Friday Favorites #16 – winter running gift guide

Brr, it’s cold outside. It’s in the teens in the NYC area today and wind chill makes it feel like the single digits. My alarm went off this morning a little after 4AM and I decided I was too cold and tired to wake up. With the weather and missed workout, this day is getting off to a great start… but it’s Friday and a week away from the holidays, so I can’t complain.

In case you’re looking for some last-minute presents or something for yourself, here are some of my favorites that I know will be staples in getting me through another season of the cold.

Plantronics BackBeat Fit Bluetooth Headphones – I’ve been on the market for a pair for a while but with all the treadmill running I’ve been doing recently and my epic clumsiness of dragging my phone off the treadmill, it was time to make the investment. After some research and reading the Wirecutter reviews, I decided on these. I will do a full review in a later blog post but so far so good.

I’ll Have Another with Lindsey Hein Podcast – A good playlist or podcast is essential to help me get through the treadmill miles. I’ll Have Another is light-hearted and easy for me to follow along on early morning treadmill runs.

Feetures Elite Merino+ Light Cushion Socks – Wool socks are my go to for winter outdoor running. I am a big fan of Feetures socks and especially like the merino wool ones for winter use. They keep my toes toasty even when I’m outside waiting for a race to start.

HotHands Hand Warmers – Okay, these are not a lot of fun as a present but they are a necessity!

Oiselle Softshell Gloves – My fingers and toes hate the winter. I usually opt a double layer of gloves and mittens but love these gloves from Oiselle. They are super warm!

L’Occitane Shea Butter Body Cream – This is without a doubt my favorite lotion especially when my hands are super dry from weather. My hands feel so soft afterwards!

Lululemon Runderland Neck Warmer – I love me a soft neck warmer with adjustable sizing. I usually want the neck warmer higher on my neck and even sometimes covering my mouth initially but as I warm up, I adjust the sizing so it falls lower along my neck.

Lululemon Kick The Cold Funnel Neck and Athleta Techie Sweat Jogger – I don’t use these for running but I love lounging around in this sweatshirt (and it keeps my neck toasty, I’m extremely wimpy in my old age) and jogger pant. These are especially great for post long run relaxing or in my case like today, pure laziness relaxing.

Have a happy Friday and stay warm this weekend!

**This is not a sponsored post, rather just a collection of some of my favorite winter running essentials. Some items contain an affiliate link.

Friday Favorites #14 – p.s. scroll down for a Oiselle discount!

I was initially concerned with all the free time I would have between the move and the arrival of the baby but man, I have really been keeping busy. I’ve kept my calendar pretty full with dinners and lunches with friends, exercise classes, and my to-do list long in preparation for the arrival of the little one. This week was no different with many highlights below!

img_5511Fiddler on the Roof – We were originally scheduled to go see Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway the week we moved back into town but I had a really bad pregnancy day that day and unfortunately had to change the date. With past-dated tickets as a courtesy from the theater, we were able to catch the show last night and it was incredible! I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an entertaining and exciting show.

img_5514Startup podcast – I started listening to the Startup podcast when we were in CT on recommendation from Josh. With the amount of time I started spending on the treadmill and elliptical, the podcast was a great way to pass time but also educational. I really enjoy learning about what it’s like to get a business off the ground – all the positives and obstacles that come along with it. This week I finished Season 2 and am looking forward to Season 3.

img_5513Lindsay Hein’s I’ll Have Another podcast – I have to admit that I haven’t listened to episode 1 yet but I did download all the current episodes and am ready to start! After reading many raving reviews about the podcast including this article in Women’s Running, I am excited to get started. Also, if you’re wondering, I really like the Overcast app for podcast listening.

img_5515Run to Overcome by Meb Kleflezighi – Who doesn’t love Meb? I have meant to read his books for while now and finally started Run to Overcome last week. Meb’s background and journey to running is inspiring. The book is a quick read and adds to the enormous respect that I already had for him. I downloaded Meb for Mortals and am looking forward to starting that soon.

img_5508Oiselle Volee singlet and spike bag arrived – I am excited my Oiselle Volee singlet and spike bag arrived in the mail this week! Even with the baby bump, I had to try on the singlet. I am patiently awaiting the opportunity to wear it for a run and my first race post-baby.

And finally a Oiselle discount for all of my virtual friends! Use the discount code in the picture below to get 10% off your first order.

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Happy shopping and happy weekend everyone!