Writer / Alicia Wettrick
Why is it that when you are out shopping for a Mother’s Day gift, you get warm, fuzzy, sentimental feelings, and when you’re shopping for a Father’s Day gift, you get the dreadful lost panicky feeling? Stop! Put down the tie, I’ve got the answer.
How about getting Dad a gift that will improve his health? I’m not talking about buying Dad some dumbbells or signing him up for the ‘Kale of the Month Club.’ I’m talking about giving him a fitness gift that will motivate him to put down the remote and get active.
Fit Gifts for Dad
1) 5K charity run/walk. Sign yourself up along with Dad for a charity run/walk event.
This is a great idea! Participate in a cause and spend time with Dad! Eagle Creek and Fort Benjamin Harrison host a variety of charity run/walk events on their serene nature trails.
If you really want to get your hands dirty, the 5K Mudathlon obstacle course is a unique race that can build you and your Dad’s teamwork skills in a fun muddy environment. On the cleaner side, the downtown Monumental Mile event is also a popular choice. For more events, check out the IndyRunners.org race calendar.
2) Gym membership at a local church. The Gathering Place at Community Church of Greenwood and The Community Life Center at Mount Pleasant Christian Church offer inexpensive monthly or yearly gym passes. You can sign yourself up as well and work out together. In addition, they both offer fitness classes that are either free with the membership or at a discounted price.
3) Fitness band. A fit band is a great gift for Dad to track and monitor his daily activity (10,000 steps a day is recommended). Fitness bands track steps, exercise, calories burned, distance and sleep. This can help motivate Dad to reach his fitness goals.
4) Athletic shoes/apparel. Take him to Blue Mile at the Greenwood Park Mall for a shoe fitting. They are a running/walking specialty store that offers video gait analysis! Have Dad hop on a treadmill, and the technology will analyze his walking or running gait. Based on his data, they will match the best shoe for him. Not only do they sell running/walking apparel, but they also offer fitness advice and running/walking training.
If you want to get adventurous, head over to Dick’s Sporting Goods to get Dad some of those bright colored, designer spandex pants to go with his new shoes. Beware, Dad in spandex may not be a pretty sight, but we all can use a good laugh!
5) Indiana State Park Entrance Permit for the outdoorsy hiker. For $40, Dad and anyone else in his car can get into an Indiana State Park as often as he would like. The entrance permit is good until December 31, 2015. The Golden Hoosier Passport is also a state park entrance permit for seniors 65+ for only $20. Purchase online through the Indiana Department of Resources website, bit.ly/in_park_pass.
Fit Dad, Fit Family
This Father’s Day, leave at home the ‘gift giving anxiety’ and give him a gift with confidence that will reflect positively on his life. Remember, a healthy father makes a healthy family. Happy Father’s Day!
