My Holiday Gift Guide

Discounts! Freebies! Gift recommendations! 'Tis the holiday season, after all.

You asked for a gift guide, so here we are — with a gift guide. I know that gift buying this year is a little ~gestures loosely~ different, considering all that’s going on. However, I’m tossing out some of my favorite picks to help you shop for friends, family, Secret *Santa* (or Hanukkah Harry, or whomever), perhaps yourself, and so on.

I’ll be honest: I was going to have a “For Him” section — but considering the only man I’m buying for this year is my father, I’m sticking mostly to picks for her. It’s fun to be the one who makes the calls around these parts.

Of course, at the bottom of this email I’ve got a ton of great offers for the Hurdle community to take advantage of, with some b-i-g savings.

BTW: If you want to get me anything (how kind!), consider becoming a paid subscriber of the Weekly Hurdle! Or, come to one of the upcoming Hurdle Workshops. More on those, below.

ACTIVE GEAR

My Favorite Running Vest
Lululemon Down for It All Vest, $148
You know why this is a great gift? This is something that will literally last forever. I’ve had mine for about three years, and it still looks like I just bought it. It’s super warm and a winter running staple, complete with four handy pockets. 

My Favorite Running Watch
Garmin Forerunner 745, on sale for $463 from $500
I often wear the Garmin Fenix 6S Pro Solar, but to be real — very few people really need that much storage, bells, and whistles. This is my top recommendation for anyone looking to bring their running-friendly wearable game up to the next level, complete with multi-sport modes and music storage. You can customize the face 1,000 times over using the Garmin IQ app, and the battery life is 16 hours of GPS or a week in watch-only mode.

My Favorite Spin Shoes
Shimano SH-IC500, $125 (make sure you get Delta clips)
These would be for indoor cycling. They use the BOA Dial — which helps you really home in on an ideal fit (more so than the typical Velcro situation). 

My Favorite Earwarmer
Lululemon Run for It All Earwarmer, $28
It stays put, is made of water-repellent tech fleece, has a spot for my pony, and doesn’t have huge loud branding. AKA, a win in my book.

My Favorite Running Jacket
Nike Aeroloft, $250
This looks cool, moves with you even if you’re bundled up, and doesn’t feel super bulky even though it is super warm. 

My Favorite Full-Length Tights
Lululemon Fast and Free Tight, $128
They have five pockets. So there’s that. Also, that oh-so-good compression that makes you feel locked and loaded. Need I say more?

My Favorite Gloves
Under Armour Storm Run Liner Gloves, $30
I’m not into big bulky gloves for running. This lightweight pair gets the job done and also have a built-in key pocket on the the back of the hand.

My Favorite Fleece-Lined Tights
Athleta Altitude Tight, $98
Hello, snuggly. One thing to make note of when it comes to fleece-lined tights, often times they have to sacrifice a little bit of stretch to keep us warm. However, the warm factor with these is a 10/10.

My Favorite Workout Shorts
WOLACO Women’s 7-inch Biker Short, $50
You already KNOW how I feel about this short, which I’ve run every major time trial/race/whatever you want to call them in 2020 since they debuted over the summer. They’ve got great pockets, they’re the perfect length — no frills. 

My Favorite Workout Masks
Athleta Activate Face Mask 2-Pack, $30, Lululemon Double-Strap Mask, $10, Under Armour Mask, $30
Stay safe, ya’ll. Also, at $10, how could you not put the Lululemon one in someone’s stocking? Just a thought. With the UA mask, one note: It’s thicker, but breathable. So, I’d recommend it for cold weather outdoor workouts. Secure, plush, and like a hug for your cheeks. 

My Favorite Sweatshirt
Lululemon Sherpa Half-Zip, $138
I got this for my best friend for her birthday recently, and she literally said to me “I never would’ve bought this for myself and that’s why I’m obsessed with it.” So. There we go. It’s uber ~ahem~ cozy, and I really dig the trench colorway with red accents.

EVERYTHING ELSE

Dagne Dover Backpack, $175
Whether I’m leaving the apartment for 8 hours or two nights, this backpack comes with me 99 percent of the time. It’s got pockets for everything, and I love the easy-to-clean neoprene material.

Journey to The Heart: Daily Meditation Book, $14.50
If you follow me on social media, this is the book that I regularly post excerpts from in the mornings. It’s an inspiring, thought-provoking read and an ideal gift for everyone from your mother to your boss.

Baronfig Grow Daily Journal, $24
I adore a guided journal. This one is super sleek, and it includes a Journal Guide with in-depth explanations of techniques, along with prompts, that help you get the most from your journal. Plus, new Baronfig customers get 15 percent off their first order!

The North Face Women's Fanorak 2.0, $40 (down from $80!)
Mostly I adore the word “fanorak,” which is slang for an anorak that folds up into a fanny pack (at least, that’s what I assume). If you can’t tell, cozy AF is the theme of this gift guide, and this pick fits the bill. 

Stasher 100% Silicone Reusable Food Bags, $16.75
I FINALLY got on the reusable food bag train lately and probably would’ve done it a lot sooner if someone gifted me these adorable stashers. Such a smart small gift and they come in tons of different colors (also, sets of different sizes). 

We’re Not Really Strangers Card Game, $30
You’ve probably seen the Instagram account associated with this wildly popular card game, and you may not have realized that this exists. It will entertain your time for hours. We’re not playing Uno or poker here, though. This game’s filled with thought-provoking questions and prompts to help you really get to know the person you’re playing with, whether it’s a family member or a love interest. 

Marathon Necklace from Erica Sara, $32
I’m highlighting the marathon style necklace, but there are plenty of highly customizable, beautiful options for both runners and non-runners in Erica Sara’s shop that I just adore. I’m having one made that says “do good,” my family mantra.

Hypervolt GO, $199
This massage gun launched yesterday, and I had the chance to check it out early. Firstly, it’s so cute. Like, walk by a French Bulldog on the street and audibly go “awww,” cute. It also packs a punch despite its smaller size. If you’ve been on the fence about getting a massage gun for a while because of the price, I feel you. This is one of the less expensive options on the market, and in a time when we’re not going for in-person massages often, I’d argue definitely worth the buy. I know my dad reads this newsletter (hi, Dad!) — but spoiler alert — I’m getting him one for the holidays. 

“Have High Fucking Standards” Bangle Bracelet, $25.99
I gift this to every strong women I know. It’s originally made by a company called Metal Marvels, but it looks like they may have discontinued the design. I love it because the writing is so small that it’s more like a personal reminder in public when I’m doing hard things. Over on Metal Marvels, they’ve got a ton of other ones that’ll make you laugh, too.

WHOOP 6-Month Membership, Originally $180 — now $150
For some reason, a lot of folks who see that WHOOP works on a membership model get a little nervous, DM me, and ask a ton of questions. Take the guesswork out it, and gift a WHOOP to someone you care about. I don’t go a day without wearing mine (and then, we can be WHOOP friends!). Also, by clicking the link right above, you get $30 off.

Saje Wellness Diffuser, $92
This is one of my favorite things in my apartment. I turn it on in the mornings (I love Saje’s “Deep Breath” diffuser oil) and my home basically transforms into a spa. Minus the whole warm stones and personal masseuse, thing. 

Ugg Scuffette II Slipper, $89.95
Can I tell you that every single year for Christmas when I was younger I would get a pair of Dearfoam slippers and every single year I’d be like Ugh, I’m never going to use these. I bought myself these Ugg slippers a couple months back, and I’m wearing them constantly in my WFH life. Super soft, and I sort of feel like I’m back in college.