Find gifts for the active Louisvillians on your list.

Story by: Kim Huston on December 20, 2017

The holidays are right around the corner. Not sure what to get the athletes in your life? What if they’re just starting their fitness journey? This guide can help you choose a gift to fit the activity level and needs of your loved one.

For the person starting a new healthy routine — or a seasoned athlete

Gift: A fitness tracker. Many fitness trackers are available at various price points. They vary in the type of data they track. Knowing your loved one’s favorite sport or the kind of data he or she is interested in tracking can help you choose a wearable that meets their needs. Wearable fitness devices can track:

• Steps
• Calories burned
• Stairs climbed
• Heart rate
• Sleep
• Workouts
• Swim strokes
• Running or cycling routes via GPS
• Running time, distance, pace and laps
• Reps for gym exercises
• Stress
• Mindfulness – breathing exercises, etc.

Many fitness trackers also offer:

• Water resistance
• Long battery life
• Syncing with music on a mobile device
• Ability to read texts, notifications and tell you when you have calls when synced to your phone

More bells and whistles and a higher price tag mean it’s the best one, right? Not necessarily.

In some cases, more expensive fitness trackers aren’t the best choice in some cases. Choose the technology based on how it will be used and what it can do for the person. What works for a triathlete isn’t necessary for someone who wants to track evening walks. If it’s waterproof and the person never steps into a pool, it’s not giving the full benefit.

For the person who says they’re going to run the Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon or Marathon every year, but never signs up

Gift: Register them for the race. Reasons abound for why someone may feel nervous about making the financial or emotional commitment to run a half or full marathon. By registering them for the race, you can show your support that you know he or she can do it.

Pair the registration with signing them up for the free Norton Sports Health training program. The 15-week program includes organized group runs, training tips and preparation for race day.

Make a date to bring your loved one to the training kickoff event on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. Trainees have the opportunity to talk with professionals about nutrition, training tips, injury prevention and education — which can calm any fears your loved one may have about committing.

For the mindfulness guru

Gift: Help them keep their mindfulness practice strong. Adult coloring books can be a great calming activity. Research has shown it can help with anxiety. Or consider a gift certificate for the Apple App Store or Google Play so they can choose one of many available mindfulness or breathing apps.