Nike+ Me
Posted by: j_john
Whoa. I totally just turned on my beloved adidas.
Since I'm always searching for new ways to motivate my running routine (I think part of me still wants to believe I'm just getting into shape for soccer) I caved in and went all-out for the new Nike + iPod partnership.
First I had to pick up an iPod nano, so I checked out the PSU bookstore to get in on their discounted student rate (saved $20 on a 2GB iPod nano). Total spent = $179.00
Next I went to the Apple store to pick up the sport kit and armband (although I would later find out both of these items were available at Nike Town). Total spent = $ 58.95
Now I had to pick up the shoes at Nike Town with the special sole insert. They really try and sell you on the flashy Air Zoom Moire, which I tried on but ultimately felt the toe box was too tight. I suppose I could have used them as cross-trainers for soccer, but I instead opted for the more traditional Air Zoom, which were actually Lance Armstrong 10/2 branded in the specific colorway I chose. Total spent = $100.00
Finally I figured I would find some shorts and a shirt to "complete the look" (the turncoat). For this I went to trusty Ross and picked out a classic tee and some possibly soccer-style shorts. Total spent= $22.98
So let's add up the cost of getting into this club. Hmmm--$360.93! Although you could make a good argument the shorts and shirt were extra, it's still quite the investment. Enough about the gear, how does this stuff actually work?
After spending a lot of time upgrading my iPod and iTunes software, and dealing with the too-new and slightly buggy Nike+ site, I made my playlist, picked my power song, and set off....in 100 degree heat. Wow, that was rough. Still, it was quite neat to hear the pleasant lady come on (the music fades in and out) and tell me how far I had gone, and then later to let me know how much further I had till I reached my goal. I only went a modest 2.5 miles due to the conditions, but it was certainly cool to see a visual graph of my run. Now I can see exactly when I faded away, and will be anxious to see how I fair when the conditions are a bit more reasonable. (I will probably end the workout when I stop running, instead of leaving it on for the cooldown and lowering my stats.)
Finally, a few nit-pick notes. I thought the sensor seemed a bit loose in the sole of the shoe--the initial rattle was slightly unsettling. Of course it wasn't a problem once I stuck my foot in and laced up. However, the insole seemed a bit oddly shaped and bothered me at first, but I have a feeling I just need to break them in a bit. Also, while I understand the design of the armband allows the iPod to stay mostly moisture-free, it did seem a bit difficult to change the volume and selecting other buttons on the click-wheel were a bit of a guessing game.
From: July 26 | Comments (7) | Permalink
When Cities Define Your Footwear Personality
Posted by: j_john
So I just found my next pair of shoes:
adidas Oslo
I wonder if the design folks at adidas think this shoe looks "norwegian"? Whatever the case, I'm in--great job on the gum rubber sole!
From: July 26 | Comments (0) | Permalink
