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Lead Stories: Wednesday, December 3, 2008

TFS Review: Nike+iPod Sport Kit and Online Training Log

Posted January 13th, 2008 at 1:39 PM by Paul Petersen

Section: Gear & Apparel, Gadgets & Acces., Motivation, Music, Product Reviews, Special Features, TFS Reviews

Product: Nike+ iPod Sport Kit
Prices: $30.00 (foot pod & iPod receiver). iPod nano and Nike+ shoes sold separately.
Rating: Very Good 8.3/10.0
Pros: Very easy to use. Good accuracy once it is calibrated. Inexpensive; very good value if you already own an iPod and Nike+ shoes. Power Song feature is great idea. Nike+ online training log free, fun, and incorporates good motivation and community.
Cons: Requires calibration. Requires specific ancillary equipment (iPod nano, Nike+ shoes).
Overall: To use this innovative running tool effectively, you need to regularly run with music (or podcasts), own an iPod nano, and should own Nike+ shoes. Given these “ifs”, it is a great product for the money, and a tremendous motivational tool. The sensor will need to be calibrated, and works best in a Nike+ shoe, but tends to yield fairly good accuracy once these criteria are met. Runners who don’t use an iPod, or who want a richer feature set, should continue looking at more “traditional” fitness monitors.

Design - 9 - Out of the box, the Nike + iPod Sport Kit includes a Nike + iPod Sensor (foot pod), a Nike + iPod Receiver, and an instruction manual. The foot pod goes into the cavity in the left Nike+ shoe. The receiver goes into the bottom port of an Apple iPod nano. If you don’t own Nike+ shoes, the foot pod can be put into a shoe pouch (sold separately for $10), which can be attached to any shoe’s laces. All testing for this review was performed with a pair of Nike+ shoes and a 3rd Generation iPod nano.

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The 3 Biggest Variables Between Road and Treadmill Running

Posted October 23rd, 2006 at 12:30 PM by Jim Fortner

Section: Running & Training, Gear & Apparel, Exercise Equipment, Training Tips

Jim Fortner is a weekly, guest contributor to TFS. Make sure to also check out his own personal running and advice site: “Jim2’s Running Page”.

In my opinion, using a 1-2 percent incline to simulate the “wind resistance” created by your body moving forward through the air when running outside is one of the most overblown “theories” in running.

There are several other variables between road and treadmill running that are much more significant than wind resistance.

I think the three biggest ones are treadmill calibration, climate and terrain. Read the rest of this entry »

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