Everyone loves an athlete – especially a triathlete. The running, the swimming, the biking. It’s like they are a real-life superhero. But what do you get a superhero for their birthday? Christmas? Some other special occasion? You need the perfect gift. Fortunately, it’s not as difficult as you might think.
Leg and Arm Sleeves For Biking
Bicycling often conjures up images of Lance Armstrong fighting through impossible odds. Some cyclists look up to the famous triathlete, hoping to at least catch up to his shadow on the road. Yet, many bikers go out a little under-prepared. They have a good bike with a light frame. They have most of the safety gear. But, they don’t have leg and arm sleeves. Or, if they do, they’re a little worn out.
This is the perfect gift for that cyclist in your life. Compressing leggings (or even standard ones) will do a couple of things. First, it keeps otherwise loose clothing out of the way, it keeps the cyclist warmer than he or she would otherwise be on cold starts, and it helps keep the blood moving, even after the race is over.
One of the things that happens when you are biking for long distances is that lactic acid builds up. So does blood. Muscles are constantly being called on to produce enough force to move the cyclist through the entire course.
When the race is over, and the muscles are no longer needed, there’s a tendency for blood to pool in those muscles. Compression socks may help alleviate this.
Compression Socks
Running takes its toll on a runner. The constant pounding on the pavement can lead to repetitive stress injuries – specifically in the knees, ankles, and hips. If the runner has an odd foot strike, the problems can be magnified.
While running shoes might seem like the obvious choice, every runner probably already has stock in Nike or some other shoe manufacturer. What they might not have, however, is a good set of compression socks. Why compression socks? Because runners are often exposed to extreme punishment out there on the road.
To prevent lactic acid buildup, pooling of blood when the runner stops or slows down, and to promote improved bloodflow and circulation, runners will sometimes wear compression socks. Look on websites like SportPursuit.com for finding sports supplies relatively cheaply. But don’t be taken aback by their simplicity. Runners tend to love these as gifts. It’s a gift that says, “I understand how your legs feel after 15 miles.”
Goggles and Wetsuits
Swimmers have some of the best bodies on the planet. Why? Because they use their entire body in the water. They cannot get away from the water – the force is all around them. Yet, many swimmers struggle to find good gear like goggles and wetsuits.
These things make swimming not only easier, but they’re often a necessity at competition level. Don’t fool around with cheap brands. They’ll just get thrown away. If you really want to support the triathlete in your life, buy the most expensive brand you can afford from a well-respected manufacturer.
Jeff Davis is a sports enthusiast. He enjoys writing about the athletic life and his artic les mainly appear on sports blogs.