Best Gifts for Injured Runners in 2021
Best Christmas Gifts for Your Favorite Injured Runner
It is getting to be that time of year where the gift shopping is going crazy or you are starting to think about what to get your favorite runner. Hold up though….your favorite runner is injured! Now, what do you get them?
You want to help support them on their road back to running but what gifts are best to do that and not rub it in their face that they can’t run? I’ve got you covered here! I have my top 10 picks for Christmas gifts for that injured runner on your list to help them work towards their goals even when they can’t run.
Exercise Bike
The great thing about bikes is that you can get a great workout in without running that can help develop your cardiovascular fitness and leg stamina/muscles in a different but beneficial way from running. Also, even when injured a runner can typically do a bike workout without any side effects or pain. With a few exceptions obviously!
Budget-friendly pick Sunny Fitness.
This is the bike that I personally have and I love it. Now, it doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles on it like the next one I’m going to talk about. But it is definitely budget-friendly and gets the job done. One thing that I like about it is its versatility. You aren’t locked into the specific subscription program of the bike company with this one. Heck, you can even find awesome youtube videos to follow along for free. My favorite is Kristen Allen! She is awesome and has a great selection!
High end pick NordicTrack Studio Cycle with iFitt
I have used iFitt in the past and really love the workouts and the setup that nordic track has put into the program. That is just one of the great benefits of this bike. If you are going to log some serious time on a bike while injured or even after you return to running this is the bike to get! Not only does NordicTrack have a great bike but their selection of treadmills is great too and your ifitt subscription works for all!
Some of the features that the StudioCycle has include
- 30-Day iFIT Family Membership Included; Stream live & on-demand workouts on your equipment, choose Global Workouts & Studio Classes; Add up to 5 users;
- 22 inches Interactive HD Touchscreen Display streams live & on-demand iFit workouts directly to your equipment, provides easy stats tracking; Adjustable display allows for 360-degree screen rotation
- Automatic Trainer Control; -10 to 20 percent LIVE Incline Matching technology; 24 digital resistance levels for complete workout control; iFIT Trainers auto-adjust your resistance and incline
- SMR Silent Magnetic Resistance delivers a smooth, quiet workout with every use; Adjustable leveling feet stabilize your bike; (2) 3 Lb. dumbbells for cross-training on your bike
- 350-pound user weight capacity;
Strength training equipment
Whether a runner is struggling with injury or not, one of the most important things to do other than running is to strength train! I absolutely love using a variety of strength training devices. From Resistance bands to dumbbells and everything in between you can find something to fit into your space and your comfort level!
My favorite resistance band is this set from Black Mountain. They have a great variety of resistances available and the quality is amazing.
Dumbbells for the Injured Runner
A good set of dumbbells is also a plus and is something that I have e in my home gym and use almost daily. This set is a great starter set and can get you by for a long time without needing to add any weight to it! You can also get the rack in different fun colors! I wish I could have gotten a bright color when I purchased my set like this many years ago!!
SET INCLUDES – A pair of 5-pound, 10-pound, 15-pound, 20-pound, and 25-pound rubber hex dumbbells with an A-frame dumbbell rack to store the weights.
SPACE-SAVING DESIGN – The A-frame design of this rack maximizes floor space by storing dumbbells in an “A” shape, or vertical fashion. Easily access and store dumbbells. Rubber inserts prevent dumbbells and racks from scratches
FEATURES – The original hex-shaped heads prevent rolling. The medium-depth knurling on the handle provides essential grip and security during use.
SandBag Gift for the Injured Runner
A Brute Force Sandbag is probably my second favorite piece of strength equipment. In fact, it might even be working up to the #1 spot in my book! I love how versatile it is and also functional!! Sandbags are great at mimicking real-life situations and lifting scenarios.
Specs of the Brute Force Sandbags and why they are one of the best available!
- Reliable Fitness Equipment: The only sandbag with reinforcements inside the shell. No rubber handles to break or grind into your skin.
- Weight Set Includes 4 sets of flexible, soft-grip handles (8 total) neutral grips, barbell grips, suitcase grips, and end cap grips. Adjustable in weight from 5lbs to 25lbs. Sand is not included.
- Proudly American Made: Our USA-made gear is designed to be virtually indestructible. I’m all about the made in the USA! I love supporting American-owned and operated products. Not only are they American-made and operated but also veteran-owned and operated!
Senita Clothing New Workout Gear for the Injured Runner
Clothing is a must whether you are an injured runner or an active runner!! I love Senita Athletics for all of my workout clothes. They have held up better than any other brand I have owned and they come in such cute and flattering styles!!
A great perk is if you use my code ABBY15 you get 15% off your order if you are a new customer!!
What I love about Senita is that they don’t just cater to runners. They are all about the comfortable and active lifestyle for women. Sorry guys!
I mean the colors and styles are so perfect! One of my favorites right now from them is these Red Leggings that I’ve had for a couple of years now! SO festive during the holidays too!
Healthy Cookbooks for the Injured Runner
Cookbooks are always a good go-to in my opinion. Then again, I may have a slight obsession with them…I guess there are worse things to collect! LOL
SkinnyTaste Cookbook
My first recommendation for a cookbook is the original SkinnyTaste cookbook but honestly, you can’t go wrong with Gina over at SkinnyTaste.com She has lightened up family favorites that are usually pretty simple to make and don’t often require a bunch of obscure ingredients! I almost always love all the recipes I make from her books or blog!
The Queen of Running’s Cookbook
The second book you can’t go wrong with is Shalene Flanagan’s Run Fast Eat Slow. This book caters to a runner and the nutrients that runners need to stay healthy (or get back to being healthy) and strong for running. It is full of good advice from the pro runner herself on fueling your body for runs and recovery. My biggest complaint about this book is that some of the recipes are a little time-consuming and some have some really random and not always common ingredients. But, all in all, it is a great cookbook. Her other cookbook Run Fast Cook Fast Eat Slow fixes some of the time issues that the first book of recipes had!
Final thoughts on the Best Gifts for an Injured Runner
You really can’t go wrong here. Most gifts a runner would love to have will still apply even if they are injured. There are so many options out there for amazing presents for the runner in your life whether they are recovering from an injury or not. As long as it comes from the heart and some good thought is put into it you can’t go wrong!
Related articles to Gifts for Injured Runners
Nutrition for the Injured Runner
Why Runners Need to see a Physical Therapist
Types of Heel Pain when Running
Review of Aonijie Hydration Vest for Runners
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The 8 Best Gift Ideas of 2021 for Injured Runners
Dr. Abby Siler, PT, DPT is a Physical Therapist with 10 years of experience in a variety of settings. She has spent the majority of her time treating athletes in orthopedic clinics and worker’s compensation cases. She is a runner herself for the past 15 years and a lifelong athlete. Dr. Abby loves to teach runners how to stay injury free and out of her clinic.
