The best gifts for a cross country runner help with the parts of the sport nobody sees: cold start lines, muddy courses, long miles before school, and a season that ends fast in November. Warm layers, meet-bag basics, gear for daily runs and something for their wall all fit. Here are ideas by budget and by occasion, starting with senior night.
We make running gear and running posters, so some ideas are ours, with prices. Others are things we do not sell but cross country runners use.
Quick picks by budget
Free US shipping on orders over $125. Everything under $50 is in one place: gifts for runners under $50.
Cross country senior night gifts
XC senior night is usually the last home meet of the fall. The gift should say something about four years of mornings, hills and team runs.
- A poster about the grind. Consistency is about how many days you can put an hour into, which is cross country in one line. Magnolia Dr shows the high-altitude training road distance runners know by name. Prints are $30 to $45 by size, and buy 2, get 1 free lowers the cost when a parent group buys for the whole senior class.
- A framed course memory. A photo from their home course or their best race, with the bib and the results sheet, in one frame.
- A team hoodie moment. Our hoodies are $75, thick fleece, in a unisex loose fit. The Mags Fun Run Hoodie is the inside joke for anyone who has run Magnolia.
- Words from the team. A card from every teammate, or a short video from the coach. Free, and the one they keep.
Gifts for cold, muddy meets
Late-season cross country is cold, wet and often muddy. Useful gifts:
- Warm layers for before and after the race. A hoodie, a warm hat and gloves for the start line, and a long coat for standing around between races.
- Spike pins and a spike wrench. Courses often call for different pin lengths than the track, and pins get lost. Check the meet's rules for allowed lengths.
- A dry bag or a plastic bin for muddy spikes, so the car and the backpack survive the ride home.
- A towel and a full change of socks in the meet bag.
Gifts for the long miles
Cross country is built on daily miles. Gear they wear every day earns its place.
- MD Half Tights, $60 a pair or 3 pairs for $120. Ribbed fabric, an internal liner and a drawstring waistband, with a mid-thigh cut.
- LD 4 inch Split Shorts, $45, with a side split, a built-in liner and two gel-sized pockets in the liner. Buy any 2 shorts and get the 3rd free.
- A training log. Paper or a simple notebook. After a season, the log is the best coach they have.
- A foam roller or massage ball for recovery days. Keep it simple and leave anything medical to their coach or athletic trainer.
Small gifts and team gifts
For teammates, a whole team or a stocking:
- Stickers, $2.99 each (final sale), for water bottles and laptops.
- A set of posters for the team room. Three prints for the price of two with buy 2, get 1 free. It Just Takes One and Work Harder suit a locker room wall.
- Spike pins and wrenches in bulk, one set per runner.
Holiday gifts after the season
Cross country ends in November, and for most runners December means winter base miles or indoor track. Holiday gifts can look ahead to that.
- Gear for dark, cold mornings. Gloves, a warm hat, a reflective vest and a headlamp for runs before sunrise. We do not sell these, but they get used every week until spring.
- A hoodie for the walk to practice. Our hoodies are $75. The Run Culture Hoodie keeps it simple with a chest logo on royal blue fleece.
- A goal for next season on the wall. Bet on Yourself is for the runner about to commit to a bigger goal, and You Have to Believe is for the one chasing a breakthrough time.
- A fresh training log for the new year, so next fall starts with a record of every winter mile.
What not to buy
- Spikes or racing flats as a surprise. Fit is personal and the wrong shoe goes unused. Shop together or give a gift card to their running store.
- Clothes in a guessed size. Check something they already wear against our size chart. Our posters, graphic tees and hoodies are printed to order and cannot be returned for size or change of mind (we replace them free if they arrive damaged, misprinted or wrong). Running gear can be returned or exchanged within 30 days, unworn with tags. See returns.
FAQ
What is a good gift for a cross country runner? Warm layers for cold meets, spike pins and a wrench, a training log, daily running gear like half tights or split shorts, or a poster for their wall.
What do you give seniors on cross country senior night? Something tied to their four years: a framed photo and bib from their best race, a poster with a line they live by, a hoodie, and notes from teammates and coaches.
What are good small gifts for a cross country team? Stickers, spike pins and wrenches, and posters for the team room (buy 2, get 1 free).
When should I order a printed gift for senior night? Posters and hoodies are printed to order. Check the shipping page for current print and transit times and order at least two weeks ahead.
For track season gifts, see our guide to gifts for track and field athletes.
