Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday and holiday cheer abound... ‘Tis the season for gifting! 

However, this is not your typical product-pushy post. In fact, with a view to our Green World Policy, we wanted to offer a gift-giving approach that considers supporting local, independent, minimalist and social and climate-conscious companies. Not everything on the list will check every box, but we’re about each and every one and what they do.  

Here’s a list of some of our favourite things, sure to delight and inspire the recipient and have a broader positive impact as well. Really, the best gift you could give, or ask for! :)

• For the Globe-Trotting runner: Running the World

A long-time friend of Impact Marathon, in 2018 Nick Butter decided to take his passion for running global. 674 days later, he set the world record for running 26.2 miles in every country in the world. When we met Nick in Guatemala, he was a mere 2 weeks into his insane journey. After that, our paths crossed multiple times as we followed his story. From erupting volcanoes in Guatemala, to a very wet last minute saunter around Kigalia, Rwanda - it’s been awesome to re-read our time with him and much much more.

The book details his myriad of cultural experiences (snapshots of every country in the entire world!) and inspiration (the spirit of the incredible humans he met along the way) to take on the challenge as a way to raise awareness and support for Prostate Cancer UK. 

With insights into running across the world, as well as the ups-and-downs of a two year long, relentless mission this is a story like no other and the perfect gift for that runner who loves (and misses!) travelling. 

• FOR THE ECO-RUNNER:  Stand for Trees
  

If there is one thing that unites all trail runners - it’s a love of nature. Trail runners explore, they connect with the earth and they are engaged it protecting it.

When we began searching for a sustainability partner for our Green World Programme, one  organisation stood out - Stand For Trees. This Christmas they are offering an easy way both to give a unique gift to the trail runner in your life, or to offset your gift giving! 

This is a great way to break the mould this Christmas - and save our forests.

• FOR THE COLOURFUL RUNNER: Enda running shoes

Enda is one of our amazing partners for the 2021 Kenya Impact, and dropping 27 November is their hottest new design: a limited edition “Rainbow Runner” design of their staple Lapatet style. 

These shoes are perfect of the runner who loves standing out, wearing something different - both in the colourways and in a new, exciting running brand. The Lapatet shoe is designed for your easy training runs, and your Long Run Sunday! Well-cushioned, hardwearing and, most importantly for us, using running as a tool to create jobs and bring investment to the most famous running nation in the world.

$10 from each sale will be donated to the National Gay and Lesbian Human Right Commission in Kenya.

• FOR THE FOODIE RUNNER: Eat, Cook, Run

An Impact Ambassador herself, Charlie Watson (otherwise known as @therunnerbeans) is a registered dietitian with a penchant for whipping up tasty healthy treats to fuel her runs. Her best recipes are detailed in this book together with mouth-watering photos of her creations. Buy her book using smile.amazon.com to choose your impact (read below!).

Covering every meal of the day, including home-made running snacks, Charlie has brought her passion for cooking and running together in a fantastic read. 

We’ve tried many of the recipes throughout lockdown and can heartily recommend the Balinese Beetroot Curry! 

Now, excuse us while we nip to the kitchen for a snack...

• FOR THE IMPACT RUNNER: Impact Shop Merch
  

We couldn’t leave this one off the list! Whether you’re gifting an Impact Runner in your life, or someone who is just generally AWESOME, Impact Merch is unique, cosy and comfortable and ethically made. The range was designed to wear on and off the trails, with our values brought to life whether they’ve joined and Impact Marathon yet or not. And right now, we have Black Friday discounts across the range with the last run of the 2020 designs.

Top Tip: You can also purchase a GIFT CARD to be used on any future Impact Marathon race!  

And, what’s more, 15% of profits are donated to UK-based mental health charity RunTalkRun.   

WAIT!!! BEFORE YOU SHOP

Did you know that you can make a difference with every single Amazon purchase by using the Amazon Smile program? 0.5% of eligible purchases will be donated to the charity of your choice. All you need to do - next time you’re ready to buy something on Amazon, simply visit smile.amazon.com, and use the drop-down above the menu bar to search and select the group you want to support (you can find some of your favourite Impact Charities listed there!). You can also track your contributions over time! No new signup is necessary. It’s really about as easy as it gets! 

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Note, some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you make a purchase through them we may receive a small commission, which is at no cost to you and does not in any way impact the price you pay. Any commission received helps fund Impact Marathon’s work in supporting the UN Global Goals and our local communities and charity partners. We very much appreciate your support!