Runners, need some ideas

mocha beans

My MOH has recently gotten into doing road races this year.  She's run a few 5k's already and I think is slated to do a 10k  in October.  I'm coming up with something for a gift for her.  What are some things that would be useful for her and not something she likely has, because I'm not actually sure what she has or what to look for.

Stackeye210

Heart rate monitor and/or distance type monitor thing (probably pretty expensive)

Gift card for itunes or another music download site if she listens to her ipod while running

Gift card to a sports store where she could buy some apparel. 

Cool headbands, sweat bands - maybe matching fun dryfit running shirt for the race. 

Liberty27

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_runners-need-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:2fa15977-0918-43aa-a53b-3db8e8264821Post:fa827b25-5763-4b1a-868e-09b715700c28">Runners, need some ideas</a>:
[QUOTE]My MOH has recently gotten into doing road races this year.  She's run a few 5k's already and I think is slated to do a 10k  in October.  I'm coming up with something for a gift for her.  What are some things that would be useful for her and not something she likely has, because I'm not actually sure what she has or what to look for.
Posted by mocha beans[/QUOTE]

<div>I love my cold gear Under Armour.  It is awesome for running outside in the winters.  I also really like beanie-hats for wearing outside in the cold.  You can never have enough because I can't wear mine more than once without washing them in between. YUCK!</div>

PirateintheSky

I don't know exactly what they are but my friend has a pair of Nike's that have a chip in them that links them to a watch.  The watch face clips off and plugs into the USB port in his computer, showing the distance and speeds of his runs. Its really kind of cool. I think its called Nike+ and is just on certain selections of running shoes.

Edit---- and on certain shoes, I'm pretty sure you can design the colors and such and even put in custom embrodiary for no extra cost. 

georgia_bride09

I'd get her a spa GC so she could get a massage or a full-service pedi after her 10K.

packlite

The Apple/NIke Sport Chip if she has an ipod nano, touch or iphone, see link below - its the UK link but just search for it on the Apple site in the US.

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MA365ZM/E/Nike-iPod-Sport-Kit

fangsiting

This can be pretty handy for races--especially if you don't want a bunch of safety pins piercing your shirt.

Race bib belt

Even though I have a ton of running clothes, I still love getting cute stuff--maybe a jacket or vest (not sure what you are looking to spend), especially if she lives in a cold weather climate. 
I have this one from Brooks that I love: Jacket

Vests

And honestly, nice socks are one of the best gifts you can give a runner.  Socks are really important to running and they are rather expensive to buy on your own, but a cheap gift.  Check out Smartwool.

ohwhynot

Those are great ideas, and you are such a good friend to think of this!  In addition to the other ideas, if she doesn't already have one, a runner's ID that  she wears as a bracelet or anklet is something every runner should have.  There are several companies that make one - just google "runner ID" and several should come up. 

mocha beans

Ooh, good call on the UnderArmour.  We have an outlet that I can find some stuff at.

Thanks for the ideas!

andy71781

Ditto Fangsting - good socks are expensive in bulk and oh so necessary.  you could also get her a book about running. 

sep72fendr

What about a Personalized Runner's Journal? One that she can keep track of her times, photos, goals, etc.

It doesn't have to be one that you buy, even one that you could make for her/scrapbook style. If she has pictures of races that she has been in, you can stealthily get her times from ithose races and put it together for her with extra empty pages for her to fill out.

AllAboutTheBenjamin

You could also give her a gift certificate to an athletic store, so she can go get something she specifically may need.

Lapontoona6

You could get her a subscription to Runner's World magazine - it's got tons of great articles and also provides upcoming races.  My FI just started getting it and I love reading them it's awesome