
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.

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.

I love a good sale on fitness gear. Right now (through Sunday) you can score an extra 20 percent off the clearance section of the
online Nike store. All you have to do is use the code SEPTCLEAR at checkout.

If you're like me, you use your iPod mostly when you exercise — I can't live without my tunes when I run. I'm also a religious Nike+ Sports Kit user, the device that snaps into my iPod and tells me how fast I'm running, how far I've run, and how many calories I've burned. It's a wonderful motivator that allows me to keep track of my workouts, but you know, it's tough to keep track of the little one-inch receiver!

After sitting out the
Olympic Games and the US Open due to an injury, Maria Sharapova has had time to think about her life, post-tennis.
"I have a passion for fashion and if I weren’t playing tennis, I’d probably be in school for it or for interior design,"
said the tennis star. Her latest
collaboration with Cole Haan exemplifies her passion.

I am always on the market for a new gym bag, especially since I'm not so easy on my bags and I go through them fast. I recently got my hands on the
Nike Gym Club Bag ($55) and was immediately drawn to its bright colors. But this is more than just a pretty sack, it's extremely handy, too.

Have you heard? Tennis is trendy. Ticket sales are up for the
US Open, and participation in the sport increased
18.7 percent last year.

We got spirit, yes we do. We got spirit, how 'bout you! It's all about
Team USA here on Sugar, so show off your Olympic lovin' self in some red, white, and blue gear.

Product rating powerhouse
Consumer Reports has tested 205 pairs of men's and women's running shoes in an effort to find the best. Overall they found that the Nike Air Zoom Vomero+2 (pictured here) was the best running shoe for
men ($120) and
women ($120). Not only does it have excellent cushioning, but it also was praised for its quality fit.