Music is essential in most workouts. Yet there can be a danger with headphones that block traffic and other noises. Headphones can also be a nuisance when they bounce on your ears or earbuds that don’t stay in your ears. There are a few headband-style headphones, and now AccousticSheep has come out with RunPhones, a headband with removable earphones built into the fabric. Continue reading RunPhones, Music to Cold Weather Runner’s Ears
Category: Running
Study: Marathon Runs Cause Temporary Heart Damage
A new study conducted by Dr. Eric Larose, a cardiologist at the University Institute of Cardiology in Quebec, finds the stress of running a marathon causes heart damage, though temporarily. A runner himself, Dr. Larose determined to study whether damage occurs during a long distance run such as a marathon, and whether that damage weighs on future heart health. Continue reading Study: Marathon Runs Cause Temporary Heart Damage
Pedometer Builds in Security Alarm
Pedometers are now much more accurate than yesterday, and now they pack in extra features. The egg-shaped ila Sport is a pedometer, milometer, and a personal safety alarm. The form factor fits in most hands comfortably, even at a decent run. It also has a belt clip for hands-free tracking of your walk or run. The ila Sport tracks steps, mileage and calories burned. The alarm is triggered with the push of a button.
A personal alarm is useful for running in semi-populated areas and in the dark. It’s only useful if someone is within earshot that is likely to call for help or venture toward the alarm to check on you. Of course many people often don’t react to an alarm if they don’t know what the alarm is. It is also surprising that the alarm trigger is a button, which may be easily pressed. Ila Security says the button is not one that will be depressed casually, even in the heat of a vigorous workout.
You can use the backlit display to check your progress in the dark. The handheld also stores information from past workouts so you can compare with last week’s run. It sells for about $35.
Marine Corp Marathon Gets App Coverage
Whether you’re running in a marathon this year or just watching from the sidelines, there will be an app for that! The New York City Marathon on November 7 will feature support for an iPhone app for the first time this year, and it will include news alerts as well as live video of the professional race, but for a different way to “phone in the race” there will be the RaceMate app for the upcoming Marine Corp Marathon.
The race, which is set to take place on October 31, will be the first to provide GPS coverage with real-time connection between runners and followers. RaceMate is an app for the iPhone and Android smartphones as well as the Apple iPad, which can allow a follower to track the route and location of a runner in the race. Continue reading Marine Corp Marathon Gets App Coverage
Running Gets a Boost with Karhu Fulcrum_Ride
Stability is an important feature in shoes for those of us runners who overpronate. That’s when your feet tend to roll inward when you walk or run. The fulcrum_ride from Finland-based Karhu addresses pronation in a new way.
An asymmetrical footbed allows for appropriate pronation during the gate cycle. The center of pressure moves along the natural path from heel to toe. Traditionally, running shoes tend to jar the foot’s natural path, creating braking forces and pressure shifts back and forth. The path of energy tends to move from the heel to the arch, then to the outside of the foot due to pronation.
Continue reading Running Gets a Boost with Karhu Fulcrum_Ride
Nike+ Plus GPS
The trouble with dongles is that these little things are easy to misplace. Maybe it is some sort of technology conspiracy theory that is part of the planned obsolescence. If you lose it, you must replace it and thus buy it again. That’s basic Marketing 101 stuff, but Nike has long been a company that skips the basics and goes the distance to earn customer satisfaction. To that end the company has decided to ditch the needed dongle that was part of its Nike+ system for the iPhone.
Instead, the new app version uses GPS radio in compatible iDevices to track a user instead. That is already good news, but it gets even better. With the app users can also plot a run on a map with the handset. The only downside is that you do need an iPhone for the full-fledged mapping options, as these aren’t available on the iPod Touch – but that still can keep track of distance via an accelerometer that tracks a runner’s steps.
What really makes us question Nike’s marketing approach is that the app is actually cheaper too. The Nike+ version with the shoe dongle actually cost $29, while the app is a mere $2. Of course, this company knows that keeping customers happy in the long run means making running easier in the first place. Nike doesn’t need to remind us to “Just Do It,” as they just did it, by making the Nike+ system for iPhone a whole lot easier (and cheaper to use).
For Running, Compression is Key
Socks are socks, right? Well, there’s running socks, tennis socks, cycling socks, general sports socks, dress sock and we could keep going. A little known sock is the compression sock used frequently for medical conditions. Travelers and athletes are learning compression socks can aid training and recovery. One Mile Runner David O’Meara, whose goal is to inspire athletes over 30 to avoid injury, wears compression socks during and after performance events.
As a runner O’Meara wears the Athletic Recovery Sock while traveling and after exercise. He wears the Performance Sock for running. Both are part of the Active Therapy Line from Sigvaris. The comparession in the sock helps to flush out lactic acid that builds in the leg during exercise. The sock’s benefits are the ability to relieve tired, aching legs and exercise-induced muscle soreness. Continue reading For Running, Compression is Key
Boa Technology Calls Out Steve Jobs
- Hey Steve, no laces to tie!
Boa Technology, you are our heroes this week! The company noted that Apple CEO Steve Jobs stopped in the middle of his talking points during a recent press conference to… gasp… tie his shoes. No big deal right? It happens to the best of us. But as Boa Technology noted in An Open Letter to Steve Jobs, “It struck us as downright appalling that the CEO of a company leading the charge towards the 22nd century would resort to First Century Technology to close his shoes.”
The company further noted that they sent Mr. Jobs a pair of shoes “that is true to Apple’s forward-looking culture” (their words, not ours as we’re far from Apple zealots at KineticShift.com). So what exactly makes the Boa Technology stand apart? Continue reading Boa Technology Calls Out Steve Jobs
Conquer the Course With This New Bike and Tri Wear
When it comes to doing a triathlon you can complete or you can try to conquer the competition. That’s what the makers at Australian-based Conquest Bike Wear also seemed to have in mind, with its latest line of new triathlon and cycling attire. Our friends at Trizone reported that the company has announced several new products, many of which have been upgraded to feature the latest material and technical components.
These include the Conquest trisuit, a protestional-level kit constructed of hardwearing “Lyrca power.” The fabric is reported to be chlorine and salt water resistant, as well as offering sun protection rated at UV50+. Making sure that the clothing can stand up to the harsh conditions is a real plus, as is the additional use of hydrophobic fabric to repel water quickly. This means that you won’t have to feel you’re sitting on damp sponge as you hit the bike. Continue reading Conquer the Course With This New Bike and Tri Wear
Hands On: Hitting the Trail With the Montrail Sabino
Over hill, over dale, I hit the dusty trail and the Sabino carried me along. After years of primarily being one to pound the pavement, I laced up with a pair on Montrail Sabino shoes and got off road. Now truth be told, given the state of many roads and even sidewalks in much of the country these days, finding “off road” isn’t as hard as it seems. But these performance running shoes are really designed for stability in true trail conditions.
The Sabinos are heavier than many of today’s lightweight running training shoes, but that’s because these need to stand up to harsher terrain. In other words you wouldn’t use a sports car where a SUV needs to go – then again, many SUVs probably couldn’t go where these shoes will take you. Made of synthetic leather and lylon mesh upper materials and thermoplastic midfoot shank, the Sabinos fit like a glove and were just right for the rather humid and warm day when I hit the trail. Whether we’ll be able to say if these were neither too hot nor too cold will have to determined at another time, but it is safe to say that these will do the job in a variety of weather conditions. Continue reading Hands On: Hitting the Trail With the Montrail Sabino
Adidas Brings miCoarch to iPhone and BlackBerry
Earlier this year Adidas unveiled its miCoach system, which put sensors on a runner’s shoes as well as a device on the arm to measure distance, pace and even stride rate. Users could get a lot of information, and could even sync the data to a website. Now the company has taken the next step by introducing a miCoach application for the iPhone and BlackBerry that is meant to work as a virtual personal and real-time trainer.
As with the miCoach devices, this app utilizes GPS capabilities, where real-time pace-based coaching and tracking is provided. The app essentially transforms a smartphone into a personal guide complete with voice coaching, personalized and sports-specific training regimes, workout calendar and workout feedback. The app also monitors, manages and analyses progress over time. Continue reading Adidas Brings miCoarch to iPhone and BlackBerry
K-Swiss Gets a Little Too “Powerful” With Tubes Campaign
- He’s not an athlete, he just plays one (badly) on TV
Nike didn’t drop Tiger Woods as a spokesman after all of his “problems,” which suggests that even bad boys can still sell products. But the recent decision from K-Swiss to use a fictional athlete to market shoes seems way, way off base. A newly launched ad campaign for the TUBES fitness shoes from K-Swiss features “slightly delusional ex-professional baseball player” Kenny Powers, played by actor Danny McBride, from the HBO series Eastbound & Down. Considering that Powers seldom thinks before opening his mouth, it is an odd choice for a spokesman.
But David Nichols, executive vice-president of K-Swiss sums it up another way, “we wanted to deliver unfiltered straight talk about how awesome TUBES are. Who better to do that than Kenny Powers?” Continue reading K-Swiss Gets a Little Too “Powerful” With Tubes Campaign
Screw Your Shoes for Winter
It is hard to think about winter given that the recent heat waves, but next week is the beginning of August and that means that fall is just around the corner. While there is plenty of outdoor running left, it is never too early to think about how to keep up the miles once it gets cold outside and the snow starts to pile up. While this reporter will stick to the treadmill, our friends over at the Competitive Runner have another tip for those who need to put in some real miles in the great out doors.
The site offers tips on transforming an old pair of running shoes into some winter trainers. The solution they’ve come up with involves adding some sheet metal screws to the soles, which should certainly provide some extra traction and stability when you hit icy conditions. It is a good tip, and a great reason to save shoes that still have a few miles left in. Maybe it will get those of us who prefer to stay indoors in the winter to actually head outside for a run.