Father’s Day is around the corner. If you’re looking for a good OCR-related gift for the father in your life, here are a few ideas from The OCR Report.

Socks and Shoes
All the other items on this list don’t matter if Dad doesn’t have a good base to start with. You can’t run without socks and shoes. (Well okay, you CAN. But c’mon.)
  • VJ XTRM 2 – Great choice for short to medium length races from one of the best OCR shoe brands around
  • Salomon Speedcross – These were my first “real” OCR shoes. One good choice if you’ve never bought dedicated OCR shoes before
  • HOKA Speedgoat – The first choice for many in the trail running world. Lots of padding for those long runs.
  • MudGear Socks – The gold standard for compression socks in OCR. I also wear them on long plane rides.
  • Injinji Toe Socks – If Dad has blister problems on his toes, get him a pair of these.
Nutrition
Good kids don’t let their dad bonk. There are THOUSANDS of nutrition options. Here are some of my favorites. A heads-up for all these products: TRY THEM IN TRAINING BEFORE USING ON RACE DAY. More than anything else, nutrition is incredibly personal. What works for one runner won’t necessarily work for someone else. Be sure Dad tries these out on his training days before using them on race day.
  • Ascent Protein – Great option to increase your daily protein intake. My favorite is the chocolate but don’t sleep on the Lemon Sorbet.
  • Five-Hour Energy – Straight caffeine. Make sure Dad keeps it to max two per day.
  • GU Energy Gels – Straight energy. Tons of runners use these, but fair warning: Not everyone loves the consistency.
  • Jelly Belly Energy Beans Extreme – I got a couple samples pack of these eight miles into a Disney 1/2 Marathon and they saved my race. Highly recommended.
  • Swedish Fish – I got turned on to these by a past WTM and Spartan world champ. Similar nutrition facts to the expensive gel blocks at a fraction of the price.
  • Pickle Juice – I don’t understand the science, but Pickle Juice is literal MAGIC for treating cramps. After a hard race day I have one of these on my bedside table in case I wake up with a cramped leg.
  • Creatine – If Dad is on board the Creatine train, these gummies are a good way to get your 5 grams a day
  • Tailwind – The gold standard for mid-race hydration.
  • Snickers – Yeah, the candy bar. Look, they work for me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
  • One Gallon Water Jug – Dad doesn’t NEED a one gallon water jug, but he’ll be glad he has it. I carry mine almost everywhere with me lately.
Running-Themed Books
Books and ties are the classic (stereotypical?) Father’s Day gifts. But we’re not getting Dad a tie this year.
Race Entry
This is a sneaky gift, because it’s not just the race. It’s the time hanging out with their kid. All the other STUFF on this list is cool, but Dad would probably enjoy just hanging out with you at a race on Saturday.
Fitness Tech
None of this stuff will make Dad stronger or healthier, but it can give him a little edge to make the journey easier.
  • Garmin Fenix 6 Pro. This is the watch I wore for my 50 miles at World’s Toughest Mudder. It will easily last you 24 hours and can take the bumps and bangs of obstacle course racing. It’s expensive, but highly recommended.
  • Apple Watch Ultra 2. If you want to get Dad an Apple Watch, this is the one to get.
  • Oura Ring. Fitness tracker on your finger. Don’t worry about Dad’s ring size. They’ll send a sizing kit to take of that for you.
  • Hatch Restore Alarm Clock. This alarm clock will gently wake you up with a sunrise. I know it sounds crazy. I have one. I love it.
  • Fitbit Inspire 3. If you’re looking for a basic fitness/steps counter, this is a good option.
  • Garmin Heart Rate Monitor (Chest Strap). I’m of two minds with heart rate chest straps. The consensus seems to be that chest strap monitors are more accurate than wrist-based (or watch-based) heart rate monitors. I’ve used chest straps in the past, but for me the one on my wrist is “good enough”. Your call here. (Dad’s call? Maybe ask him first.)
  • Home Gym Timer/Stopwatch. This is the one I have in my home gym. Simple, clean, and gets the job done
Workout Gear
Give the gift of GAINZ.
  • Sandbags. Set of three, unfilled. Dads love to carry heavy stuff around. (Source: Am dad.)
  • Dumbbells. This is your basic set, going up to 25 lb pairs. If Dad has been lifting for a while, he’ll need heavier dumbbells like this set going up to 45 lb pairs.
  • Kettlebells. You can go wild buying Kettlebells. If Dad is new to Kettlebell swings get him the 35 pound model. If he’s been doing it a while, either ask him what size he’d like, or get him something else. If he’s been swinging Kettlebells for a while he already knows what he likes.
  • Pull up bar. This is the classic “Fits in your doorway” pull-up bar. It should work as long as you have regular doorways in your house.
  • Resistance Bands. I’m not a big Bands guy, but some people swear by them. If you want to get Dad some bands, here’s a good set.
  • BOSU Ball. They advertise this as a “Balance Trainer”. They should advertise it for sit-ups to save wear and tear on Dad’s back. I have one. It’s great.
Post-Race Recovery
Is Dad already ripped? How do you think he got that way? Put the gift of recovery under the Father’s Day tree.
  • Desitin. This is the absolute best treatment for post-race chafing. Yes, it is what they use on babies. Doesn’t matter, it’s the best tool for the job.
  • OOFAS Oomy Zen Sneaker. Evan Perperis did a great write-up on these for us. Great option for shoes, post-race.
  • Hypervolt Massage Gun. Does the job and then some. Gamechanger piece of equipment.
  • Cold Plunge Tub. Cold plunges are great for muscle soreness and general health. They’re also great as a way to give your brain a break from mental stress. When you’re in an ice bath, you have ONE problem. Your brain can’t worry about everything else. Those problems will still be there when you get out, but for a few minutes your brain gets to take a break and focus on how cold you are. I’m a big fan.
  • Epsom Salt. For general muscle soreness you cannot beat an Epsom Salt bath. Like pickle juice, I can’t explain it, I just know it works. It’s like magic. No need to get the name brand salt, generic is fine here.
  • Foam Roller. This is your 100% basic tried and true foam roller. Everyone should have one of these somewhere in their house for when they need it. Like a plunger.
  • Chirp Wheel Foam Rollers. These are great for opening up your back. I have the set of four.
  • Muscle Roller Stick. If you just want to go to town on your legs or IT bands, this is a good option. Inexpensive also.
Random Stuff
Up to this point I use or have used almost every single one of the items on this list. Not so for this section.
  • Hammer Kettlebell. It’s a kettlebell shaped like Thor’s Hammer. Is it practical? I have no idea. Is it a good workout? Again, no idea. But is it awesome? One hundred percent. And it’ll give Dad a great story at the office on Monday after Father’s Day. (Yeah, I know it’s called Mjolnir. Go outside.)
  • Heavy Mug. A nine pound mug. They have them up to 26 pounds, but that’s just silly.
  • Speed Parachute. I see NFL players using these to build speed. The feasibility of this as a gift absolutely depends on who your dad is.
  • Ankle Weights. To me these are almost a “fitness gag gift” but apparently some folks use them with a straight face.
  • Fitness Jump Rope. Look, I KNOW jump rope is a good exercise. I know “10 minutes of jump rope is equivalent to 30 minutes running”. But man, I just cannot get the timing down. Maybe your dad is more coordinated than I am.
  • Ab Wheel. Not my thing but some people swear by these little guys

To sum it up: Your dad loves you. I’m sure he would love a gift, but I’m also sure he’d love a phone call and a picture of you and him together.

Maybe your dad was the worst. I’m sorry. That’s not your fault. You are still loved.

Maybe he was the BEST, but he’s not with us anymore. I’m sorry. I’m sure he’s still proud of you.

Happy Father’s Day.

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