft gloves, Yak-Traks, so many ideas!

4. Run MSP T-shirts or Sweatshirts. I can’t say enough about these comfy sweatshirts and tees from Gear Running Store. They make the BEST gifts!

5. A running themed gift basket: I posted HERE and HERE about creating running/fitness themed gift baskets. They are a fun way to gift your Valentine’s a bunch of small gifts that equal one great gift basket!

6. Splurge on a new Garmin for your Valentine! My friend Kelly has the new Garmin 220, and it’s pretty awesome. If you’re a big spender this year, I bet your Valentine would appreciate this! (It will set you back about $250)

7. A Subscription to Kona Kase or Runner Box: These monthly subscriptions are a gift that keeps on giving! Both are memberships to receive a shoebox full of running goodies each month. They include a variety of running fuel and a few other fun items.

8. BIC Bands! Probably not the best gift for a male Valentine, but I bet most ladies would like these fun headbands that don’t slip- really!

9. Yoga- let’s be honest, most runners could use a little more yoga in their lives. Pick up a gift card to CorePower Yoga or Modo Yoga for your running Valentine, and give the gift that says, “I want you to be able to run injury free in 2014!"

10. The final gift idea for your running Valentine? A new pair of running shoes!  Its easy to figure out what kind they wear. Pick them up the same pair in the same size, and they’ll be very grateful for the functional fit!

Fitting Remarks: 14 Motivational Tips to Keep You Running Through the Winter of 2014

I have had some trouble lately getting out of bed to go running in the morning. I know some of the reasons- it's cold, it's dark....or, if I am running on the treadmill, I just can't get excited about the monotony that awaits me. It’s not easy to stay motivated this time of year, I know. Getting out of your cozy warm bed in the morning is a challenge!

But it can be done! I have put together the following list of things to help you (and help myself) stay motivated throughout the winter.

1. New Workout Gear:

What can I say, I'm a sucker for new workout gear, but it gets me motivated to get out there and wear it! Check out my winter running essentials list, and invest in some fun new cold weather gear, and you will be inspired to test it all out on a run. Treat yourself to that new pair of Athleta tights you've been eyeing, but save them for a day that you really are having trouble getting motivated.

2. New Pair of Running Shoes:

This tip follows along with tip #1. I know when I received my new pair of Ravenna 5's, I was excited to test them out. Buy a pair now, and keep them in the box until you need that extra motivation to get out the door. It works!

3. Run a new route:

Tuesday night, my friend Meggan joined me for a hilly 9 mile route. We started off with a usual lap of Lake Calhoun, but then we just ran around my neighborhood, picking roads that look hilly and doing a repeat or two on each one. The change of routine actually made the miles fly by, and before we knew it, we were at 9 miles!  I didn't realize I was in such a rut with running the lakes until I changed it up, and it made a world of a difference. So, tip #3, blaze a new path. I understand the appeal of running from your front door, but it can get a bit routine and boring. Get in your car and drive to a new trail. Your new-found motivation will make it worthwhile.

4. Leave the Garmin at home:

I shared a whole list of ways that your Garmin can actually be detrimental to your training (read it HERE) There really is something to be said for just RUNNING, with no knowledge of pace or even distance. Just go for a run for the joy of running. I usually do this when I bring Matilda along, and I let her set the pace, sniffing around as frequently as she'd like.

5. Sign up for a spring race:

There's nothing more motivating than having a race on the horizon to get you out the door. I have the Flying Pig marathon in May, and it is definitely the reason why I tough out the cold on Saturday mornings. Locally, there are a TON of fun spring races you can register for: Goldy's 10 Mile, the Get Lucky 7k or Half Marathon, the 100% Irish for a Day 10 mile, the Get in Gear 10k & half marathon, the Lake Minnetonka half marathon....the list goes on and on!

6. Set a challenging, (yet hopefully achievable) goal for that spring race:

Having something to work towards will drive you through the miles. I seriously have thought about posting a big "3:45" on top of my alarm clock, to keep reminding me of my goal for Flying Pig. I'm never going to achieve a 3:45 marathon by sleeping in and skipping my runs….

7. Join a run club or find a running buddy:

There's nothing that keeps you accountable like a running buddy (or a group of running buddies in a club!) I know when I am meeting a friend for a morning run, I wouldn't just be letting myself down if I cancel. That friend is counting on me to show up.  Joining a running club can also keep you accountable, open up your social circle, make running fun, and make you faster! I dropped about 25 minutes off my marathon PR when I first joined the Calhoun Beach Running Club. Granted, I have been stuck there at 3:55'ish now for several marathons, but it definitely helped vs. when I was running alone.

8. Go to bed.

Or, better year, go to bed EARLY. It will be a whole lot easier to get up if you are well rested. And remember, for every mile you run each week, you should be adding a minute each night to your sleep. i.e. I am running about 40/miles a week, so I should be getting an extra 40 minutes of sleep each night!

9. Get a dog who likes to run:

Maybe get a Vizsla! They have so much energy and love to run. You'll always have a reason to get out the door. Who can say no to this face?

10. Think about swimsuit season

...It will be here before you know it. The work you put in now will pay off when you strip down to that new bikini. We just booked a Caribbean vacation for March, and I'm not going to lie- knowing that I will be trouncing around in my bikini in just over a month has helped get me out the door many times already!

11.Book a massage.

Make the massage a reward to yourself only IF you run 4 days this week (or something along those lines).

12.  Be grateful that you CAN run.

I just have to think back to my recent stress reaction, which kept me out of my Brooks for several weeks. I would have done anything to be able to run then, so I should take advantage of it now.  I GET to run! Yay! I'm running!

13. Create a blog!

Everyone's doing it, right? You don't even have to be a good writer, trust me :-)  Actually, putting it all out there on the intrawebs will keep you motivated. I (hopefully) have readers who are interested in how I perform, and putting my goals and training out there in a public forum keeps me accountable. And in turn, it keeps me motivated! I put it out there, and if I fail, you're all going to know!

14. Remember: you'll always feel better after a run than before it.  So true.

So there you go- my 14 Motivational Tips to Keep You Running in 2014. I hope one of these helps motivate you!

Do you have any other tips? What gets you out the door? Please share in the comments! 

The Right Fits in the News and More Winter Running Tips

If you didn't see it on Facebook or twitter, here is the article from the "photo shoot" I hinted about last week. It was published today in the Lifestyle section of the Star Tribune.

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/243013561.html

The author was a really nice guy, who just happened to be my pacer from the Get Ready to Rock 20 miler race two years ago! (Remember that race? Read the recap here)

I also knew one of the other runners from the Surly trail races this summer, and recognized another girl just from running around the lakes! Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs really aren't that small, but sometimes its remarkable just how small our running community is.

It was so nice of the Star Tribune to list my blog in the article. One of the other girls, Caryn Mohr, also has a blog- you can check it out HERE- it's called "Chasing Maslow".

I gave the writer many bits of advice, though he only had room for two of mine to be included. For any new readers to the Right Fits, I did a post about winter running essentials a few weeks ago, but I'll share that list again for you!

WINTER RUNNING ESSENTIALS FROM THE RIGHT FITS:

1. Dress for Success Chart:  Keep this chart handy, runner friends. This helpful chart from Runner's World is definitely one of my winter running essentials. I reference this chart all the time before runs to figure out what to wear.

Dress for Success
Here’s a cheat sheet to help you dress appropriately for your runs, no matter what the thermometer says. This chart factors in the 10-Degree Rule but doesn’t account for a significant windchill. On very windy days, you may need to dress warmer.
TEMP (in degrees)	BASIC APPAREL
above 70	Lightweight/light-colored singlet and shorts
60 to 69	Tank top or singlet and shorts
50 to 59	T-shirt and shorts
40 to 49	Long-sleeve shirt and tights or shorts
30 to 39	Long-sleeve shirt and tights
20 to 29	Two upper-body layers and one lower-body layer
10 to 19	Two upper-body layers and one lower-body layer
0 to 9	Two/three upper-body layers, one/two lower-body layers
below 0	Three upper-body layers, two lower-body layers

2. YakTrax Run I did a full post on the YakTrax Run HERE. Now, if you don't want to pay up for the YakTrax Run, you can try a pair of regular YakTrax, and you'll be alright for a little while. But honestly, the YakTrax Run version will last so much longer. They are designed specifically for running and they can hold up to the wear and tear of cold weather training.  Order a pair today at R.E.I.  HERE

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3. A Great Sports Bra- Well, this running essential applies in both warm or cold weather, but a great sports bra is just as important in the winter, even though it's going to be covered up with multiple layers. You know that I love the Serena bra by Moving Comfort and the Bitty Bracer by Lululemon. Chafing can still happen in the cold temps, so find a bra that fits you!

4. A Wicking Baselayer: There are a lot of great options out there for base layers, so stock up on a bunch. I love my new Long Sleeve Twist Top from Athleta, but the Brooks Heater Hog is definitely a good one, and I've had good luck with the base layers at Lululemon like this one

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5. Warm Socks: When its really cold, I actually wear my snowboarding socks. They're wool and very warm.SmartWool brand is probably one of the best. Find them at REI

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6. A Wind-Stopping Softshell/Jacket- This Craft one looks awesome. One or two really great winter running jackets is all you need. (You probably don't have to wash them every time you run, if you have several wicking base layers underneath.)

7. Warm Running Tights: Again, Craft makes a really good pair, and you can always go down the SportHillroute (though they are somehow the least flattering pants in the world!) Brooks makes a fleece lined pair that is pretty warm as well. Here's a great list by Runner's World of good winter running pants.

8. Quality Running Gloves- I have a pair of Craft gloves that are extremely warm. The two-finger split makes this glove more like a mitten, and my hands stay super cozy in these.

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9. Fleece Neck Warmer: A fleece neck gator (like this one) will really make a difference in your winter running. It will keep your neck and chin warm while also helping to prevent burning lungs.

10. A Warm Hat or Ear Band: I like the ear bands the best, but sometimes you'll need a really warm hat likethis one or this one.

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I also love running hats that have a hole for your pony tail as well, like this one by Saucony:

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11. Lip balm with SPF: The wind and cold can make your kissers pretty chapped. I load up on Aquaphor before a cold run.

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11. Knuckle Lights: Okay, you can get away with a head lamp, but you know I prefer the knuckle lights. (They were Friday's Favorite Fit a few weeks ago!) Knuckle lights are a winter running essential for both the early morning runners and the evening runners, now that our daylight hours are limited.

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12. A Face Mask. Unfortunately, when its really windy and cold, you need to protect your face with more than just some SPF/Moisturizer.  Sexy? Not so much, but unfortunately a face mask is definitely a winter running necessity.

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Now, if you just can't face the cold, there is always the treadmill. But if you purchase the items I have listed above, I think you'll find that winter running isn't so bad after all! It's invigorating! It keeps it interesting! It toughens us up, and that's what makes us real Minnesotans!


Previous posts by the Right Fits about cold weather running:
Fit Fanatic: So Cold
Fitting Debate: Running in Cold vs. Hot Temperatures
Fitting Debate: Running in Cold vs. Hot Temperatures Pt. 2

Fits Do Product Reviews: YakTrax Run 

Fit Fanatic: New Year's Day Run in the Freezing Cold.

By Jess in Minneapolis

Happy New Year! We are going through a crazy cold spell here in Minneapolis. The high on New Year's Day was only 0 degrees, and when I woke up, it was -7 with a "feels like" temperature of -20.  I would normally just head to the treadmill, but a few brave souls had organized a New Year's Day run to start off 2014, and I didn't want to miss out on the....fun? Fun? Is that what we're calling it? Ha!

On New Year's Eve, there was plenty of texting back and forth with this group, and I was thinking (hoping?) that the run would be cancelled, but it wasn't. Nope! At 9 am, three girlfriends came over, all bundled up, and we ventured out into the arctic cold for a New Year's Day run. We managed 7.8 miles, and to be honest, it wasn't really that bad.

With the right gear- with the Right Fits- you can run safely and comfortably, even when the temperatures are below freezing.

This post is all about the gear! I'm going to share with you what each of us wore to run, providing links to similar products for you to purchase to complete your winter running essentials and run through the winter safely and comfortably.

Me (Jess):
Footwear: SmartWool, Yak-Trax & Brooks
The trails were mostly clear, but I still wore my YakTrax Run paired with my Brooks Ravennas.

I wore a regular pair of running socks under a pair of SmartWool knee high ski socks. I probably wear my YakTrax more than most people (I was the only one wearing them that day), but I think I'm a little nervous ever since I broke my ankle on the ice in 2008.

Bottoms: Two layers.
I wore two pair of tights- a pair of Craft running tights (similar) and then a pair of fleece lined Adidas running tights (similar). The Adidas pair are pretty warm, but they don't actually stay up on my butt very well. This wasn't really an issue though, since they were on top of another pair. Problem solved!

Top: Four layers.
On top, I started with a lululemon bitty bracer, then my Costco tank top, Athleta long sleeve twist top, Nike long sleeve half zip (similar), and then a Nike windbreaker jacket (can't find anything similar online). The jacket is puffy and bright, and a good top layer.

Head: 
I wore my Nike face mask, but this was a bad choice. The face mask works well for a few miles, but then it starts to get sweaty, and then the sweat freezes, and you are left with a hard wall of ice covering your face and chin. I think that a warm hat,  paired with a neck gaiter (like THIS) is a better choice, because you can rotate the neck gaiter around as it freezes. Sounds weird, but it works! I won't be wearing the face mask again. My chin was FROZEN by the end. Failed Fit.

Hands:
I wore my Craft XC split finger gloves. Best gloves ever.

They really kept my hands warm. In fact, I was tempted to take them off towards the end, as my hands were getting so sweaty! They are seriously the best running gloves.

So, that's a lot of layers, but other than my face issues, I felt pretty comfortable with what I was wearing in the cold.

Let's move on to what Lindsey wore!

Lindsey
Footwear: Brooks!
Lindsey is a Brooks girl as well, with the PureFlow 2 as her shoe of choice. She paired hers with SmartWool tall wool "ski" socks. Seriously, snowboarding or ski socks are perfect for cold weather running!

Bottoms: Two layers.
Lindsey also wore two layers on bottom. She went with a pair of Under Armour Fitted Coldgear thermal pants (similar) and Brooks Utopia Thermal Pants <--I have these too, and they're great!

Top: Four layers.
Four layers for Lindsey as well.  She started with an Under Armour Heat Gear short sleeve (similar), and then a Champion base layer long sleeve (similar). Then she topped those with an Under Armour fitted cold gear thermal long sleeve (similar), and a super cozy Marmot polartec power shield shell jacket (similar) Marmot makes really great cold weather gear, and I think their stuff is worth the extra money.

Head:
Lindsey wore a 686 infidry balaclava with mouth vent, which she highly recommends! (similar here) She paired it with a Brooks headband, and said she felt pretty warm.

Hands:
She wore two pairs of gloves- Mizuno knit gloves and Nike storm-fit tech running gloves. (Find similar gloves HERE and HERE)

Lindsey said she felt pretty warm and was dressed well for the weather!

Next up...Kelly! Now Kelly used to say no running for her if the temperatures were in the single digits, but she was one of the primary organizers of the New Year's day run. I guess 2014 brings a new tougher, cold resistant Kelly!

Kelly
Footwear:
Kelly's shoe of choice is the Asics Nimbus. She paired hers with just ONE pair of regular fitsox (apparently she isn't on the SmartWool ski sock bandwagon yet!)

Bottoms: Two layers.
Kelly's base layer was a pair of well-loved (or, as she said "really old") spandex, with Nike running tights on top (similar).

Top: Three layers.
Only three layers for Kelly on top, but her top layer was quite warm. Her base layer was a Nike shell, topped with a warm long sleeve from Costco (I'm telling you, they have some decent fitness attire at Costco!) and then a black down jacket from Target that was super warm and cozy. (similar) I think I need to buy one of those. Only $34.99 and really cute, right? Go Target!

Head:
Kelly was smart and went with the neck gaiter and a wool hat.

All of Kelly's winter gear for today's run!

Hands:
She gets warm hands quickly, so she only wore a pair of Nike running gloves and was completely fine.

Kelly said overall, she was dressed well, and felt pretty warm. The only exception was that her hamstrings were a little chilly. She said should have used a warmer layer on bottom.

Next up...Monica! Monica is one tough cookie, and she is a really strong runner. I didn't get an individual picture of her on New Year's Day, but she's the second one from the left in the group photo above with the snow covered purple hat.

I feel bad that Monica didn't get own picture, so here's an adorable picture of her dog Darla!

Monica
Bottom: Two layers.

Monica wore two layers on the bottom, with a pair of Reed Street Spandex leggings topped with a pair of Athleta Polartech Power Stretch 2 Tight  (Awesome pants, only $79!)

Top: Four layers!

Monica started with a Nike dri-fit seemless tank top, and then put on an Athleta Longsleeve Wonder Wick It Tee Running Top  (She's a bit of an Athleta lover, if you can't tell!)  Next, she wore a North Face Women's Windwall 1 Jacket, and on top of that, a North Face Apex Bionic Soft Shell Jacket. This girl was READY!

Head:

On her head, Monica wore a Bula Beanie. To protect her face, she wore a Dakine Hood-lum bandana. Its not shown in the picture above, but this is kind of what it looks like:

They are pretty popular with snowboarders, but work well for running as well! Monica also donned a one-of-a kind polar fleece scarf (handmade by her mom- so awesome!)

Hands:
She kept her hands warm with some Saucony Ultimate Run Gloves.

Dustin joined us as well for the New Year's Day fun. He wasn't a big fan of being the only man on the run, so he cut his run a little short. He did recommend that we grow beards to keep our faces warm, but I'm not sure that's going to work for the ladies.

He wore his Brooks Cascadia trail shoes (he prefers those to YakTrax), a Patagonia base layer, Craft running tights (similar), a Craft running jacket (similar), his knit hat from the Mustache Run in 2012, and Craft gloves (similar to mine). Apparently this guy loves Craft brand running attire!

We didn't think it was a good idea to bring Matilda on the New Year's day run. Vizslas are superb runners, but they don't have a very thick coat, and aren't really winter dogs. Even when the temperature is in the teens, she still gets cold paws and ends up running on three legs. We took her to the neighborhood dog park later in the day instead to let her run free. That was a better idea for our little sweetheart.

So there you have it. Hopefully this post offered you some helpful ideas for the right gear to get you through the rest of what could be a very long and cold winter.

Happy Winter Running!