About six months ago I started using the Nike+ system. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Nike+, it’s basically a digitally integrated training system to help you track all of your runs.
Right now, the Nike+ system requires you to have an iPod nano, as well as a sensor you put in your shoe and a receiver that plugs into your iPod, both from Nike. The shoe sensor has an accelerometer build in to read how far you have run, and the receiver transfers the data wirelessly to your iPod for playback. It’s a very useful system that I’ve enjoyed a lot. I really like knowing my pace during my run, and I especially like knowing how far I’ve run, especially when I’m trying out new routes. Nike has also built a really robust social networking site for the product, and it’s really cool to take part in the challenges with people who are sometimes halfway around the world.
There’s just one drawback. I can’t stand running with music. I can’t stand the wires flopping everywhere. I can’t stand how I can’t hear anything around me. And I can’t stand having to carry something (or worse, strapping something to my arm) while I run.
So I’m super excited about an upcoming offering from Nike. It’s called the Nike+ SportBand, and it wirelessly connects with the Nike+ shoe sensor. The SportBand is a wristband that you wear on your run. It has a digital display so you can check your distance, time and calories burned during your run. So now you no longer need to run with your iPod in order to take advantage of the Nike+ system. When you want to sync your runs to the Nike+ online interface, you simply eject the digital display from the wristband and plug it into the USB port on your computer.
In the beginning, I would run with headphones and just not turn the music on. Then I would run with my iPod but I wouldn’t bring headphones because I didn’t want them flopping around while I ran. But although the Nike+ system is very intuitive if you are listening to music, it’s just a little to complicated if you’re just using it to time and track your run. Also, I didn’t like having to carry something in my hand while I ran. Slowly but surely, I stopped using Nike+. But with the Nike+ SportBand, all of these issues are taken care of. I’ll be able to track all of my runs and wear the wristband, possibly in place of my normal running watch. And I get to resume my plugged-in running lifestyle.
