Quick Bytes Holiday Gift Guide Series: Love, Laces & Laughter - Heart-warming gifts for Runners

Are you ready for a shopping spree that leaves your heart pumping and your gift list crossed off? This episode is your ultimate guide to finding the perfect running-related gifts this holiday season. We promise a fun-filled discussion on unique and creative gift options from our beloved small businesses.

Think custom lace charms with meaningful quotes, customizable displays, finish line celebration kits, and even runners' fortune cookies. So, lace up and get ready to shop till you drop!

Ever wondered how best to show your appreciation and support for the runner in your life? Well, your quest ends here. We explore a spectrum of gifts that will not only delight but also inspire your favorite runner. From performance journals that help track their progress to running pun jokes that lighten up their day, and unique jewelry that they can flaunt.

As we sprint towards the finish line, we reflect on our favorite running-related gifts of all time. The custom lace charms, each with our favorite quotes etched on them, top the list. But the real winners are the small businesses, which bring to us these unique and heartwarming gifts.

Remember, it's not about the size of the gift, but the love that you pack it with. So, share the love and this episode with your friends and family, and let's make this holiday season special for the runners in our lives.

For links to the gifts mentioned here, read the accompanying blog here.

Chapters

• 0:02 Holiday Gift Guide for Runners
• 12:48 Gift Ideas for Runners
• 17:54 Gift Ideas for Runners
• 27:04 Laced Love and Laughter

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:02

Hey friends, coach Shelby and Coach Christine, welcoming you in and letting you know it's time for brunch. Holiday gift guide edition, where you can grab your miles with a side of smiles, take them on the run midday in the afternoon or maybe a late night snack attack and get your holiday wish list together, or maybe get some of your shopping done. As you burn in those miles, get a little sweat action. I'm excited for the gift guide series. We did it last year, we're bringing it back again and I'm excited to talk about a lot of the things that you can go ahead and purchase, but obviously sprinkle in a little bit of my Martha Stewart isms as well.

Speaker 2: 0:43

Yeah, I love this specifically because we are bringing back this series by popular demand.

Speaker 2: 0:48

I've always wanted to be able to say that and actually we can truly say that this time, but I think that this time we we made sure it had really kind of curated a little differently in terms of there may be a couple of items will be repeats from last year, because there are just certain items that are almost impossible to not add into a gift guide, but this is going to definitely be a much different approach.

Speaker 2: 1:07

So last year we kind of price pointed it. This time we're going to kind of theme it and this specific episode is all about those heartwarming, the ones that make you feel really fuzzy and good inside, or that brings a little smile or chuckle, because I do believe that especially our runners with time for brunch have a wonderful sense of humor. So I think this is the perfect gift guide and I also think that it's a wonderful opportunity for you friends that maybe have someone who doesn't know what to get you. You send them this episode, you send them the episode notes, all the links, and maybe you might have one or two of these under your Christmas tree or in your stocking. So, coach, let's get right to it. What has been your favorite running related gift of all time?

Speaker 1: 1:56

So I did actually receive these from my mom because I've talked about this last year. But there's kind of a standing rule in my family that no one buys me running gear because I buy it myself.

Speaker 2: 2:11

I again we do this for a living.

Speaker 1: 2:14

I don't. I don't necessarily need help in that department, but she always gets me something running related and she got me one of my favorite quotes about. They said she couldn't tackle the storm and she whispers back I am the storm again. There's variations of that quote, but she got me custom lace charms that have those on there that don't cause any extra weight, they won't mess up your cadence, but there's a million ways you can customize them. There's templates that you can already pre purchase and it's something very small that can make a really big impact, especially on race day or during those harder efforts. Because as much as we tell everybody look forward when you're running, everybody their shoes eventually, yes, and even if it's just it catching the light and that little bit of a glimmer, it's a really no-transcript, low-cost, sentimental way to give a runner or yourself this, that little nod of like hey, I believe in you, I recognize this is something you like and I'm rooting for you, and it's a small gift with a lot of words it is.

Speaker 2: 3:21

It actually does have a lot of meaning. I have received the same gift from a couple of my run buddies over my soulmates over the years and it has been so touching and so powerful and the only thing that I would caveat is that definitely give that person or take a little bit of time to unlace your shoes and lace them up, so don't try to do that right before you're supposed to go out and meet your buddies for a run.

Speaker 2: 3:47

So definitely take a little bit of time in doing that. But I will say we're going to highlight, we're going to try to highlight maybe some of the smaller stores and smaller businesses. So we do want you to guys to take into account that this specific one that we're highlighting is an Etsy seller based out of the UK. So shipping may be for us here in North America or maybe other parts of the world may not be the best option for us. So if you want to just do a customized lace charm, personalized shoe lace charms, search on Etsy, but take into account they are smaller businesses. They don't have the quick turnaround times. Yes, you can find them on Amazon, but I'm also going to say this is a wonderful opportunity to support small businesses if you have the opportunity and you start shopping early enough.

Speaker 1: 4:28

And, honestly, some of the mom and pop running stores will have it. So even if you can't find a smaller seller who actually makes them, try to go ahead and maybe go to a smaller store to make those purchases and again, spread, spread a little bit of holiday cheer and, who knows, maybe you're contributing to somebody's ballet lessons or soccer try out fees.

Speaker 2: 4:52

Yeah, shop small whenever possible, for sure. Now I will say that I do love these next ones. Now, usually if you tell a runner that you're going to get them running socks, they'll be like are you sure that you got me the right running socks? I'm very specific about what I like, just like what Shelby mentioned, and it comes to running gear. But if you get them a fun or funny or inspirational socks, maybe even some knee highs, to be able to support for some of these really fun holiday themed races we have this time of year, then I would say that they will be happy to make a little bit of a caveat to their original role and they'll be happy to throw them on.

Speaker 2: 5:26

My favorite of all time is from the socks box and I have quite a few pairs of knee highs from the socks box which I do actually wear for runs. When I always feel like I can't say this out loud because people get angry. But when it gets cold here in Florida I tend to put on, because I don't have full leggings for a lot of my running gear, I have like capri links, so I'll throw those on as those knee highs over it to kind of add a little bit of fun and whimsy. I mean they have some hilarious ones, they've got some super inspirational ones. So really, knowing the person that you're giving that gift to and maybe they have more of a dry wit, they kind of want a little bit of humor along or, if they prefer, a little bit of inspiration as well helps quite a bit.

Speaker 1: 6:09

I like that idea. I do have to laugh, though, that your capris on me are just leggings because I'm so short, like I can't wear leggings because they're too long, so I have to get capris, so they're normal length for me.

Speaker 2: 6:21

Yeah yeah. So we're including a couple of different locations in the socks box. And then I know most folks have at least seen Gone for Run. Gone for Run does have a lot of great products as well, and I actually really think that these socks that we're highlighting their Socrates, love and the Run that are a bit more inspirational seem like they would actually be super comfortable. They look like features to me, which is what I usually tend to wear as my running socks. What do you tend to wear for your running socks, coach?

Speaker 1: 6:46

I usually either do bombas or there are some socky ones that I've got as a Christmas gift that I really, really enjoy. I like bombas. I think we featured them last year because for every pair of socks donated, they donate a pair to a homeless shelter. That's one of the most needed items at homeless shelters and they're just they don't have the seams. They're really a great, great brand. They are are a little bit more on the expensive side, I will say that, but at least there's a little bit of a feel good portion with that purchase.

Speaker 2: 7:18

So you don't necessarily love running gear, even though I'm sure most people in your household know your favorite running socks. What would you also say that somebody that kind of would touch your heart to receive this time of year?

Speaker 1: 7:32

So this one I really love, and while we're going to highlight a company that does it, I'm also going to share some ways to make this a little bit even more cost effective and maybe add up the personalization. So a framed and personalized running and race map. The company we're featuring is Run Inc and they're not badly priced. They have the world majors, they have a whole bunch of races and they're really aesthetically pleasing. You can even do like the bib number, you can do the time, you can do the date.

Speaker 1: 8:03

But for those who maybe want to be a little more crafty or make a little bit extra personalization, this is a great time to maybe look at one of the discount retailers for shadow boxes.

Speaker 1: 8:16

And you don't have to have a literal course map if that's not something that you think would speak to your runner or maybe it wouldn't speak to you. But you can get, like I'm thinking, New York. There's a million and 7000 different New York maps that you can print off the internet. You can go ahead and maybe get a pin of like the big apple, and maybe you have access to get their bid. If they don't throw them away like Coach Christine, Maybe you can do a picture from their race and put it in there and make it a living, breathing memory of not just that race but their experience with that race can be something really special. That doesn't take a lot of time, doesn't take a lot of money, but it does take that kind heart and that thinking of somebody else and I love stuff like that. I love when people take time to make not only a gift or get me a gift, but really make it about what speaks to me.

Speaker 2: 9:10

Yeah, I think that one's a super sweet one, and I think it also because so many of us spend so long working towards these races and these finish lines that it allows that memory, that special race day memory and all of those months of hard work, to kind of be commemorated in a really beautiful way. So I think it speaks to a lot of our hearts as well as runners. So I would agree with that one, coach. And speaking of memories, that's exactly the next one on here. Now you also know you called it out I'm not a big fan of keeping my race bibs.

Speaker 2: 9:45

I also usually do clean out my running shirts quite frequently and donate them, but that's because I didn't ever think of this wonderful idea of saving the running shirts and having them created into a quilt.

Speaker 2: 9:59

Now I think that this is such a beautiful way of commemorating all of those wonderful races that we've had in a way that I really do feel like I could see just a really cozy afternoon on a rest day, like snuggling in with my memory stitch quilt with all of the really cool little different places that I've been or seen or been able to race. So I think that's a really fun one. I also will say all of these products, or this product specifically, does take some time. You can't just have it turned around right away. You've got to ship those shirts up, you've got to let them put it together, ship it back. So it's something to take into consideration that maybe if it's not something that necessarily, you know which race shirts would mean the most to your runners, this is also a great opportunity to get them like a little certificate of this product and let them choose which shirts they want to send for the quilt as well.

Speaker 1: 10:49

And I'm big into that, for especially something like this, like you said, not really knowing or maybe not having access to those materials, I'm a big fan of giving a gift with like clues as to what I'm trying to do. Like, again, you could always do a random t-shirt, a thing of thread and maybe, like you said, a certificate or something, and just make it fun. Again, it doesn't have to be an expensive clue, but it's a fun way to have them still have something to open and kind of enjoy that little bit of fun. And I do love this company, the Memory Stitch. I'm looking through their site and I've been looking into them more.

Speaker 1: 11:26

They at the time were recording this how they're doing a sale. I don't know how long that sale is going to be on there, but if this is something that you don't want to take on for your own endeavor and make yourself, this is a really solid option to look into. And, like you said, it's a great way they do t-shirt quilts, they can do onesie quilts and, again I write, it's a great way to stitch literally a lot of memories together in one beautiful piece that you are going to use. I mean, again, you love your celebration blankets. I could see you having this.

Speaker 2: 11:59

I could see it as well. Definitely, again, I could see it just being super cozy and something just super exciting. It feels like, although all of them would be hodgepodge, it'd be like I earned this because of the miles that I put in. So I think, yes, that's a great one that has a lot of memory attached to it. Coach, what else would you feel like would warm your heart to open up underneath the Christmas tree?

Speaker 1: 12:23

So this is one that I might be dropping hints to my own husband, for, because I love my metals, I do not currently have a metal hanger.

Speaker 2: 12:34

But we got to get that taken care of. I feel like I need to text tray immediately, right.

Speaker 1: 12:38

I mean you're going to have to basically sit there and be like, hey, just so you know, this one's really cool, we just featured it. But yeah, right now I have it like are all stacked in a corner. But Allied Metal Hangers has some great displays. You can customize them different heights, different widths, different everything and I like seeing them, especially my Disney medals and my Space Coast medal, because I like big medals and I cannot lie. So this is a great one, especially if you do have somebody, regardless of how long they've been running, how short they've been running, what type of races they've ran, if you know that their medals speak a lot to them. It also is a great nod to saying, hey, I see that this is really important to you, I'm proud of you, I want you to be proud of it, and is a great way for even those participation medals to really become a piece of their home or office or wherever they decide to hang it.

Speaker 2: 13:31

They also have bib displays. So we did mention Allied metal hangers last year because we do, honestly, I honestly do believe it's such a great gift to have I have a few of them that have been custom made for me that I have not hung up still, even from last year, but-.

Speaker 2: 13:46

So no one get her one, but I have had them and I have displayed them in the past and what I love specifically was that, specifically for the medals, they have attachments. We can continue to build on it so as you continue to have more races under your belt. But again, for folks that really do love their bibs, the bib display is a wonderful gift as well to have and I think it kind of speaks to each individual. Like there's some really incredible quotes. There's some that talk more about like, like, if you're having a 50 state runner, they have a run the USA for the 50 state runners. They have a beast mode for maybe, folks that are tackling some of those OCRs, those obstacle course races. I love the ones that says challenge accepted.

Speaker 1: 14:26

They have Disney too.

Speaker 2: 14:28

Yeah they totally have Disney. So, and again, these are just the ones that they have like kind of already to go, but they could absolutely customize them for you or for your specific runner. So I would not sleep on these. Even if you heard us last year talk about it and maybe you did get one of the products, I'd go back and look at it again and see what your runners into now, or maybe what their next big endeavor is, cause I think that they would be excited for that as well.

Speaker 2: 14:51

Now, coach, I think that there's also no hiding that I do love me some finish lines. I just I love the finish line feels right. Why don't we celebrate our finish lines for all of our runs? So I think that putting together a cute little gift basket, if you will, for your runner to have, maybe a little portable box they could take with them so they can have a finish line feeling at every one of their training runs, or maybe create some of their own little celebrations so a portable roll of finish line tape that you can set up anywhere, maybe get them a couple cones.

Speaker 2: 15:26

This is definitely gonna be a little bit more of a crafting thing, but it would absolutely be something that would put a smile on their face, especially if they've been training for quite some time and they're starting to get into those lulls. They need a little bit more excitement and maybe even creating some like post run recovery in this kit. I think I could see this one going really far, definitely out of the box, and I'm curious if anyone has ever been gifted or has gifted or if they're thinking that maybe they want to. Also, if you have running partners and looking for what to get for your soul mates, maybe you know that you have a running friend that has a little bit of a virtual. It has a virtual coming up or has a really big run. Creating this as a great gift to celebrate their really big peak run is also a lot of fun.

Speaker 1: 16:09

That sounds really awesome. I have had somebody make me like a faux finish line before and it made me really happy.

Speaker 2: 16:17

It's a huge difference to kind of see that kind of regular training run be really elevated into a really great experience. And, of course, if you throw in a little confetti, as long as it's biodegradable or you're willing to clean it up, then I'm here for it as well.

Speaker 1: 16:33

I think this next one on the list again talk about out of the box, but I can see this being a really cool idea for like your run club, or maybe again you're having a big group together for races and it's runner's fortune cookies.

Speaker 1: 16:51

Now while this one's not specifically just for runners, but tasty fortunes makes customizable fortune cookies, and what I like about it is because I would be this person. You can get them like dipped in chocolate, you can get them with sprinkles, or you can get them plain or giant, and I would get the plain ones just to like, play it off and make it customized to that person. It's like who wouldn't want to open up a fortune cookie and have it directly?

Speaker 2: 17:21

speak to you, to their run. Yeah, so literally, I think, like if anybody ever thought that they wanted to get a gift from Coach Christine, this is exactly what I would want because, first of all, I love quotes, I love inspirational sayings and having a cookie, a little bit of carbs, a little bit of pre-run fuel so I could go out there kind of as like a little inspiration to put a little pep in my step. I think this is maybe one of the cutest. Again, it's customized, it's gonna take a little bit more time, but gladly, or luckily, we are pushing this episode out a little bit earlier so that you guys can start working on these. If you're thinking you want to give them to someone, or send this link book market to your other half and maybe explain what it is that you would love to see, or kind of drop that like oh, I heard on the podcast how you could create these inspirational saying fortune cookies.

Speaker 1: 18:08

how cute is that I could see somebody doing this too for a runner in taper Yep.

Speaker 1: 18:15

Cause even again like for the plain ones, you can do 15 fortunes, so you can write out 15 different fortunes and it comes in the smallest quantity is 25. And that's not that bad considering. So you could literally make a fortune for every day of taper. And yeah, you're gonna have more than you would have for days of tapers. But thinking about stuff like that and Doesn't mean that you have to again Give it to him during taper, but like how people at baby showers and weddings give, like bottles of wine for, like, your first anniversary, your first this it could be a really cute idea.

Speaker 2: 18:54

I mean, you could, even you could make a snack on them?

Speaker 2: 18:58

I would. I would totally see these as a long run kind of a thing that I would love. So I would. I would reserve one for A weekly long run and most training cycles and being anywhere from 16 to 24 weeks, that fits very nicely in between that package. Or if you wanted to double down and get a couple of those and make it so that they have a fortune cookie for every week of the Year. Now I am curious, and this I don't know is how fresh they stay for how long. So that's something you definitely would want to check into before you start ordering those really big quantities, if you're like me and Cookies don't hang out your hot at your house for very long. Anyways, I don't know If it really matters, because I'm pretty sure that I would be a Hercules effort to not eat all of these beautiful, especially if the chocolate sprinkle dipped before the end of the year.

Speaker 1: 19:42

So I love fortune cookies. That's my highlight of getting Chinese there's so much fun.

Speaker 2: 19:48

So, yeah, so we both agree that we're loving on these fortune cookies. We think that it'd be a great fun thinking out of the box kind of idea. Now what does speak to my heart will always speak to my heart. I will never, ever quit saying this is running journals. Coach knows this automatically. She knew that it was gonna make the list. I wouldn't be surprised if this makes a couple of the list that we have for our episodes. But there's some great ones. You can get them from Amazon.

Speaker 2: 20:14

You could just make a regular beautiful book for the individual. Maybe you could even go to a local Journal or paper maker, stationary maker and choose something like that. Or you can go with more of a traditional one. It's a performance journal. We're gone for a run. If you have someone who kind of prefers a more light-hearted approach because they have some really funny sayings on there's. So really again, knowing your runner, are they more metric focused? They'd likely would want a performance journal if they're a bit more fun and whimsical. I would prefer that more light-hearted approach from gone for a run journals. But either way, they're just a fantastic gift to give and I will Give receive any of it.

Speaker 1: 20:55

Um, there also is a training log slash planner workbook along the same lines. It's done by Grayson Murphy, who is a professional runner with Sockney and a little bit more of a small business. Again, we've talked about that. The Pro athletes and always, always, make banks. They have their different avenues. She is a very inspirational runner and she has her own business that does these training logs and planners and they're fun. They have places for notes. So again, if maybe you're new to journaling or maybe you want something kind of go with all of the different facets, this is a really great one to go ahead and look into as well.

Speaker 2: 21:36

Absolutely well, coach, I will say that we have been requested at least several times throughout the year with brunch, that we do more pun-focused Runs. So we're gonna tell you, guys that you can absolutely request your own Own book where you get summer running jokes and we have that link, of course, from Amazon and it's just a collection of running theme jokes, puns and jokes, and I think they're great to have and it's not something you would necessarily read cover to cover, but maybe if you are losing a little bit of a sparkle that day or you need a little bit more inspiration, there's nothing like getting some of those wonderful Chemicals releases a little bit of endorphins by having a good belly laugh or a chuckle. So absolutely adding that in plus, laughing is almost like a natural pain reliever. So if you're feeling a little sore on recovery day, maybe busting out the running jokes book might be perfect for you. So I think that's really a fun one to receive as well and know before anybody asks.

Speaker 1: 22:33

I did not write it. I do love my puns, but I did not write a book. But I am all for having some more punny runs and punny pun as we go through this year and the new year, for sure. Yes, now I know I've talked about this amazing, amazing woman and company before, mm-hmm, but this is at the top of my list of gifts that I love to receive or give. Funny story I actually did get a piece from this shop for Christine when she had finished Tokyo. It somehow got lost in the mail, no fault of anybody's but mine. Truth be told, she received it, I don't know what, six months later.

Speaker 2: 23:20

Yeah, I was like I don't know where this is coming from or what it is. But yes, but it's still definitely beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. It's such a. I think what I love specifically about the jewelry from Erica Sarah Is that it's pieces that don't necessarily look specific to running necessarily, so it creates really talk about heartwarming. It creates more of an internal Connection to whatever that specific piece may be. So for the gift that you gave me was to commemorate the six-star medal and Just super, super beautiful. I absolutely loved it, no doubt about it.

Speaker 1: 23:58

And she has. She does the official jewelry for the New York City Marathon. So if you'd ran that, you might be familiar with her name before. She has a bunch of running related items but she also has a non running related items as well. But she is a runner. She is a small business. She does this all herself by hand from her home. She does a lot with some amazing, amazing organizations like and mother brave like Gabe Adrian has lit, who again you might know that name for the Boston bombing victim who Grows literally as a Phoenix and ran with Shalene Flanigan. She works with Still Eye Run, so a name that definitely holds her weight in gold, literally and figuratively. These gifts are beautiful. I have pieces from her and they definitely have stood at the test of time and just again, overall, a lovely, lovely person.

Speaker 2: 24:54

Awesome. So, friends, definitely bookmark that and get it out to your folks, because you know that you want a piece and there's also nothing wrong with it. If you really want this, look at it for yourself. You don't have to wait for somebody else to get it for you. Definitely, we're to round out this list. I can't think of anything that speaks to both of our hearts quite as much as coffee. So, friends, you can pick up a runner's high coffee blend. I don't know how we didn't know about this until this episode, but absolutely love the punniness. Speaking about puns, I love the fact that most of us runners do follow up our runs with a good cup of coffee, which is something that I would incorporate. So I would get the coffee blend and I would absolutely utilize a personalized running mug and making kind of a little bit of a gift basket. When I think of gifts, I think of this as something that Coach Shelby screams, coach Shelby all day long. Another mug and a-.

Speaker 1: 25:50

There's no way you're buying me another mug.

Speaker 2: 25:54

I do think you may have a little bit of a problem with the mugs already, so I don't know that I want to contribute to it, but I do think it's beautiful of a gift and also really does speak to it. So the mug that I'm highlighting is because it's one of my absolute favorite words, especially this time of year, and it's wonderful from Harley Dogg Designs and it's a cute mug with really bright colors and you can personalize it with your person's name. So it would say Shelby's wonderful mug. Runderful is an adjective, how every runner feels when they finish their run, especially if you get a little bit of runner's high coffee in there. I think you are all set, maybe with the fortune cookies. I've seen a whole little thing here, coach.

Speaker 1: 26:34

There's even some where you can get like a caricature of yourself running oh, that's so cool. And again, maybe you want to personalize it a little bit more. Maybe look at local pottery shops, as they have, like the paint and me, whatever the brand is that's around you. Again, most of those are locally owned and operated. So a great time to again maybe test your artistic skills, or lack thereof, and make somebody's day with a truly one of a kind piece, which I know is again something I love to do.

Speaker 2: 27:04

So, friends, with that said, we are all about laced love and laughter, not just today for the holiday gift guide, but every single day, and we're so glad to have you with us. We do hope that you share this episode with maybe your non-runners and your runners, if you guys are thinking of holiday gifts that you want to partake in or buy or have purchased for you, we want to also give you a really big high five. Great work. Thank you for joining us. As you go through the rest of your day, don't forget to give yourself a little bit of that pad in the back and maybe shop one of these items, throw it in your own cart, but also make sure to rehydrate and refuel. We're going to ask you to join us again with Time for brunch Friday, the long run edition or come back for more of these gift guides, because we have the whole series coming on up, because, regardless of when or where, we're going to continue serving up more miles with a side of holiday spines.