Everyday we’ll suggest original stocking fillers for the active person in your life.

Today show them you care with a Road ID.

There’s no better way to show you care than to provide someone the gift of safety and peace of mind. Road ID is the perfect training partner for runners, cyclists, triathletes or active people in general. If you have an accident on the roads or trails, your Road ID may be the only thing you have to guarantee proper medical treatment and immediate contact of family members.

Road ID products come in a number of versions, to be worn on your ankle, wrist, shoe or simply round your neck and it is laser engraved with your emergency contact information.

A Road ID is not only useful for athletes. As someone who does a lot of travelling, I have an interactive ID which has my name, my serial number and pin, and details of an international freephone number and website. This allows me to update my profile with my relevant travel insurance details and the contact details of the people I am visiting or staying with. Also if I’m travelling alone its reassuring to know if something happened to me people would know who I am to contact my family quicker.

If you don’t know which Road ID to purchase as a gift or what details to include on the ID you could just order a Road ID Gift Card or for a last minute present, an online eCard. www.RoadID.com also sell lights, clothing and reflective products so there is plenty of choice.

Submit your order by 21st December to receive your order by Christmas. eCards are emailed immediately after purchase. Use the code pcLastChance2 for a 10% discount off your entire order, valid  till 12th December 2010.

Whilst visiting the site you can find out how to enter RoadID’s Holiday Give away to win over $10,000 of prizes from Trek, LIVESTRONG® Fitness, HED Cycling, Garmin, Oakley, Newton Running, and Giro helmets.

More Christmas Gift Ideas >>>Charitable Gifts and Cards>>>

Last week was the ballot for the ING New York City Marathon. Over 100,000 people applied to be part of the 40^th running of this event, on 1^st November. Less than 40,000 will get to run it on the day, so if you didn’t get in you are not alone.

Fortunately for me as a New York Road Runner member I was able to secure a place. This will be my 12^th marathon and second in New York after running it last year. I have also volunteered at the start and finish areas of this race, so I will have loads of advice and tips specific to this race, to bring to you over the next few months.

If you didn’t get in the ballot and still want to run this year then you can still get guaranteed entries through the charity program or if you live overseas through the international travel partners. If you have never run a marathon before or are desperate to race in New York this year then that could be an option for you. Personally I would try again next either in the ballot (after 3 rejections your guaranteed to be accepted) or by running a time fast enough to automatically qualify (Men half 1.23; full 2.55. Women half 1.37; full 3.23).

Many people want to run New York because it is one of the big five, part of the world marathon majors. I admit that there is a great atmosphere running in one of those races, having also run in London and Berlin. But there are also great experiences at other major city marathons held later in the year. Dublin and Venice marathons are held the weekend before New York. At the end of November I have previously enjoyed racing the picturesque marathon in Florence, Italy. In the US the Philadelphia marathon is held a few weeks after New York, starting to Rocky’s theme tune and finishing in front of the museum of art. For more ideas check out 42k195k.com, this site has a great comprehensive list of marathons around the world. So if your training partner got through to New York you can still enjoy your long training runs together as long as you each taper properly as your race approaches.

If you are not up to marathon standard yet why not take part in the additional shorter races that often accompany the main event. Philadelphia also runs a half marathon and 8k at the same time and in September, Nottingham hold’s the Robin Hood Festival of Running combining full and half marathons, fun runs and relays.

So there are only 142 days till I will be on the start line on Staten Island, New York. Wherever you decide to race this autumn, keep checking Strenua’s World for training suggestions, recovery advice and tips for race day. Also let us know if you are running this year in New York or if you have any great marathon advice.

Thursday afternoon was a chance for us to soak up the sun and watch the Women’s K1 (single kayak) and Men’s C2 (double canoe) preliminary team events. The team events involve 3 boats from a team completing the course at the same time and crossing the finishing line within 15 seconds of the first paddler.

The individual events had happened earlier in the day and it was amazing that with the added maneuvering round team mates to pass through the gates the team times were only around 15 seconds slower than the individual runs. With time penalties for hitting or missing a gate or not finishing within the required time it was an anxious time for spectators and paddlers as the provisional results changed as penalties were awarded. With the top five from each race going through to Saturday’s races for the medals, both GB teams progressed with the C2 team first in their heat with a clear run and no penalties.

The event continues over the weekend and with the expected good weather and great home results I recommend you make a visit to cheer on our paddlers.

More information can be found at BCU or UK SPORT