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Since Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, I thought I’d do something a little different today with a fun Valentine’s Day Gift Guide just for triathletes!
Flowers and chocolates are nice (especially chocolate…) but there’s something special about receiving a gift from a friend or loved one that’s specific to you and tailored to your interests and hobbies.
Here are my top 10 Valentine’s Day gift ideas for triathletes:
1. Running power meter- I got my husband a running power meter last year and he loves it. Most runners use heart rate and pace to guide their effort during a run, but power is a cool metric that takes into account things like hills, wind, elevation, and more. The kind we have is the Stryd power meter, which is super simple, because it just clips on your shoe. It’s lightweight and charges with a mini USB. In addition to sending his run power to his watch in realtime, Matt can also analyze his form data after the fact in the app. The Stryd power meter even has workout suggestions and power planning for races. If you prefer Garmin, they also have a running dynamics pod.
2. Swim buoy- This is an inexpensive, but thoughtful gift for the open water swimmer in your life. Matt and I both have a New Wave Swim Buoy (mine is pink, his is green) and we use them when doing practice swims in the ocean here in Florida. The visibility of the bright colors is amazing, and it’s very easy to use. You just inflate the buoy by blowing into the attached tube, snap the strap around your waist, and you’re ready to swim in 60 seconds or less. It’s a really great option for new swimmers, or those who aren’t very comfortable in open water, because if you need to take a break, you just grab ahold to the buoy and float!
3. Triathlon themed apparel- This is for your friend or loved one with a sense of humor. There are so many fun t-shirts and hoodies on Amazon with triathlon-related sayings. Here are a few I found: Triathletes don’t get old. They just change their age group, 6 Stages of Triathlon, Swim/Bike/Run hoodie, I Tri’d, I run with purpose, how to be a triathlete, and triathlon heartbeat.
4. Medal hanger- Instead of keeping medals in a drawer where you can’t see them, we like using medal hangers. It serves double duty, both as organization and it’s a way to celebrate your accomplishments. There are a lot of brands out there, but I have this one from Glory Medal Hangers. It’s sturdy metal, great quality, and I was able to customize it with our last name and the sports we love.
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5. Foam roller and trigger point massager- With all the workouts we do, I use my foam roller every day. I have a few different kinds I like. This small version from Trigger Point is my daily roller. I also have this cheap, high density one if I need something a little more robust. This back and neck trigger point massager is great for when I’ve been working all day at the computer.
6. Firefly Recovery device- I started using this cool recovery device a few years ago when Matt brought home a pair from his work as a doctor of the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team. I use them pretty regularly (especially last year while training for Ironman Florida) because they help my legs recover more quickly, especially from hard efforts that cause calf soreness.
You apply the sticky strips to the peroneal nerve on the outside of your calf. Once you turn it on, the device triggers muscle contractions that boost blood flow, which leads to enhanced recovery. They aren’t rechargeable, so they’re single use, but they last 30 hours. Firefly is used by over 700 professional (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS) and college teams. They have a single pair option or you can get a starter pack with two sets of Fireflys and knee straps that help keep them in place.
7. Massage gun- This is a must-have for every triathlete. We have the TheraGun deep tissue massage gun, and yes, it’s an investment, but we use it all the time. You get what you pay for and cheaper alternatives we’ve tried don’t hold charge as long and aren’t as robust. This one has a one-button control, USB-C charging, four massage attachments, and customizable speeds. Also, they have a mini-version, which is great for travel and is less expensive. You can even connect it to the Therabody app for targeted treatment suggestions.
8. Insta 360 action camera- We do have a GoPro HERO 9 Black, which is a great action camera, especially for underwater footage. But the Insta 360 is our new favorite for capturing video and photo of our bike rides and runs. It’s a waterproof, action camera with 5.7K 360, image stabilization, touch screen, AI editing, voice control, and an incredibly powerful app. This is the camera we use to capture our really cool videos on Instagram. Thanks to AI editing, it automatically removes the selfie stick from footage, making it look like someone else is filming you!
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You simply record the footage and, later on, use the app to change the direction of view and apply effects in 360 degrees. It’s really fun and easy to use.
9. Microfiber towels- These microfiber towels from Nomadix are our favorite for the pool and post-bike ride and run. They’re made of recycled materials, super absorbent, odor resistant, quick dry, and come in fun designs. We have one with all the National Parks on it that’s Matt’s favorite.
10. Air Relax Boots- If you’re looking for a special gift for a loved one, friend (or just yourself) this is my top pick. I’ve had my Air Relax boots for the past five years and it’s something I credit with my ability to stay healthy and recover quickly during triathlon training. Basically, they’re compression boots that help to increase blood circulation, reduce muscle fatigue, and boost lymphatic fluid movement. I sit in them while working on the computer, reading a book, or watching a movie. There are other brands out there (my husband has the @$#%-atech version) but there’s no beating Air Relax as far as the quality you get for the price.
Game-changing compression boots that are portable and easy to use. A fraction of the price of other models. Hands-down the best investment you can make for injury prevention and recovery!
They’re very easy to use. Just slip your legs into the sleeves, plug in the unit, and select a compression mode. There are three different modes, and you can customize the pressure level as well. I need to write a detailed review of these some time, because they’re amazing.
PS. If you’re ordering off Amazon and you’re afraid it won’t arrive in time, you can always sign up for a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime.
Whether you need a fun gift idea for a friend, loved one, or yourself, hopefully this gift guide helps. Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!
If you’re new here, I post on the blog on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Be sure to follow @bblife234 and @thetriplethreatlife on Instagram to find out when they’re live.
