Category: Running

Yurbuds for Your Ear

Going for a long run often means getting away from it all, but unless you’re in the middle of nowhere your run probably doesn’t get you away from everything. But Yurbuds could just take you away, even if you’re just on a treadmill.

These in-ear headphones were developed by athletes for athletes and officially launched this week with the new Ironman Series earphones. The earbuds were designed by company CEO and Ironman triathlete Seth Burgett while he was training. The result is an earbud that won’t fall out, even when taking part in grueling training regimes.

The sport earphone was developed to match the contour of the human ear without creating any pain points – because if the earbud is uncomfortable who is going to ever want to wear it. The Yurbuds Ironman Series feature an ultra-soft comfort fit and use the company’s patented “TwistLock” technology to provide the wear with exceptional sound by channeling the audio straight to the ear via the patented funnel shape.

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Connected Runners Hit the Ground Running With runens

Technology outsourcing and software product engineering company Ci&T has hit the ground running with its new mobile app for the Apple iPhone. Designed exclusively for the dedicated runner, runens is designed to be an easy-to-use app that enables users to connect and compete with a community of like-minded pavement pounding enthusiasts.

The concept behind the app is that “running is social,” and this connection can boost a runner’s motivation, making them go further and run hard to achieve goals. This is the latest app developed through Ci&T’s employee entrepreneurship program, which offers employees the opportunity to indulge their passion for technology, while still delivering innovative technology services to the company’s valued clients.

“As an avid runner, I know that lack of motivation can often be the greatest hurdle to getting out for a run,” said Marcio Cyrillo, Digital Evangelist for Ci&T. “But I also know that runners are driven by accomplishments, and I designed runens specifically so users could connect with other runners in their community and gauge their goals and achievements against these runners. I’m lucky to work at a company that allows me to indulge my passion so completely, and it’s my hope that the runens app will become as important to die-hard runners as their favorite pair of running shoes.”

This app promises a simple-to-use interface, where runens users can select and set individual goals for runs that include 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultra-Marathon or Freestyle. They can gauge the time, distance and pace of each run, with built-in GPS functionality to pinpoint the exact location of the runner on a map; and share and compare their goals and achievements with other runners in their community in real-time, driving the motivation to run even in inclement weather or other harsh conditions. Time to get running and social.

runens on the Apple App Store

Garmin Off and Forerunning Again

Serious runners will now have a serious time piece to add to their wrists. Garmin International Inc. announced this week the Forerunner 610 sports watch, a slim and robust water-proof touchscreen solution for serious runners. This watch can stand up to rain, sweat and splashes, yet is responsive enough that it can be operated with running gloves.

“Running with Forerunner 610 is like having a coach with you every step of the way,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “From giving the basics such as pace, distance and time to monitoring your effort through heart rate, creating interval workouts and racing a friend on the other side of the world, Forerunner 610 becomes a necessary partner for all serious runners.”

The watch has already won the Red Dot Design Award, which is a compliment to its marriage of style and functionality. The Forerunner 610 uses a vibration motor for alerts such as heart rate, pace and distance when audible tones cannot be heard (heart monitor included in some bundles or available separately). Continue reading Garmin Off and Forerunning Again

Cool It Down in Hotter Weather

As warmer temperatures replace cooler ones, you have different reasons to cover up. In between seasons like spring and fall call for transitional layers. Arm warmers and leg warmers are good options since you can peel off the layers when you warm up.

In the summer heat, there’s no option to add or remove layers to beat the heat. That is unless you pull on one of Craft Apparel’s Body Control Coolers. While they have other garments, the arm coolers and leg coolers are a good choice. The Body Control Coolers feature a compression fit, super-cooling fabrics, silver ion technology and sun protection. Continue reading Cool It Down in Hotter Weather

Trimble Updates AllSport GPS Apps for Android

Trimble released new versions of its AllSport GPS app for the Android Market. This includes AllSport GPS Pro ($3.99) and AllSport GPS (free). The programs collect more than 20 fitness stats and calculate calories burned to help people reach their fitness goals. AllSport GPS apps track 14 outdoor fitness activities including running, cycling, skiing and walking. The apps also let you access real-time weather forecasts, chart workouts over time, and view street and park maps.

Continue reading Trimble Updates AllSport GPS Apps for Android

Tire Rubber Makes Sports Fields More Green

Debates over natural versus artificial turf continue. Where artificial wins, actually, is when it comes to being green. The Synthetic Turf Council announced that as of this year the estimated total amount of synthetic turf installed in North America conserves more than three billion gallons of water, significantly reduces smog emissions, eliminates close to a billion pounds of harmful fertilizers and pesticides, and recycles more than 105 million used tires.

Continue reading Tire Rubber Makes Sports Fields More Green

Let the Suunto Shine With New Line of Sport Watches

Suunto has been a leader in sports watches, and this week the company announced a new range of fitness and sports watches to cater for a wide spectrum of outdoor activities, as well as gym training and exercise.  These include the Suunto M1, M2 and t1c models. The M2 will display heart rate and calories burned in real time, allowing users to monitor their activity and set personalized exercise targets.

The watch maker will also offer a range of outdoor time pieces that include the Observer, the Vector and the new X10 GPS watch, which includes PC connectivity to enable users to record routes, mark waypoints and even track speed and distance. The Suunto X10 also is compatible with the Movscount.com website, so users can view tracks, plan visualize routes through the site.

They say time and tide stop for no man, but with these watches you’ll be better able to manage your goals, and soon might not want to stop.

Suunto Official Website

No Loneliness for This Long Distance Runner

Anyone who ever goes the distance knows that running can be a lonely experience, even in this day of MP3 players, GPS devices and crowded streets. There is as the story title suggests, The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner and while Joseph Tame needed not run to free himself from prison walls (as is the case in the short story), but instead broke free from the grind of pounding the pavement with a little help from a whole lot of supporters.

This weekend Tame finished the Tokyo Marathon in 6 hours and 28 minutes, but he did so with 3,000 people who “ran” the course with him. Tame streamed his entire 26 mile run via four iPhones. One was pointed at his face, a second one at the pavement ahead, a third one for the GPS location and finally a fourth one that allowed him to stay in touch with supporters. Tame sent out Tweets as he ran, and those tweets were displayed on an iPad he strapped to his back. Not bad for the 33-year-old British citizen who currently lives in Tokyo. Congrats to Tame for not only going the distance, but in doing so decked out in a whole lot of gear.

Tame Goes Wild Official Website

K-Swiss Introduces 2011 Running Shoes

Triathlon season, despite what the current weather situation, is just around the corner, and this month Trek and K-Swiss held a tam camp in Kona, Hawaii, where the latter introduced four new running shoes for 2011, as well as a new trail shoe that will hit it in 2012.

This is quite a step forward for K-Swiss, which just a few years ago was primarily a tennis brand. Now the times have changed and K-Swiss looks to be a major player in the running market – despite the fact that the company has been on somewhat shaky ground, recently noting that worldwide revenue for 2010 was down almost 10 percent.

But now the company looks to be putting its best foot, or rather shoe forward for 2011. Triathlete reported last week that K-Swiss rolled out the four new shoes, which include the Kwicky Blade-Light, a trainer/racing shoe built upon the Blade-Light sole; the K-Ruuz 1.5, ultra-light flat; the Blade-Light Run, which will be available in a safety-oriented neon reflective sole; and finally the Blade-Max Trail, which features  a sturdier version of the Blade-Light sole.

[Via Examiner: Atlana Shoe Market: new models from K-Swiss]

[Via Triathlete: K-Swiss Reveals 2011 Running Shoes At Trek/K-Swiss Triathlon Camp]

K-Swiss Official Website

AlterG Blasts Off to National Rehabilitation Hospital Network

We first reported about the AlterG anit-gravity treadmills last year, and this week it was announced that the NASA-inspired technology would be adopted for use at the HNRH Regional Rehab, National Rehabilitation Hospital’s network of outpatient centers located in Maryland and Northern Virginia, including the Harbor Hospital in Baltimore. The AlterG treadmill will be available to patients undergoing physical therapy.

“This equipment will enable our patients to effectively advance their therapy allowing them to achieve more efficient results while decreasing their recovery time,” said Josh Billings, physical therapist and the practice’s clinic director. “By reducing the weight placed on their joints and muscles, they are able to complete an effective workout with less strain on the body.”

The technology was originally developed by NASA so that astronauts could work out in space, and now is used for physical therapy and rehabilitation. Currently there are less than 200 facilities in the nation that offer the treadmill, but it looks like soon AlterG will landing so more people can take advantage of the space age technology.

National Rehabilitation Hospital Official Website

Harbor Hospital Official Website

AlterG Official Website

Mobile World Congress: Adidas miCoach Becomes Available on Android

This week at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Adidas is showing its miCoach on a new platform, Android. The introduction is in conjunction with Google, also in residence at the international mobile conference.

Adidas has six sports-specific conditioning and training programs such as basketball, football, running, soccer and tennis, as well as an additional program for staying fit. The app uses GPS for active real-time pace-based coaching and location tracking.

Continue reading Mobile World Congress: Adidas miCoach Becomes Available on Android

SporT on With New Tracking App for iPhone

This week SporTracker announced the release of its new app for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. SporTracker is designed to help users track and analyze their body parameters for everyday sport activity, while providing a virtual personal fitness instructor to help main good physical condition.

The app can be used with a range of activities including walking, running and cycling, as well as wind surfing and even kayaking. It relies on the built-in iPhone GPS and motion sensors, which can track location and measure progress in real time. Users can further track speed, distance, cadence, height, climbing rate and time among other characteristics. This activity can be broadcast as LiveTrack Session to the SporTracker website or shared in real time to Facebook and Twitter.

“Our team has been working hard on delivering a great application supported by very informative website,” said Daniel Neaman, president of SporTracker Ltd. “We are convinced that our users will find the application effective and user friendly.”

The app is available now for $4.99 via the Apple App Store in the Healthcare & Fitness category, for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad – requires iOS 3.1.3 or later as well as 5.1MB.

SporTracker Official Website

Porous Pavement a Candidate for Bike Paths

Cycling in the rain is never fun. The puddles that linger after a big storm can be less fun when they overtake a stretch of bike path. A possible solution to the problem is porous paving. It addresses not only the problem of puddles on the path, but adding trails to parks and greenspace can often prevent rainwater from naturally soaking through the soil on ground surrounding the bike path.

Continue reading Porous Pavement a Candidate for Bike Paths