FitSugar

Nike+ Sportband Gets a New Look

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:30:49 -0700

So you're a running fanatic, and nothing brings you more pleasure than tracking your workouts. If this sounds familiar, then you'll want to get your hands on the latest model of the Nike+ Sportband. It works like the Nike+ Sports Kit, keeping track of your time, distance, pace, and calories burned, but instead of displaying the info on your iPod, it'll display it on the wristband. So it's great if you don't have an iPod or iPhone, or if you prefer running without music.

The latest model has a few upgrades. The screen now has a white background so it's easier to see. Also it has increased water resistance for those rainy days when you refuse to stay inside. It'll be available tomorrow in three colors: gray with an interior pink band, anthracite (dark gray) with a yellow interior band, and black with a red interior band. For $59, you'll be able to keep track of all your walks and runs, which may be just the motivation you need to reach your fitness goals.

Run Like a Girl: Nike+ Women's Half Marathon

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:30:00 -0700

If you were into the virtual element of the Nike+ Human Race on Aug. 31, you're going to love this Nike+ Women's Half Marathon. On Oct. 19, you can be part of the largest women's online race benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

This Nike+ event is on the same day as the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco. Unfortunately there's no more room left to register for that 26.2 mile race, so Nike is giving runners a chance to run alongside those 20,000 lucky runners with this 13.1 mile race. Just like with the Human Race, you can either sign up to run at select locations, or you can run wherever you are at whatever time you choose, using your Nike+ gear. After your run, you can upload your data to Nikeplus.com. The entry fee is $45, but all finishers receive their own Nike Sports Essentials Finisher's T-Shirt and an Official Finisher Keychain designed by Tiffany & Co. Interested? Then register now before the deadline ends October 8.

Update: The Cinderella Story of the Nike Women's Marathon

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:05:00 -0700

This just in! Just minutes ago, Nike issued a formal statement announcing that Arien O'Connell is in fact the winner of last weekend's Nike Women's Marathon. Initially, O'Connell was not recognized as the official winner, even though she had the fastest time, because she was not registered as an "elite" runner. I think it is great that Nike has responded to this issue, and it looks like they are changing the rules for next year.

To read Nike's official announcement about the matter, just read more.

Nike is announcing today that it recognizes Arien O'Connell as a winner in last weekend’s Nike Women’s Marathon completing the full race in 2:55:11. She shattered her previous time and achieved an amazing accomplishment.

Arien will receive the same recognition and prize, including a Tiffany & Co. trophy, the full marathon elite group winner received. Arien was unfortunately not immediately recognized as a race winner because she did not start the race with the elite running group, which is required by USATF standards. Because of their earlier start time, the runners in the elite group had no knowledge of the outstanding race Arien was running and could not adjust their strategies accordingly.

Learning from the unique experience in this year’s race, Nike has decided today to eliminate the elite running group from future Nike Women's Marathons. Next year, all runners will run in the same group and all will be eligible to win.

Nike has a proven track record of supporting athletes and we’re proud to be able to honor Arien and other athletes who surpass their goals and achieve great accomplishments.

Yay for Arien and for all the other fast, but non-elite, runners out there. I think it is great that Nike will be changing the format of the race next year. I think it will bring some extra excitement to the race. What about you?

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Gear Review: Nike ACG Wildedge GTX Shoe

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:00:23 -0700

I'm a big fan of Nike's All Condition Gear (ACG) line. If you're into climbing, hiking, or trail running, this shoe line has something for you. When at the Nike store recently, I noticed that my Wildedge approach shoes are now on sale. This shoe, a mixture of a hiking boot and climbing shoe, is now $65, marked down from $110.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Nike's ACG line and to celebrate it, Nike rolled out some pretty cool versions of the Wildedge shoe - a modern twist on the vintage Wildwood shoe that was popular in the '90s. I was immediately drawn to the line because of all the cool colors offered. Most hiking and approach shoes are pretty boring and come in two colors - all-over brown or green. Although I did settle on the ones that have brown and green in them, I think the colors are a lot brighter and flashier than any other hiking shoe I've seen. I also love the fluorescent pink swoosh on the side.

To see how these shoes perform, read more.

Along with being aesthetically pleasing, the Wildedge shoes perform well, and after trekking in them for over six months, I have to say I am a happy customer. The shoes are really lightweight and waterproof, two things that are important to me when backpacking. What I'm most impressed with is the sticky sole, which provides major traction with its .44 sticky rubber, creating a surface that grips onto whatever I'm hiking up. They're also super comfortable - I've hiked in these shoes for hours with no complaints, and even did an hour on the treadmill with them when I accidentally brought the wrong shoes to the gym.

Get in Gear: Nike + SportBand

FitSugar — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:45:00 -0700

I've made no secret of my love for the Nike + iPod Sports Kit, which lets you track your time, distance, pace, and calories using your Apple iPod and special shoe sensors. So I'm psyched that Nike is expanding the line later this month, with a new product called the Nike+ SportBand.

According to Gizmodo, the gadget could be released as early as next week. This wearable wristband lets you circumvent the iPod if you want, because it communicates directly with your shoe sensors. Your progress is displayed on a screen on the wristband rather than on the iPod, which is ideal for people who don't like to run with iPods but still want to track calories burned and other data. The gadget also has a USB connection, so you can upload your data to the Nike website to see how far you've come.

Have you tried out the Nike + Sports Kit yet? If so - or even if not - would you use this product?

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"ACT"ivism: NikeTown 5K

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 08:45:00 -0800

You may have noticed that I am always trying to convince you guys to do a 5K or a fun run and it turns out that NikeTown has the same motive in mind.

The NikeTown 5K (or the NikeGo 1 Mile) is dedicated to youth physical fitness and 100% of all entry fees will be donated to the local Physical Fitness, play and athletic program of your choice! The cost is only $20 (great for a race) and that includes $15 Entry Fee and $5 T-shirt Fee. The best part? Parents and kids are encouraged to do the race together! For more information and to find a NikeTown 5K near you, visit NikeTown5k.com.

Gear Review: Nike+ Sportband

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:00:26 -0700

I got my hands on the new Nike+ Sportband ($59) and was so psyched to start tracking my runs with it. Before you get started though, you need to download the Nike+ Sportband Utility software from the website. Then charge the Link (small black piece with the digital screen) by plugging it into your computer's USB port to charge, which takes about two hours.

If you don't have a pair of Nike+ sneakers, you'll need a holder for the sensor that sits on your laces. I use the weather-proof RunAway ($9). Once the sensor is attached to your shoe, plug the Link into the Sportband, and you're all set to go. Just hold down the top button for three seconds and it'll start recording your workout. Press the little side button and you can switch between seeing your time, distance, pace, and calories burned as you run. To end your workout, hold the top button for three seconds. Once your run is complete, the screen will go through the final stats of your run two times through.

To see if I liked the Sportband better than the Nike+ Sports Kit read more.

Using this Sportband is much easier than the Nike+ Sports Kit because you don't have to scroll through your iPod to start, pause, and end your workout. It's also easier to see your stats because the screen is right there on your wrist. If you don't work out with music, or don't own an iPod, then you'll like the Nike+ Sportband because no iPod is needed. I just wish there was a way to look at your recent history on the Sportband, like you can when using the Nike+ Sports Kit. With the Sportband, if you want to compare this run with previous runs, you'll just have to wait until you get home and plug it into your computer. Within minutes, the data of that run is automatically uploaded to the nikerunning.nike.com/nikeplus website, and then you can compare all your workout data online.

Overall, just like the Nike+ Sports Kit, I love how the Sportband offers an easy way to track your runs and your progress. It's twice as expensive as the Sports Kit ($29) though, so if you already own an iPod, you may want to save a little dough and stick with the Sports Kit.

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Gear Up For the 2009 Nike+ Human Race

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:30:18 -0700

Last year, Nike hosted the world's largest running event - the first Nike+ Human Race had over 780,000 participants. It was such a hit, they're hosting another one on October 24, 2009, with the hope that this year it will be even bigger.

This race gives runners all over the globe the chance to run a 10K together on the same day. If you want to be part of it, there are two ways you can join. Either sign up for one of the runs hosted by Nike in more than 30 cities around the world. Or you can run a 10K wherever you choose - on a treadmill, in the woods, or by the beach. Just track your run with the Nike+ Sports Kit or the Sportband. Then upload your race data to nikeplus.com.

I did this race last year and it felt amazing to know that hundreds of thousands of people were running the 6.2 miles along with me, so I definitely plan on doing it again this year. If you're interested as well, register here, and then start training - you have about two months until race day.

On Our Radar: Nike 2010 Running Collection

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:00:01 -0700

The fitness world may not have a fashion week, but this weekend I previewed some of Nike's 2010 Spring running line, shoes and jackets, at the Nike Running Summit here in San Francisco. At the event, held the day before the 6th annual Nike Women's Marathon, designers explained their two inspiration behind their latest sneakers and running gear: runners and lightweight.

The first concept is fairly self explanatory - they design their gear to complement the motion of running and what runners need. Secondly, they pared everything down to shave off weight leaving the running feeling free and unencumbered.

To learn more about the shoes coming out early next year, keep reading.

I Just Did It: Nike Women's Media Summit

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Did you know that 18 months of research goes into each pair of athletic shoes with a swoosh? I had no idea about the science behind sneakers until I visited Nike Corporate HQ in Beaverton, OR, just outside of Portland. Nike hosted a Women's Media Summit event to introduce its new cutting-edge (and when I say cutting, I literally mean "cutting" like what one does on the basketball court to quickly change directions) shoe, the Sister One.

This event, where Nike treated a bunch of fitness and design writers to a two-day seminar (workouts included), will be the closest I get to feeling like a Nike-sponsored athlete. I did get meet of few inspirational Nike-sponsored female athletes that I have seen tear it up on the field and court. The six athletes we met were all beautiful; they radiated health and fitness as they were interviewed. Learn from my mistake and know that you never ask a woman in soccer about the health of her knees. Olympian soccer forward Carli Lloyd, who scored the gold-winning goal at Bejing, and Olympic goalie Hope Solo schooled me on that gaffe. I guess it is superstition.

I also learned that hoops player and two-time gold medalist Sue Bird doesn't want to play ball in a "whack looking shoe." If this point guard doesn't like the look of her kicks, she has trouble playing ball. Kinda like a sporty spin on "your are what you eat," but more "you play what you wear."

To see more about deep shoe research, read more.

Nike takes every stitch on its sneakers seriously and they research, research, research its products. From the opinions of athletes, which it inclusively defines as anyone with a body (yay me, yay you!) to the infrared stress reading of the sole, Nike shoes are designed to perform. It was cool to see the research equipment used regularly at the Nike Sports Research Lab in progress and to see Carli and Hope demonstrate the different high-tech devices that translate movement and muscle power into computer programs for analysis.

I learned a workout move or two and many fitness tips during the trip that I will share with you soon. Stay tuned for a review of the Sister One training shoe.

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