Yesterday I mentioned that I’ve started running again, for the first time in earnest since high school. The overcome the inertia of the last decade, I’m harnessing the power of the the best thing to come out of the aughts–social media. I got a pair of Nike+ Air Pegasus running shoes and the Nike+ sensor (along with a moisture wicking shirt, some socks, and those plastic things you put in your shoes to keep them from stinking).
One of my weaknesses is that I won’t keep doing something once I’ve plateaued. I need to make progress on whatever I’m doing, or I get bored and quit. My solution is two-pronged. First, I’m using the Couch to 5K plan to get from mostly walking to a sustained 3.1 mile run. Second, the computer nerd in me longs for two things: awesome gadgets and a game system that rewards accomplishments and uses your stats to measure your progress. By collecting data on every cardio workout, I’m able to monitor my progress. When I hit plateaus, I’ll know exactly how to kick it up. Thankfully there are two such products that satisfy the RPG requirements and simplify C25K.
Nike+iPhone
Hotlinked from the Nike store. The shoe has been discontinued. I love outlets.
I’ve never really been a big user of Nike products, having always favored New Balance. However, you can’t put a Nike+ sensor in the NBs (well, you can), and it’s hard to turn down the deals you get at outlets. The shoes I got weren’t quite as comfortable as my tattered old New Balance trail running shoes that I bought in 2007, but they’re not painful.
The great thing about Nike+ is that it records my distance and pace and posts it online when I sync my phone. Now, I know that there are other running apps out there that track these stats without needing to use the $20 sensor, but I like that Nike+ is a feature built into the phone, so I can run other apps while I’m collecting data.
I do have a few problems with the Nike+ system though.
- Only other Nike+ owner’s can participate. It makes sense. After all, Nike is trying to sell shoes, but the exclusivity is kind of annoying. There are other apps that have more open communities, but they don’t run in the background.
- The website is Flash-driven. It’s bulky and slow. Also, even after I bought their shoes and the sensor, they’re still trying to sell me crap whenever I’m logged in.
- Run stats aren’t uploaded immediately after the run. You have to wait to sync your iPod with with the computer, which I don’t do often, but I’ve gotten in the habit of leaving my phone plugged into at work, which has had other positive effects. Well, one. My phone doesn’t die as often.
The major advantage to Nike+ is that it can run in the background, which is very useful since I’m using C25k. I can start Nike+ with the music I want to run to, then I can open C25K which will tell me how long to run and where my intervals are. You can also set a “power song” to play when you’re running out of stamina. While “Eye of the Tiger” is the most obvious choice, I’ve gone with “Single Ladies.” There are also a number of interval training applications that I can run on top of Nike+ so that I can work in a little HIIT with my runs. However, until I’ve completed C25K, I won’t be playing with any of that.
Felt Tip’s Couch to 5k App.
I like this app a lot. It’s very simple to use and includes a diagram for stretching. There is one thing you need to keep in mind when using this product, and I make this mistake at least once a week: make sure you unmute before beginning a workout. If you’re not paying attention you will miss your cues.
Now, if you don’t have an iPhone and still want to do C25K but are worried about getting the timing right, there’s another option. Robert Ullrey has created a series of Couch to 5k Podcasts where he steps you through each run/walk transition. It even provides music.