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Dear Fit,
I am interested in possibly getting an iPod or something similar to use when I work out. I never jumped on the whole iPod train in the first place because the idea of having to pick out songs doesn't appeal to me, since I don't really know what to pick. That's why I like Sirius satellite radio. It exposes me to new music and I don't have to do anything but turn it on. I'd definitely get an iPod to work out with IF there was some sort easy way to download suggested playlists for working out.
—In Need of Tunes Tara
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This is an awesome question since so many people love working out to music. With all the new technology out there, it's hard to know what will best suit your needs. You have two options:
- Get an iPod nano [1] - This tiny device can hold either 1,000 songs ($149) or 2,000 songs ($199). It's better to run with a nano rather than a regular iPod, since it uses flash memory and has no moving parts (regular iPods contain a mini hard drive that spins and jolting it around could cause damage). If you get a nano, you can copy all your own favorite music into the iTunes library on your computer, make playlists, and then put them on your nano. OR you can download Sport iMixes [2] from iTunes (you have to buy them for around $15 a playlist).
Another cool thing about owning an iPod nano is that you can buy the Nike + iPod Sports Kit [3] ($29). It comes with a receiver that attaches to your nano and a sensor you wear on your shoe. You can buy Nike + specific sneakers that hold the sensor or you can wear your fave sneakers and attach the sensor with this holder [4]. Then when you run, it keeps track of the time, distance, speed and calories burned. You can even upload your runs to NikePlus.com [5] and track your progress. I use it every time I run and it totally motivates me. - If you don't want to deal with your computer and downloading playlists, and you love Sirius radio, you can purchase portable Sirius radios to run with. The Stiletto 10 [6] ($149.99) allows you to listen to live radio and it can store up to 10 hours of recorded programming. The Stiletto 100 [7] ($199.99) offers a little bit more for your money. You can listen to live radio and store up to 100 hours of pre-recorded programs. You can also go online and purchase music that you can store on it. Sirius portable radios are great if you like your tunes to be a surprise. Just so you know though, after you buy the radio, you still need to pay around $13 a month for the service.
Those are two great options to help incorporate music into your workouts. Just make sure you choose something that will be easy to use and don't be afraid to ask for help. This technology stuff can be hard to figure out at first, but once you learn how, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.
Fit's Tips: If you're looking for other ideas for music playlists, every week FitSugar posts a playlist and you check them all out here [8].
Source [9]