By Heather Cass / Contributing writer

Tuesday

Dec 17, 2019 at 12:01 AM Dec 17, 2019 at 7:29 AM

Don’t look now but we are just a week away from Christmas. Here are a dozen small items any runner would love to find in their stocking. You can find most of these at mass retailers or at Erie’s only specialty running store,Achille’s Running Shop in the West Erie Plaza.

Energy gels. Gu/Gatorade Chews/Stingers/Nut bars….any long-distance runner will appreciate extra fuel! Running gloves. Those little knit stretchy gloves are just a $1 at most places and they are perfect for winter runs. (On the coldest days, layer a pair of mittens on top). Self-roller. The Stick is the quintessential self-roller/massager, but others are available, too. These help runners work the knots and lactic acid out of their muscles. Running hat. Knit or fleece caps/hats are always a great thing to toss in a runners stocking as they need to be washed after every wear, so you can really never have too many. Polarized Sunglasses. Runners love Goodrs and you can pick them up at Achille’s in a variety of fun and happy colors for less than $25. Reflective gear. A reflective vest, blinky buttons, reflective arm straps — you can find a variety of items to make sure you’re favorite runner is visible during these dark winter months. Chafing cream. Laugh, but most runners truly appreciate an extra stick of Body Glide or a little jar of  Squirrel’s Nut Butter. Chap stick. It’s really a must for Erie runners in winter. Hand Warmers. Those single-use packages of hand-warmers are about $1 and are a nice thing to have on hand (pun intended) to tuck between gloves and mittens on the very coldest of running days. Brag stickers. Runners love to self-ID as athletes with car stickers and magnets broadcasting their latest race conquest. You can find a variety of them at the running shop for a buck or two. Compression socks. These aren’t cheap, but they will fit nicely into a stocking. If your runner isn’t into socks, a pair of sleeves are a nice gift too — allowing them to have removable long sleeves on days they just can’t decide what to wear. Running store gift card. You can pick up an Achille’s Gift Card in any amount at the shop.

Heather Cass is an Erie-area freelance writer, runner, and active member of the Erie Runners Club for 20-plus years. She is immersed in the local fitness culture, and she’s taking your questions at zipdang22 at aol.com.