A Dozen Affordable Gift Ideas for Marathon, Trail, and Obstacle Course Runners

Posted on November 7, 2021 by Jennifer FIsher

The holiday season is quickly approaching and you may be wondering what to get the endurance athlete on your list — especially the runners! We have complied a dozen affordable runner gift ideas that would be appropriate to give to marathon, trail and obstacle course fans — and sure to be well-received!

It’s the safest bet to let runners buy their own shoes and expensive gear (it’s like a complicated science you don’t want to dive into), but these thoughtful runner accessories, books and nutrition products are sure to please everyone!

Trailblazer Ponytail Hat from Trail Heads: Did you know up to 10% of body heat is lost through the head?! Keeping your noggin, neck and ears warm on winter runs, hiking, skiing or other adventuring is essential and the super innovative Trail Blazer Ponytail Hat makes it stylish and convenient. For me, a major perk was that this running hat is “ponytail compatible.” Yup, you can slip a high pony right through a discreet little slit on the back of the hat and let it fly free – so cute! Also, versatile drop-down ear warmers (which also lay on the back of the neck some) offer protection and can be folded back up as the day warms up. Made of super soft, comfy fleece with a brim to keep sun out of eyes. Machine washable! A very useful gift for marathoners this cold weather season.

Convertible Running Gloves from Trail Heads: The 2-in-1 versatility of these cold weather gloves is so useful — the gloves transform conveniently into waterproof mittens for extra protection. When you don’t want the mitten part, just tuck into the pocket on the cuff. Speaking of cuffs, this comfortable cuff is generously cut, offering enough length to stay tucked under a jacket and protect wrists from the elements. Phone addicts will be happy to know that the thumb and forefinger are made with touchscreen compatible fabric. Features a bit of fleece for a soft brown or nose wipe, this convertible glove can also be machine washed. Convertible Running Gloves available in Men’s and Women’s sizes. A great gift for trail runners this holiday season.

Hybrid Water Shoe from CrossKix.com – The ultimate hybrid shoe takes you from your favorite water recreation (boating, toobing, creek stomping, beach, waterparks) and also multi-functional for workouts, yoga and even running! Even if it’s a little too cold right now to be running around in these, they are perfect to wear to indoor swim practice, the sauna, and the gym in the interim. Also, CrossKix have become my go-to shoe for gardening and après obstacle course race because I can just rinse them off when muddy. Made from soft foam composite for comfort and convenience, great drainage, 100% water submergible, breathable, light, cushioned, unisex-sized, and also available for kids. This pair (the 2.0 in Yellowjacket color) styled with an adjustable instep strap, other colors and styles available.

Kilo Endurance Sunglasses from Tifosi. I love Tifosi sunglasses because they perform 110%, are stylish and affordable. The Kilo is my new go-to model and make a great gift for endurance athletes. This Grilamid TR-90 frame endurance sunglass is perfect for any running or cycling enthusiast and guaranteed to be your new favorite pair of shades. Lightweight and durable with hydrophilic rubber nosepieces, they’re the perfect choice for long rides or runs. The polycarbonate lenses are shatterproof and vented to prevent fogging while keeping you protected at all times. Kilo in Crystal Smoke comes with three lenses – Clarion Yellow / AC Red / Clear – so that you can go the distance! Other Kilo frame colors and sunglass styles available at Tifosi.com

Apex Protein Snacks: Stuff those stockings (and backpacks for hiking) with the deliciously nourishing meat sticks from Apex Protein Snacks. I’m all about getting enough protein through the day, and a meat snack that doesn’t need refrigeration is a convenient way to do that on the go! A great snack when road-tripping to a race, camping, backpacking, adventuring, or just on the go all day running errands. These low-carb, high-protein snacks come in a variety of formats — bars, bites, biltong, and sticks. And, flavors (MOST of which are 0 sugar) include Kansas City BBQ Flavor, Jalapeno and Cheese, Teriyaki, Jalapeno flavor, and original! Beef, venison, elk, boar and bison! SHOP HERE

Jaybird Vista: It’s incredible something this small can go this big. The Jaybird Vista wireless earbuds are my go-to for everything from gym workouts to trail running. They are rugged and “earth-proof” and offer premium sound that goes wherever I do. Everything fits into neat little case that gives a charging case between wearings. When fully charged, the charging case offers up to 10 hours of additional playback time before you have to recharge the case. So, if in a hurry, you can sick the buds in the case for 5 minutes and get an hour of playback time granted! Also, new this year are the Vista 2, that feature all this same great stuff plus Active Noise Cancellation for focus and SurroundSense for spatial awareness and safety. Shop JayBird HERE.

Feeding the Frasers: Family Favorite Recipes Made to Feed the Five-Time CrossFit Games Champion, Mat Fraser. This comprehensive cookbook for athletes features 240 pages filled with 100 terrific recipes of high quality delicious food that promote balance, togetherness, indulgence, and athletic recovery. Written Sammy Moniz, wife of 5-time CrossFit Champion Mat Fraser, to share how she feeds the greatest champion in the sport. But not just for CrossFitters . . .this cookbook as delicious, nourishing meals for anyone with an active lifestyle! I was lucky enough to get an advance copy and the recipes are amazing! Preorder on Amazon, it ships on Jan 25, 2022.

Orange Mud Transition Wrap Extreme – Waterproof Changing Towel and Seat Cover: This very handy product from Orange Mud protects your car seat from sweat, mud and the general funk after a trail run, obstacle course run or sweaty gym session. Upgraded and now waterproof, nothing will make it through to ruin your seats. Also, can be used as a transition area wrap for cleaning up and changing or lay down on the ground like a blanket to catch a quick nap after your race! Microfiber cover measures 30” x 60”, is machine washable, and is available in several fun colors. Sign up for Orange Mud emails and save 10%!

Muscle for Life: Get Lean, Strong & Healthy at Any Age by Michael Matthews. From the best-selling fitness author of Bigger Leaner Stronger and The Shredded Chef, this book reveals a science-based blueprint for eating and exercising that anyone can follow at any age and fitness level. Based on time-proven principles produced by decades of hands-on experience and thousands of hours of scientific research, Muscle for Life will give you a plan for transforming your body faster than you ever thought possible, including how to conquer the “mental game” how to optimize your body composition with strength training, and how to eat “flexibly” and break free of dieting. Available for pre-order on Amazon (ships 1/11/2022)

Save 10% at handful bra with code THEFITFORK10

Handful: Gear up in fashionable fitness wear Handful, one of my favorite companies. I’ve been a super-fan of their bras for 10 YEARS, they flatter (not flatten) and are available in styles for all shapes. You can read my entire post dedicated to Handful Bras and fitness wear HERE. Use code THEFITFORK10 to save 10%!

Feetures Socks: The best running socks EVER, hands down. Targeted compression, seamless, no-blisters and a variety of styles and colors for men and women. I personally love and wear, the Elite No-Show and Mini Crew and the knee-high Graduated Compression.

Energon Performance Gummies from Seattle Gummy Company – Easy to pack in a fuel belt or shorts pocket, these pre and post workout gummies are easy to consume on the go and are easily digestible and won’t upset your stomach like other chews and gels. The POWER UP formula offers controlled-release carbohydrates and caffeine and other active ingredients (like ginseng and vitamin B) to boost and prolong energy levels, and keep you going stronger longer. The RECOVER formula feature BCAA and other important nutrients to help to rapidly recharge muscles, facilitate energy storage, and reduce soreness for accelerated recovery. Use code THEFITFORK10 to save 10% (and is combinable with other offers).

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission for sales generated, however price to you remains the same. Thank you for helping to offset operating expenses for The Fit Fork.

Healthy Recipe Books and Favorite Cookbooks of the Season

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Jennifer FIsher

Nothing like a good cookbook filled with healthy recipes and beautiful photography to inspiring me to get in the kitchen. Whether following a recipe step-by-step, tweaking as a recipe makeover,” to fit my dietary needs, or just using the recipe idea launch pad for my own creativity, I refer to my personal library of healthy cookbooks, surprisingly, just as much or even more than going to Pinterest. Here are the new Healthy Recipe Books and Favorite Cookbooks of the Season (along with a couple past favorites) that I can’t keep my hands off this month.

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Healthy Living, Fitness & Cookbooks to Read Now

Posted on September 25, 2018 by Jennifer FIsher

Ahhh, it’s time for me to share with you what I’ve been reading to kick off the fall season — my pile is growing pretty high. I’m loving all these healthy cookbooks (with great ideas for meal-prepping), a handy how-to guide on how to tape up troubled muscles and joints, along with some page turning books for fitness inspo on this never-ending journey called life!

Read on to get this month’s fitness, wellness and healthy recipe book list.

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Eat Like a Viking – 7 Culture Based Diet Cookbooks

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

Some parts of the world just get it right when it comes to eating for optimal wellness — the common denominator of these international diets seems to be seasonal produce, regional lean protein and heart-healthy fats, all with a local flavor spin. Check out these “lifestyle diet” cookbooks based on international cuisines in a story i recently curated for Mode Media:

Have you ever tried one of these “diets” — what did you think” Please share in the comments below, XOXO Jennifer

This post was sponsored by Mode Media.

Top Healthy Cookbooks – TheFitFork.com’s Picks

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Jennifer FIsher

There are plenty of reasons to celebrate at my house in October. The weather is finally cooling off and we have birthday parties and Halloween fun on the calendar. Oh, and it’s also National Cookbook Month! While it might not sound exciting to some, 31 days dedicated to a cornucopia of cooking ideas and beautiful food photography fires up my passion for creating unique, fast and healthy meals. If you saw me in the magazine ads this summer for Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner, you may have noticed the headline “I have 100 to 200 cookbooks, but I always make a recipe my own.”

It’s true! I devour cookbooks, thumbing through the pages, drooling over every photo and hanging on every description and ingredient like is some sort of romance novel with a suspense mystery ending – oh, how or how will it ever turn out if I added X, Y or Z to the mix?! Even though I rarely follow the ingredient lists and directions to the letter (except maybe in some baking), my voracious appetite for recipe reading has taught me the basic paradigm for all types of cookery and, for the most part, what works and what doesn’t when it comes to making my own culinary creations. I’m excited to share with you some of my favorite cookbooks that I refer to time and time again for ideas; these tomes of taste are the most dog-eared in my collection (except for the Runner’s World Cookbook that I’m hoping to pick up soon).

But, before you check out the list, I want to show you the cookbook that started it all, Betty Crocker’s “New” Boys and Girls Cookbook circa 1973. On the inside cover, you can see how the “making it my own” started at an early age – I scratched out Betty Crocker’s name in the title and substituted my own! You can tell by the stained pages and notations that my favorite recipe was for “Muffins,” but it was pretty plain. My sweet spin on the recipe was that after the muffins baked, I would brush them with melted butter and then shake them in a bag filled with cinnamon sugar!
The Healthy Beef Cookbook: Steaks, Salads, Stir-fry, and More–Over 130 Luscious Lean Beef Recipes for Every Occasion – by The National Cattleman’s Beef Association & The National Dietetic Association (2005)

I love this cookbook it is filled with 130 easy, family-friendly ways to make the 29 lean cuts of beef (10 grams fat or less per serving) taste even extra fantastic. I’ve had the opportunity to dine at the home of the primary recipe creator, Chef Richard Chamberlain, and can vouch first-hand for his mad skills and creativity with beef. Another tidbit, the Mojo Beef Kabobs featured in the cookbook is one of the recipes I demo in my presentations on “Beef – Fuel for the Finish” or “The Art of Grilling.”

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My version of Mojo Beef Kabobs from the Healthy Beef Cookbook.

America’s Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook: A New, Healthier Way to Cook Everything from America’s Most Trusted Test Kitchen – by America’s Test Kitchen (2010)

This cookbook seems to cover just about every angle of cooking with more than 800 family-friendly and globally-inspired recipes that are mindful of healthy eating. It’s easy to serve up whole grains, loads of vegetables and lean meats with all the ideas in this comprehensive cook book that will have you drooling from cover to cover. Probably what I like best are the very explicit instructions on various skills and techniques that may come up in the making of a recipe – it’s a Cliff’s Notes approach! For example, if you need to quickly thaw steaks or extract moisture out of zuchinni for a recipe, there are step-by-step instructions to follow – most with photographs. The ring binder-style presentation means it’s easy to remove favorite recipes to pin on the fridge or share with a friend.Check out my Gluten Free Peach Pecan Cobbler that was inspired from the pages of this cookbook.

Runner’s World Cookbook:150 Ultimate Recipes for Fueling Up and Slimming Down–While Enjoying Every Bite- by Joanna Sayago Golub (2013)

As a runner who likes to cook (and eat), you know this brand-new cookbook piqued my interest. I won’t lie; I’ve only seen a friend’s copy, but need to get my own STAT! Brimming with 150 of the magazine’s most popular recipes, the easy-to-follow key let’s you look for recipes that fit your needs best – such as pre-run and recovery recipes, gluten-free and vegetarian recipes, and low-cal recipes for runners trying to lose weight. There are sample menu plans to address various nutritional needs and, a huge perk is that every recipe can be made in 30 minutes or less – that means more time for running! Plus, the forward is written by a a great marathoner I’ve always admired, Deena Kastor.

Spiced Pecans, a great afternoon snack from The Runner’s World Cookbook.

Paleo Comfort Food: Homestyle Cooking for a Gluten-Free Kitchen –
by Julie Sullivan Mayfield, Charles Mayfield (2011)

I one of those people who follows the 80%/20% rule when it comes to the Paleo Diet. I love the idea of getting back to a simpler way of eating that our hunter-gatherer ancestors chowed down on during the Stone Age, but I just can’t completely commit to the primarily meat and vegetable diet that limits fruits and rules out dairy and grains. But, I still do like to plan completely Paleo meals when I can and this cookbook gives me lots of makeover-style recipes that have an appealing, homespun vibe.

Pot Roast on Cauliflower from Paleo Comfort Foods.

Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2013

Oh my gosh, I’ve loved Cooking Light for years and literally jump up and down when the magazine comes in the mail each month – not just for the recipes but for the nutrition and fitness tips, too! If you’d like to have every single one of the magazine’s recipes from the past year, they put out an annual cookbook edition. Pick up the Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2013 and start your low library of healthy meal ideas today, whoot! Don’t miss recipes like XX and XX. Also, CookingLight.com has a really comprehensive cook book resource page that categorizes the editors’ favorite cookbooks – including the best 100 of the last 25 years, the best single subject, the best of baking and more.

Tomato Stack Salad with Corn and Avocado from Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2013.

The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America’s Most Imaginative Chefs – Karen Page (2008)

This big book is not really a cookbook per se, but a compendium of culinary inspiration broken down by ingredient. Listing out nearly every flavor imaginable from A to Z, make that achiote seeds to zucchini blossoms, this resource has helped me create so many interesting flavor profiles for my recipes. Each ingredient is listed out reference-book style followed by notations on taste, weight, and volume, along with a list of associations and chef comments that can rattle on for columns. A fantastic way to pair together flavors in a way that will have tongues wagging! Oh, and this book is the 2009 winner of the prestigious James Beard Book Award for Best Book: Reference and Scholarship.

King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking: Delicious Recipes Using Nutritious Whole Grain – by King Arthur Flour (2006)

If you appreciate baking (and a healthy lifestyle) as much as I do, then this cookbook will quickly become one of your favorites. As much as I like to wing it in the kitchen, I do admit that baking is a science that has certain no-fudge formulas for success. Often when I have experimented with whole grain substitutions in baking, the finished products could be used as bricks. However, this volume of 400+ recipes ranges pretty much guarantees success with proven recipes that range from rustic breads and gooey cookies to pie crusts and fancy pastries – that all incorporate whole grains! This cookbook inspired me to make these Multi-Grain Banana Peanut Butter Muffins.

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My Multi-Grain Banana Muffins inspired by this King Arthur Cookbook!