2019 Athlete Gift Giving GUIDE

(NOTE: Check their websites as many are offering BLACK FRIDAY specials)


It's officially after Thanksgiving, so now it's time to shop for your athlete, runner, swimmer, cycling, or mountain biking friends. I have compiled a list of gift giving options that any of them would love to find wrapped as a gift for them. 

Some of these ideas can be a gift themselves or maybe a small stocking stuffer. 

For starters, participate in Small Business Saturday by supporting your local running store. If not to purchase that pair of running shoes they have been wanting, buy them a gift certificate. Let your athlete return after the holidays and pick out their own pair of shoes or favorite running apparel. 

Visit 

Queen Creek Running Company

KINeSYS sunscreen is a favorite of mine. With an SPF of 30 and water resistant for up to 80 minutes in the sun you can't go wrong. The great smelling, Mango scent, and alcohol and oil free clear spray will help protect anyone enjoying the outdoors hiking, fishing, training or just relaxing by the pool. 

KINeSYS

Keep them on track with the Suunto Spartan WHR. This sweet GPS with optical heart rate monitor will gather workout data that can later be looked at and tracked.

The Orange Mud Hydra Quiver is perfect for keeping anyone hydrated out hiking or running and even mountain biking. This great hydration pack can hold more than just a bottle, it can hold numerous items including gels, nutrition, cellphone, keys and much more. Check out their site for other hydration carrying options. 

ORANGE MUD

Maybe another pack from Orange Mud might be a better fit. With the bumps and dips along the mountain bike trail, maybe a two liter bladder holding Endurance Pack (version 2.0). There is 4 liters of cargo space. 

It's perfect for running or mountain biking. There is plenty of room for nutrition and large pockets up front for cell phones, nutrition or adding more hydration options.  

The pack high on your back and stays put, after proper adjustment. Not sloshing around like a backpack while riding a mountain bike. 

It comes with the 2 liter HydraPak with drinking hose.  

Or maybe Orange Mud's transition wrap! This too is on their website.  Perfect for bringing to the pool and using to dry off. The newest version 2.0, of this is now softer than ever. Pick your athletes favorite color out of the ten they produce the transition wrap in. 

Use it to protect your car seat inside your vehicle, or even use it to wrap around yourself to quickly change out of wet swim trunks, without fear of getting a ticket for indecent exposure.  

Cat-Ears will keep your cyclist safe by letting them hear others around them while riding. These simply strap onto any helmet's straps, placing them in front of the ear.  Air Streamz by Cat-Ears
are proven and very affective. For winter riding outdoors they also produce a great ear warmer/sound reducing Ear Cover, check them out and order them in a combo pack.

Cat Ears

Ear Cover, perfect for winter riding outdoors! 

THESE ARE THE BOMB at keeping your head warm, yet not over heating like a skull cap would in winter riding. They still allow your head to vent your heat. 

A great stocking stuffer for the runner on your list with Lace Lockers

Get Arctic Cool wear for the golfer, runner or any athlete in your friends or family circle. Sure there is the popular crew workout shirt, but they also have polo shirts and tank tops made with the same material and various colors to choose from. Keep them cool during their workouts. I know it may be cold outside, right now where you are, or even snowing, but the summer heat is guaranteed to be back. 

ARCTIC COOL

And last but not least, maybe for the runner on your shopping for that suffers from plantar fasciitis. The compression cold therapy decreases recovery time for athletes. Use it on your knees, ankles, neck or back.  Help joints recover fast with Frozen Peaz!  Theses can be used or either hot or cold therapy. Simply keep them in your freezer and apply after a tough workout. 

These are perfect too for treating headaches! 

How about keeping their muscles loose and workout tight knots. The better than you typical foam roller, are Rumble Rollers. Check out the Rumble Roller itself or the new Rumble Roller GATOR and even the Rumble Roller BEASTIE.  All sweet products from Rumble Roller. 

RUMBLE ROLLER

and even Olbas essential oil to use as Aromatherapy or massage oil. It works as both. 

OLBAS OIL

and finally recovery faster using this percussion massage gun 

PhysioProX 2019 Pro Massage Gun for Athletes

The cordless PhysioProX has six speeds and comes with four attachment heads. 

Here is a link to the product on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VT5Q1TL

Lace Locker, keep your laces from coming undone!

First off, I was offered a pair of Lace Lockers from the inventor herself, Carol “Stash” Stanley. I was not paid for this review, besides being given the product for free. 

It’s a simple yet very effective device for holding your shoe laces not only tied, but also from flopping around. With your laces placed inside the velcro attached device, your shoes can’t come untied. 

I use to use an elastic lace type in my running shoes, but have since switches to just the laces that come in with the shoes I wear. I get a better snug on my laces. 

I place the Lace Locker device, like the instructions show and explain, and it does what it says. 

From just walking around with the laces places inside, I don’t have to double knot my laces any longer, knowing that there is no way the laces will be able to undo themselves from the Lace Locker. 

I only ran the back of the Lace Locker through the top of the laces, as they sit on top of the shoe's tongue. I have since placed this stiff part of the back of the Lace Locker running down three laces. 

The initial set up, of placing the Lace Locker on each shoe, takes just a few more seconds than actually using them from then on. After they are installed, simply tie your shoes like normal, place the laces down through the Lace Locker and fold over the velcro top. DONE!  Very quick and easy. 

Check them out for yourself. 

They are sold in a few stores, but most definitely online at LACE LOCKER

100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge for 2019

As of today, 11/19/2019, I have logged already 137 miles of the 200 mile challenge. 

I’ve signed up again. It’s a good reason to keep active in the winter months, even though for me that was going to happen anyways. 

I live and work in Maricopa County, here in Arizona. I have signed up for their 100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge. Helping promote getting outside and being active. With the holidays and busy schedules it sometimes is hard. The county’s parks provide over 420 miles of outdoor adventure. Many of the trails on in Usery Regional Park and San Tan Regional Park I have ventured on either running, hiking or mountain biking.  I try to keep my training from hitting lows during the time of year, but I took on the challenge wanting to keep up my training over the winter months. The miles are calculated using your GPS device or you can download their app they created for the challenge. Hikers and runners need to get in 100 miles while the mountain bikers and horseback riders need to reach a distance of 200 miles. There are some other requirements that must be met to finish the challenge. Take a look here for more info, or if you're interested in signing up yourself, for locals here in Arizona. 

100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge

Besides getting a t-shirt when you have finished the distance, some of the county parks hold a little celebration when it is over. Finishers also get their names entered in a drawing to receive a yearly county park pass. 

Since the challenge started on November 1, 2019 for this year, my mountain biking, put in the category where I would need to hit 200 miles. Hitting weekend morning 11 or more mile loops in the park I could get the distance in. 

Over this past three day weekend I was able to log over 50 mountain bike miles, really meaning around 25 that would go towards the challenge. 

A celebration in photos from my son's 2019 NICA season

This is a celebration in photos of my son and his 2019 NICA season.

I am so excited and proud of my son.  

Finishing off the NICA season strong. He started and finished every race in the series. 

Starting training back in April earlier this year. 

He learned a lot along the way, as so did I. 

From bike issues and some nutrition advice, he did great. 

A race, halfway through the season, the derailleur snapped off his bike. He had help in getting the bike to roll, then ended up pushing the bike with his legs on either side to the finish. 

I was proud of him in his determination to finish the race.  

He is looking forward to the 2020 season. 

I want him to keep having fun and bring him out on the trails with me to keep him active. 

The last few corners of the last race this season I will always remember. 

He had the biggest smile on his face before he rode by me. I yelled his name and in response he rang the bell on his bike as he rolled by. 

Mucky Nutz, MUG GUARDS

The MugGuard is available in both 400mm and 600mm lengths. They fit 26 inch, 27.5 inch and 29 inch wheels with tires up to three inches wide. It's a must have to keep yourself and your bike caked with dirt while out on the muddy trails or roads. Is secured in place by Velcro or you can use zip ties as well.

Winter riding is just around the corner. Trails might be muddy.  Rule of thumb is, if your tires leave a mark, don’t ride on the trail. However, if you ride muddy roads of course you’ll want to avoid getting sprayed with mud or water, not only keeping you clean but your bike as well. 

Mucky Nutz, MUG GUARDS are just what you’re needing. These work on 26, 27 1/2  and 29 inch wheels. They work with boosted forks and tires up to 3 inches wide. The tread on your tire is going to grab on to the mud,  dirt or gravel and fling it around, The MUG GUARD will keep it from hitting you or your bike. They come in two lengths, 400 mm and 600 mm.   The 400mm or short MUG GUARD weighs in at 75 grams, with the Long MUG GUARD weighing in at 105 grams.  They help keep mud out of your forks stanchions.  They attach very easily to the bridge and fork of your bike. 

They come with re-usable Velcro to make them easy to put on and take off not only for cleaning but for transportation if needed. Each fender comes with 40 inches of Velcro. I cut into two 5 inch pieces, I use on the top, securing it to the forks bridge, and two 10 inch pieces to either side, going down the fork. They can also be attached using zip ties if you want to do it that way too and you see them being used or a longer period of time. 

Running shorts with compression tights

Running this winter, in this set of compression tights with shorts is very comfortable.  Wearing a size 36 US pair of jeans, I ordered the 2XL and they fit perfect.  They are easy to put on and I love the string around the waist, securing them. The cell phone pocket, down the right upper leg, seems to stick out from under the shorts area. I am not a fan of running with my smartphone, so I don’t think I will even be using this option ever, but it’s there in case I need it. There is a loop on the back left of the shorts for holding a towel. I would use this option not for running but more for walking around the gym keeping my sweat towel close by. 

They offer full range of motion. The draw string can be used to keep them tight around your waist if needed. The leggings are 3/4 so they don’t reach all the way to your socks or ankles. I like the fit and with chilly weather will help keep warm out running or walking. There is a rear zippered pocket, if you want to secure money or car keys while out and about.  Look closely at the sizing chart as they are sized for a foreign country. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X1WTPMN?ref=myi_title_dp

What a major confidence booster.

One week after snapping a pedal off my mountain bike, I got a solid great ride in.  I switched back to clip-less pedals. There is always the debate as to which is better, platform or clip-less pedals. I am used to riding with clip-less on both my road and mountain bike. 

The main reason I switched first off is because I don’t have an extra set of platform pedals in my stash of gear. 

Before the pedal snapped off, I was having a ton of issues with pedal strikes. It started getting to me mentally not being able to do climbs or trails I know I can do and have done previously.  

I was very excited when I was able to complete a full loop in my favorite mountain bike park for training. The entire 15 mile loop I never put a foot down or had to unclip from the pedals. 

What a major confidence booster. 

Before the ride I made some air shock adjustments after finding out my rear shock was set up to squishy. Added more air to it an adjusted the rebound.  

The adjustments and set up come just in time for a 200 mile challenge I have opted into this winter.