Cool Shit: Nike +

It’s been out for a while, but since I use it so often I figured it’d be worth mentioning. I’m not a fitness expert but personally I think that one of the healthiest things you can do in run. As long as you run longer, faster or harder then the time you did before, how could you not get into shape?  

Last december I started running but didn’t really keep track of what I was doing. Around christmas I picked up the Nike + iPod Sport Kit. One part of the kit goes into your shoe (I broke down and bought a pair of nike + running shoes, but with a little tape I bet this would work with any pair) and the other plugs into your iPod. As you run it keeps track of your distance, pace, time and calories burnt. We’ve all seen digital pedometers or calorie counters before, but the other stuff the Nike + brings to the table is what makes it worth picking up.  Once you’ve completed a session, you can connect your Nano to a computer and transfer the workout data to the Nike + Web site.  You can check out my last run to get an idea of what it keeps track of. There’s a bit of a social networking aspect to it…  you can challenge and race other people. I started using the Nike + 3 months ago and I don’t think I would run as far or as fast as I do if I didn’t have it. 

You can pick it up just about anywhere for under $35.