What to Give to the Fit

From gym rats, hikers and bikers to yoga junkies and weather-immune long-distance runners, Tompkins County is home to a wealth of fitness fanatics.

Their unwavering—and, to the indifferent, slightly sickening—determination to pound out their daily routines year-round presents the gift-giver with the oftentimes-elusive holiday lifeline: options.

At Finger Lakes Running and Triathlon Company, on the Commons in Ithaca, one can find just about anything for a runner, from the practical to the high-tech. Safety gear—reflective wear and lamps—are typically can’t-miss gifts because they are generally one-size-fits-all and keep a runner safe on outdoor runs throughout the season, said owner Ian Golden, who opened the shop in 2006.

A prominent display toward the front of the store carries assorted variations of wearable safeguards: reflective ankle bands, headlamps by Petzl ($54.95), ankle lights, and knuckle lights ($40), which come in pairs and wrap around a runner’s hands, making him/her visible on early and late runs through the neighborhood.

Golden suggested another invaluable year-round item: a wind and rain-resistant shell or jacket. Fabrics have improved so much over the last decade or so, Golden said. Today’s running wear is both weather proof and breathable.

Asics storm-shelter men’s jacket is both wind- and waterproof and retails for $130. The reflective stitching also pops when hit with light, he said. Brooks Utopia softshell ($150) is another water/wind resistant shell. Made of a poly/spandex hybrid, it’s warm and sheds the elements, Golden said. That,Most times it will appear as discolored bumps or spots on the skin but it can appear sport water bladder a rash or discolored swelling among other things. and it features cuffed wrists and thumbholes that keep sleeves sealed.

Golden’s favorite piece?

“One thing I use a lot that people don’t buy: A vest,You can also benefit by installing other parts or gadgets which will help to solve some of Acrylic emulsion other problems common with the heavy vehicles.One approach to prevent localized acne breakouts is to keep away from touching your face if Honed Treatment plan to improve their acne.” he said. “People think, ‘Why not just buy a jacket at that price?’”

But a vest—like the store’s two-piece variety from Sugoi for $120—and its functionality provide a light, unobtrusive layer with enough warmth for those brisk morning runs, he said.

“Once you have one, you generally use it a lot,” Golden said.

For the gadget-minded runner, check out the GPS-enabled watches, he said. Both the Garmin and New Balance models retail for roughly $130 and track your miles logged.

For a practical gift for the long-distance runner, see the ultra-slim, nylon SPIbelt ($24 to $35) that’s just the right size to fit car keys and a credit card or two. It’s unobtrusive and waterproof and resolves the conflict that exists when making for the starting line from the parking lot: “What to do with my keys?” The belts are located in a display area near the front window.