On Tuesday, Nike announced an interesting alliance with Apple. We have to say we did call the "Tune Your Run" part, as it was featured on signage at the news conference in New York.
So, here's the deal.
It's a new wireless system called Nike+iPod. It will allow your footwork to communicate with your iPod and provide a display of exercise vitals such as distance, time and calories burned on the device.
AP Photo/Mary Altaffer
Lance Armstrong said Tuesday that the device will take working out 'to another level.'
"Our company was built by runners for runners, and while we have concentrated on other sports, many of our innovations have been running-based," Nike CEO Mark Parker told me. "Running is still very much at the core of what we do."
If you want to be an early adopter, you're going to have to buy the Nike Zoom Moire (pronounced MORE-ay) when it comes out in early July. For a short time, the Moire ($100) will be the only shoe that will have the technology to provide this connection. But by the fall, Nike promises to have 4 million pairs in stores that will be Nike+iPod-ready. Then you'll have to pay for the Nike+iPod Sport Kit, which includes a sensor that fits into the pocket of the foot bed of the shoe, a receiver you attach to the bottom of your iPod Nano and an armband. That costs $29.
So you can go out and do a run and it will tell you everything you want to know. It will even talk to you and tell you your pace or how many more miles you have to run. And if you want to keep a running journal, you can house it all online. By registering at Nike.com, you can sync your iPod with your computer and download all your workouts.
I'm an avid runner, and I know people will buy this. Nike, whose stock went up more than 2 percent Tuesday, and Apple both will benefit from this alliance.
The big losers? Gym chains such as Gold's and Crunch and makers of gym equipment such as Nautilus and Cybex.
I'm not saying the meatheads will go away, and I know there are plenty of cold-weather places where you can't run outside during some months. But I know people who belong to gyms only because the treadmills and elliptical machines can tell them exactly what they are doing. If this system can do that, those people don't really need to spend time inside anymore.
In 1987, 5 percent of people at gyms exercised on treadmills compared with 28 percent today, according to a recent article in The New York Times. Part of that is because of the proliferation of treadmills, but part of it is also because a stationary bike just doesn't provide the same type of good information.
The two spokespeople at the news conference -- Lance Armstrong, who is competing in the New York Marathon in November, and women's marathon runner Paula Radcliffe -- did not commit to running with the new device (as far as I know, I've never seen an elite runner with anything in his or her ears), but Nike's Parker did tell me he believes there could come a day in sports where the elite athletes will be listening to something while they are competing.
Although there are many critics who might say this alliance is an example of the "overswooshification" of Nike, the fact that there's a shoe involved makes much more sense.
In 1998, it was Parker -- who has been at Nike for 27 years -- who described to a New York Times reporter his feeling after walking up the stairs at Texas Stadium and seeing the stairs, the cheerleaders and the walls decked out with Nike logos. "Oh my God," he said. "This is our worst nightmare."
Parker said the deal with Apple doesn't bring up that sentiment at all.
"We are absolutely fixated on making sure that what we put our brand mark on is at the core of who we are," Parker said. "In this deal, we worked on the technology for 18 months with Apple and we clearly share the same sentiment that we want to make the experience better for the runner and walker."
My only pet peeve with this deal is the name, Nike+iPod. I know they could have come up with something better, but I know it would have taken years for officials at these two behemoths to agree on something.
I think that's freaking awesome. I'm not 100% in favor of running with music (I'll only do it every other run) because there is a) so much to see and hear out there, and b) if I'm running on the road it's not always safe.
That said, I think it's time that something like this came out. GPS is there, but pretty expensive, and it'd be nice to have a "coach" in your ear. I'm sure soon enough, you'll be able to actually pay for a coach to talk you through a run. Interesting.
When it will allow me to input custom workouts, use it on my bike and GPS my route I'll think about dropping my forerunner.
This is of course way cheaper. You will of course have to use Nike shoes by the looks of it.
How many runners here currently wear Nikes?
Og.
__________________ 2009: No races, No times. Slow year. So, now you're 96 cals short. You're now in starvation mode. Doomed. - LostDog
Blog entry: November 1, 2009, Pancakes LiveSTRONG daily plate log
That's what I was thinking, Eric. I don't have GPS, so I wasn't sure how much this differs from some of the features on the Gorman products. Once Nike puts out more shoe choices (and prices), I might give it a try. I think it's worth the $29 Kit for the pace coaching alone.
Edit: Og... I wear Asics, but I would be willing too try a pair of Nikes if I could use Nike+iPod features.
Of course for some people it will be more than $29. (ie people who don't own an iPod currently)
It's cool for people who already own an iPod.
Garmin needs to put 1gig of storage on a forerunner
Og.
__________________ 2009: No races, No times. Slow year. So, now you're 96 cals short. You're now in starvation mode. Doomed. - LostDog
Blog entry: November 1, 2009, Pancakes LiveSTRONG daily plate log
And I wear New Balance, I don't think Nike has anywhere close to a stranglehold on the runner market.
__________________ 2009: No races, No times. Slow year. So, now you're 96 cals short. You're now in starvation mode. Doomed. - LostDog
Blog entry: November 1, 2009, Pancakes LiveSTRONG daily plate log
And I wear New Balance, I don't think Nike has anywhere close to a stranglehold on the runner market.
They're much stronger in basketball, football, and baseball. Although, most casual runners probably buy Nikes because of the coolness factor/brand-name recognition.
there's just been a ton of running gadget\apparal stuff out their over the past while. polaris and addias teamed up for the shirts with the HR monitors built in, this, more stuff from shoes with computers to adjust cushion. it's freaking crazy!
twenty more years and this stuff will be soooooo old school
addias is my shoe of choice but I buy nikes here (because they have them vs addias)...new balance never fit right for me.
Maybe, but I'm certainly not a marathoner. I went down to the running store like every article I have ever read said to do. I don't even remeber seeing Nikes.
Even at the chain sports stores up here they sell alot of new balance and asics for running.
I don't think this device is a bad idea or product, especially if you have an iPod as well. Just not for me, and they may miss the mark.
__________________ 2009: No races, No times. Slow year. So, now you're 96 cals short. You're now in starvation mode. Doomed. - LostDog
Blog entry: November 1, 2009, Pancakes LiveSTRONG daily plate log
the pegasus is the "poor man's marathoner", they're the new ones I bought (since my supernovas crapped out) but haven't even put'em on yet so they may very well suck! I have a track'esk style pair of nikes that are like 7oz that are pretty nice. The free's are pretty popular with some people too
Mizuno seems to be the shoe of choice with a lot of people.
I'm like you. I have an mp3 player and a pedometer\pacer\blah blah blah\supergadet already...not even a little desire to invest in more stuff. The posibilities of what it'll lead to is pretty darn cool though!! Imagine a wireless link betweek your shoes (lap\distance\pace), your mp3 player (where ever that'll end up at), all read on a display in your sunglasses!
A running HUD on the sunglasses from your ultra GPS/MP3 player gadget would kick some pretty serious ass.
__________________ 2009: No races, No times. Slow year. So, now you're 96 cals short. You're now in starvation mode. Doomed. - LostDog
Blog entry: November 1, 2009, Pancakes LiveSTRONG daily plate log
I wonder how many people will buy that shoe to get the link, try to run in the shoe, become hurt, and never realize they needed a different style shoe.
After more than 20 years of running-problem solving, my No. 1 purchase priority is the movement of shoes, the fit of the shoes, the age of the shoes. These other add-ons sound cool and should be great for people who've got that basic shoe-gait setup resolved (for the time being), but I see a lot of wasted dough, sore knees and sorry backs.
After talking about this on the FitCast I really wanted to try it. Luckily I just got a new nano with my macbook order. So look for a review on show when it is released.
Nike+iPod
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