What is the Nike+?

Amazing. The Nike+iPod Sport Kit is a $30 accessory connecting your shoe and your iPod wirelessly (some call it an overpriced pedometer). Runners place a small sensor under their shoe insole and connect a receiver to their iPod nano, to track statistics during and after a workout. Your workout progress and statistics such as pace, total time, and total distance are updated on-screen and with audio cues through your headphones. After a run, sync your iPod nano and upload to Nike to track your progress and challenges over time and compare with friends. Not too bad right? Wait it gets better.

You then can connect to the Nike+ website and track your running statistics and improvement. You can share your training information with others, and setup virtual races with friends to compare your times over the same course. Way cool. I've already registered with Nike+ and let me say the experience has been rewarding. I don't have the gadgets yet, but once I do I will be going places! I encourage any runner to go to the site and check it out. At the very least look at the tutorials. It's pretty stinkin' awesome. The only thing is that (of course) Nike will encourage you to buy (roughly about) $90 Nike+ shoes to sport a little space under your sole to keep the wireless accessory. However, I found a site that shows how to cut your own little space out of your Asics. Not sure you'll want to go tearing up your shoes, but if you're devoted to a specific brand (as I am) then you might not mind. I also should probably mention that Lacelid.com makes a plastic piece that ties right into the laces and holds the sensor just for that purpose. They aren't very expensive, I think only about $7, but if you are running rough terrain I'm not sure you would feel very comfortable going this option. I would still run regardless of all this technology, but this, this just makes it even better. :)

Also if all this Nike+ yak has made you want to start conquering the road I highly recommend you read this guys blog post on "5 Tips for New Runners". Very helpful.