Last Minute Gifts for the Weekend Warrior

Every year, December sneaks up on me. I should know it's coming, of course, since it's right there on the calendar. What's more, Thanksgiving squats firmly at the end of November, serving as a warning that December is on the way. Yet, even with all the reminders, I still find myself caught off guard, which means panicked shopping trips searching for last minute gifts.

I know I'm not the only procrastinator out there, but take heart, fellow late-December shoppers. There are lots of great last-minute gifts for the athletic weekend warrior in your life.

For runners, the change in seasons gives rise to many gift ideas. One of my favorite presents from last year was a pair of YakTrax, traction cleats that strap on running shoes. They make snowy, slippery roads a little less treacherous for runners and walkers. Pair them with some insulated running tights and those tough Chicago winters suddenly become a bit more manageable.

EARLIER:

If you're looking for smaller items, runners can always use more ear warmers, warm socks or gloves for . When shopping for gloves, check out the new ones that allow you to use a touchscreen while wearing them. If you're looking for something for a literary-minded runner, pick up Haruki Murakami's wonderful best-selling memoir What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.

Most cyclists have hung up their bikes for the winter, but a few dedicated people cycle all year. Some would say that those winter riders need mental health counseling, but at the very least, they could use some gear to keep warm. Shoe covers are essential and come in a variety of styles and thicknesses. Skullcaps and warm gloves are also handy for winter riding.

Local bike shops, like Green Bay Cycles, have a wide variety of cold-weather accessories. If the cyclist in your life is like me – strictly a warm-weather biker – consider getting him or her an indoor trainer. There are basic trainers where you just put your bike on, set the resistance and go.

However, if you really want to upstage Santa, spring for something like a Computrainer package that has the trainer hooked up to a computer program. The resistance adjusts automatically and some models even have interactive course videos to watch while riding. It's just like biking outside, except without cars, barking dogs and potholes.

Skiers, of course, are easy to shop for. After all, gloves and hats always seem to disappear during the summer months and need to be replenished. Plus, skiers love to have extra ear-warmers, neck-warmers and thick socks.

Walk into any sporting goods store and you'll find a range of items to help the skier in your life stay warm.

Yoga practitioners are less impacted by the change in seasons, but activewear is always appreciated. 'Scilla Boutique in Hubbard Woods has a good selection of clothes, and many yoga studios, such as Breathe in Glencoe, have retail sections to help you with your gift-buying. Yoga tops, headbands or a new yoga mat are just a few ideas.

But whatever gift you decide to get for that special athlete in your life, you'd better get going. Like it or not, December keeps ticking by.

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