There’s nothing a golfing dad likes more for the holidays than some new equipment and clothes for his next tee time. Great brands such as Travis Mathew, Callaway and J. Lindeberg will put you on the “nice” list this holiday. Check out our top picks for golfing dad gifts below:

1. Callaway Odyssey® Black Series Tour Designs 2 Putter – Help Dad score on all of his money putts with this tour-ready putter that features A.R.T. (Advanced Roll Technology). The squared off heel-toe weighted blade with a crank-neck hosel and full-shaft offset. The TD Milled Face has a precise, deep milling pattern that generates consistent impact performance across the face, resulting in better feel, distance control and a smoother roll. He’ll be sinking all of his putts.

2. Callaway Tour i(s) Golf Balls – Help Dad concentrate more on shot-making and his short game and driving distance - everything else will fall into place. Switch him over to the Tour i(s) Golf Balls from Callaway and watch his game improve by leaps and bounds.

3. J. Lindeberg Slater White Leather Belt 92 – Get your dad the Slater White Leather Belt 92 from J. Lindeberg to instantly kick his style level up to par. J. Lindeberg is an international lifestyle brand that bridges fashion and sport through modern design.

4. Taylor Made R9 Radar Hat – Make Dad look like a pro in the iconic R9 Radar Hat from Taylor Made. The 100% performance polyester fabric wicks moisture and glare-reducing dark under bill make this one of the top hats in golf.

5. Travis Mathew Brasher – The golf course is supposed to be a quiet, subdued place. This shirt from Travis Mathew will help Dad shake it up and look like a million bucks. The poly elastane fabrication provides durability and flexibility. The tonal stripes and straight hemline make the Brasher a winner.

From clubs to bags, belts to ball caps, Zappos.com/golf has everything you need to make dad a happy golfer this year.

As temperatures drop, many runners get discouraged and hang up their shoes until the Spring, but you don’t have to be one of them. Columbia and Nike are using new technology to help you stay warm and dry during your run, even when the conditions aren’t in your favor.

The Columbia Anytime Half Zip is a lightweight jacket that can be worn solo or used as a layering piece for active days and evenings. This jacket uses Omni-Dry®advanced evaporation to pull moisture away from your body quickly to maintain optimum comfort levels at all times. Fight the sun’s rays with UPF 50 sun protection, great for battling the sun’s reflection off of fresh snow. If you really want to get your run in, regardless of the conditions, the Nike Soft-Hand Long-Sleeve Half-Zip running top is going to be your top of choice when you hit the track on a chilly, rainy day. The Dri-FIT™ fabric helps wick moisture away from the skin to keep you dry and comfortable. Don’t give up on your fitness goals over cold weather. Bundle up and strive for the finish line. Check out the Running Shop for all of your running needs year-round.

There is no bigger name in sports than Nike and they are applying their expertise and research to golf. Zappos.com is proud to announce that you can now find Nike golf products on zappos.com/golf. Nike is about developing groundbreaking innovations that help athletes in all sports achieve their peak performance. From golf clubs to apparel, Nike has become one of the most successful brands in golf. It’s no wonder Tiger Woods, Michelle Wie, Stewart Cink and many other tour pros turn to Nike for their needs; Nike athletes have accumulated over 80 wins in the last three years! Check out Stewart Cink below discussing the thrill of victory and make sure you head over to zappos.com/golf for all of your golf needs.

As your little student embarks upon the next year of school, we have the ideal items for him/her to stay active. Nike, Adidas and the North Face have great offerings that are quite trendy and comfortable, but that’s not all. Send your student back in style. From logo-print shirts to comfortable workout shorts, we have everything your child will need to get outside this semester. Check out all of the clothing your aspiring athlete could need at Zappos.com.

1. Nike Kids, Essentials Legend S/S Top
2. The North Face Kids, Short Sleeve Vaporwick Arboles Tee
3. Adidas Kids, Lineage Tee
4. Adidas Kids, S/S OS Logo Tee
5. Nike Kids, Core Mesh Short
6. Adidas Kids, Basic 3 Stripe Short

There are few more relaxing activities than yoga and whether you practice it for fitness, mental clarity or physical therapy, you know the importance of being comfortable. Nike, the world’s leader in all things sport, has developed an entire line of products to help you achieve full range-of-motion in your poses.

Slip into the Nike Bliss Yoga Tank Top, an astonishingly comfortable and supportive tank with built-in bra. The Dri-FIT fabric will keep you dry and comfortable even during the adho mukha posture. Tap into your full freedom of movement with the racerback-style complemented by a contemporary screenprint front design and left-hem Swoosh logo. Your balance won’t be the only thing your instructor compliments you on.

Tie it together with the Nike Warrior II Open Hem Capri to get the full experience. These low-rise capris have a 26” leg opening to allow you maximum flexibility, even in the most difficult of postures. Zappos.com also offers a wide range of other yoga products to aid you in your quest toward inner-peace. Namaste!

All three sections of a triathlon are grueling both physically and psychologically. Swimming forces you to not only deal with your physical ability to cut the water, but it mentally challenges you to stay focused through the unpredictability of open water. Cycling, which is physically more challenging in terms of maximum heart rate, gives no physical break following the swim, and it requires intense mental attention as you must manipulate a machine at high rates of speed.

Running , the third and final stage, however, trumps both in its physiological and psychological demands. Runners tax their bodies like no other athlete, as evidence by the long wait periods between major races. No runner can compete at high distance levels week after week like a cyclist can. No runner can perform the multi-faceted workouts in repetitive fashion that a swimmer can.

Runners must be acutely aware of their situations. Injury prevention is critical when building a running base for a triathlon, as overuse problems stemming from too much volume too quickly or insufficient rest can destroy any person’s triathlon season. As far as elite runners go, they spend roughly 25% less time training than their counterparts in swimming and cycling.

Psychologically, the run can mentally hinder any ill-prepared triathlete. As the final stage, the run not only pushes your fatigued body, but it also sternly challenges your mind. Your mentality is stressed from the moment you hit the water, so as you enter the last phase, your brain is tired. Training yourself psychologically, knowing how to handle your body, playing mental tricks to keep focused, understanding how to overcome your brain’s desire to ease up, will provide you with great returns come race day.

Overall, be smart about your run training on both levels. Set reachable goals that will allow your body to make small, manageable strides. Along the way, pay attention to how you respond psychologically to the difficulties you face. Knowing how to handle your brain on race day may prove to be the difference for you.

There’s something inherently pure about the sport of running, requiring only a t-shirt, shorts and a good pair of athletic shoes to participate. It also is a sport that shows how athletes can reach down deep into themselves to squeeze out one extra mile, even when they are teetering on the brink of exhaustion.

Without Limits, the story of Olympic athlete Steve Prefontaine (Billy Crudup), perfectly demonstrates that drive and determination. Before a car crash ended his life at the age of 24, Prefontaine was one of the most talented runners at the University of Oregon. Nicknamed “Pre” by his friends and fans, this athlete pushed himself hard on the track.

Prefontaine trained under the now-legendary coach Bill Bowerman (Donald Sutherland), who also was the co-founder of Blue Ribbon Sports, the company that would later become known as Nike . As shown in the film, Bowerman used his runners as test subjects for new athletic shoe designs. Bowerman wanted footwear that was lighter, offered greater protection for his runners and produced less wind resistance.

Hailing from Eugene, Oregon, Prefontaine participated in the 1972 Munich Olympics, but did not receive a medal in the event that he was best known for, the 5000-meter run. A favorite to win the same event at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Prefontaine tragically lost his life before he could compete.

Without Limits takes a look at the man who receives some of the credit for the popularity of running. Director Robert Towne offers a fair look at the very short life of this amazing athlete, showing both his triumphs and failures. This is a film that honors a man who could have achieved even more greatness in his chosen sport.

Besides films and books, Prefontaine’s life continues to inspire people, especially the residents of Oregon. The Prefontaine Memorial Run, which is next scheduled for September 19, 2009, is now entering its 30th year of operation. A film that still pops up on cable and satellite stations, Without Limits tells the tale of the greatest runner that you probably never knew existed.

Resources: http://www.prefontainerun.com/

A lot of people buy running shoes based on style and color and also even coolness factor. If a famous sports personality is photographed wearing Nike running shoes or Madonna wears Reeboks , all of a sudden, thousands of people rush out to buy the same pair of running shoes. If black running shoes are suddenly en vogue, every other person on the street is wearing a pair. But is that smart? Should you really be choosing which running shoes to buy based on how cute they look, what color they are or who’s been photographed wearing them?

Overall, none of these factors are important. If you’re a person who likes to be in style and wants to always be on the cutting edge, sure, maybe style is important to you. But it’s not important to your feet. In fact, it can cause your feet more harm than good. Buying a pair of red running shoes might brighten up your day and make you feel happy when you look down at your rapidly moving feet and see a blur of rosy prettiness, but it doesn’t make you run faster. And, seriously, who cares what Madonna or Victoria Beckham is wearing. Some women might think buying the same running shoes is going to make them look like Madonna. Seriously, it’s not going to happen. Get over it.

What matters when you buy a pair of running shoes is actually simplicity itself – do they fit correctly and are they comfortable? Nothing is more important than buying a pair of running shoes that fit correctly. Badly fitting running shoes can damage your feet, rub holes in your toes and heels and cause you to lose interest in running quickly, because you get so sick of being in pain all the time. Badly fitting running shoes can also cause permanent injury to your feet if you wear them for any length of time. An ill-fitting pair of running shoes can easily cause you to end up with shin splints, damaged knees or even tendonitis.

So, the next time you buy a new pair of running shoes, ignore the coolness or style factor and instead concentrate on correct fit and comfort. After all, you’re going to be running miles and miles in those shoes – so your feet might as well feel good while you’re doing it.