Nike Plus, Gadgets for fitness – Part 2

One of the gadgets I’m using as part of my get back to fitness mission is the Nike + iPod Sport Kit, this plugs into your iPod Nano (which the boyf bought me for Christmas) and logs how far you run and for how long. When you’ve finished running you plug your iPod into iTunes which then syncs your workouts with the Nike + website and shows you pretty graphs of your run. Not bad for £19! Of course if you’re not a cheapskate like me then you’ll feel the need to buy the proper Nike + trainers with a hole under the insole for the sensor to sit, however, yourself cash by fashioning a nice little duct tape holder and taping it to your laces instead.

It gets even better though (if you’re even slightly competitive like I am). As well as it just logging your runs you can set yourself goals to encourage you to keep training (I’m currently trying to run 50km in 4 weeks) and you can find other people to race against via the Nike + forums. There seem to be all sorts of running gadgeters out there at all levels from novice like me to serious runners doing serious mileage.

One of the challenges I’ve signed up for is a beginners most mileage in April, and by some freak occurrence I actually happen to be in the lead! Check out the current standings!

No doubt I’ll be overtaken once everyone else logs their weekend runs but hey I shall revel in my current placing for now.

It’s quite surprised me how much a simple little foot sensor and iPod linkage sensor can keep me so amused and take away the pain of running….combine it with my other toy (a Polar heart rate sensor) and I’m actually looking forward to going to the gym.

So if there are any other bloggers out there with one of these who fancy a “bloggers challenge” then let me know!