It only cost me about 5 bucks. By the end, it was downright ugly and possibly a little stinky. But it meant more to me in some ways than nearly all my other worldly possessions combined. It was my trusty ol’ pink running hat, and I recently said a very fond farewell to it, but not to the memories of the runs I took while wearing it.

I bought it about 10 years ago, during a weekend at my family’s beachhouse at the Jersey shore. It was a fluorescent pink nylon baseball cap that read “Ocean City.” I’m not sure what possessed me to start wearing it when I ran- I had been running for 10 years without wearing a hat. But my hair was longer and I was tired of sweat getting in my eyes, so it seemed like a reasonable way to keep both hair and sweat at bay. Once I started running with it on I felt faster, tougher. I liked pulling the bill down over my eyes, giving me a mean little scowl I could use to help keep the wolf whistles and catcalls at bay.

That summer I was living and working in a new city between academic years, and one morning I got a call from my dad telling me that my beloved grandmother had suddenly passed away. It hit me like a rock. I wasn’t able to leave town for the funeral until the next day, so to try to burn up my frustrated anger I went for a run. I pulled my pink hat down over my eyes to shield my tears and bitterness, and I ran with a vengeance. I remember running past Amish farms and homes and envying their inhabitants’ confident and unquestioning faith. Every dead squirrel I ran past brought deeper questions than I’d ever wanted to think about while running. There I was, on a bright sunny day, a girl running in a pink hat, the picture of carefree vigor to those who saw me.

When I went back to school that fall, I took my running more seriously than I had in years. I started running longer road races, and always wore the pink hat as my new-found talisman. Eventually, I came to feel naked without it. For the next several years, I seldom ran or worked out without wearing the hat. I’m sure it drew a few looks at times, but I didn’t care. It just felt comfortable.

Naturally, the hat got pretty grungy and sweaty with wear. Each wash took more of its fluorescent pink coloring away. Not long ago, I took a look at it and just cringed. It was really time to say goodbye. Without another thought, I dropped it into the garbage can. A few hours later, my husband, throwing something away, glanced up from the can with a start. “You’re throwing your pink hat away?”, he asked. I confirmed that this was the case, and in that moment, I questioned my decision. But the moment passed and the next week my garbageman took the hat away for good.

I don’t really miss Pinky all that much. After all, unlike the pink dye, my memories will never fade.

If you’re pinching pennies, here are some gift ideas that won’t set you back too much:

Thermastat Liner/Gloves

These unisex lightweight gloves  can be used either as alone or as a liner under thicker gloves for those really cold days. They’re only $10.99 and come in 4 colors.

If your runner lives in a warm climate and has no need for gloves, you can’t go wrong with this coffee mug, with a pretty running design for only $14.99.

And of course, no runner should be without a subscription to Runner’s World. A year costs just $21.

If you’re able to spare more than a little change, here are some ideas the runner on your list will love:

A runner can never have too many pairs of tights. And you can’t go wrong with these Dryline Intensity Trackster Tights. Loose-fitting for the timid, they feature moisture wicking fabric and zippered pockets. Available in black for $65.

Any old scale can tell you your weight, but body-fat is a more accurate measurement of your fitness. Now, with the Personal Body Fat Monitor, your favorite runner will know when it’s time to put away the Doritos and hit the track. This item stores data for 2 people and costs $89.99.

Gifts Over $100

If you’re willing to max out your credit cards for the runner you know and love, here are some great “The sky’s the limit” ideas.

Every runner who goes outdoors during the winter wants a Gore-Tex jacket. This model includes the new Gore-Tex XCR technology, which improves the fabric’s weatherproofing qualities even more. Available for $189.99.

If your runner still doesn’t want to go outside, there’s always a treadmill. The high-quality ones can be astronomically expensive, but one of the best values for the money. Costs around $2,000.