Nike+ iPod = Awesomeness!!!

We know I am a huge fan of Apple products. We also know that I am a huge fan of Nike products, so the two of these companies teaming up to create Nike+ iPod is more than a dream come true.

I know, I know, I’m behind the times. This has been around now for over two years I believe, but I’m just now FINALLY getting into using it…and it’s AWESOME! Seriously, for anyone looking to train for any kind of running race without a coach or a group to train/run with, THIS is the coolest thing ever!

I had to replace my Nike+ because I had lost one of the pieces of my original set (thus me not using it this entire time). It’s much cheaper now a days, so while in the Nike store yesterday signing up for the Nike Bastille Day 5k, I picked one up. I also got new earbuds (Nike Vapor 3-Way Sport Headphone) because my apple earbuds broke.

The headphones? PERFECT! It comes with a shorter cord which I thought would be a problem, but it ends up that the designers for both companies are truly genius and CLEARLY get input from actual athletes when designing their products. The cord is just long enough to reach my iPod Nano (the older model, not the new ugly square kind) that’s cradled in my arm band. The cord sits behind my neck and travels up my back to my ears and amazingly, I had NO trouble with getting tangled up in the cords or anything. The comfort grips that wrap around and behind my ear to keep the headphones in place are GREAT! They did the job well and they were not too expensive…actually, they ended up being WELL worth the price. We’ll see how long they last with sweating and heat and the abuse headphones get from us active types!

Anyway, it’s comfortable and a great way to keep my music and information close to my ear without knocking them out of place while fighting cords that are too long! The Nike+ itself is really great. I just put the shoe sensor in a little velcro cradle I got from Fleet Feet that cost me $10.00 and then plugged the other piece into my nano, selected the type of exercise I wanted to do, and badda bing, I was ready to go!!!

Each mile the Nike+ lady’s lovely voice told me how far I had gone, and then how much further I had left once I hit the middle mark.

It tracked how fast I was running, how far I had run and what my average pace per mile was. I LOVE this thing. Not only that, but it stores the information onto my nano so I can then sync it up with iTunes on my computer and info gets sent to my profile website on Nike+’s site! I CAN KEEP TRACK OF ALL OF MY RUNS THIS WAY!

It’s super great! This little invention is perfect, PERFECT for runners!!! It let’s you set it so many different ways, you can set it for time, calories burnt, distance (both miles and kilometers) and even let’s me choose to use the woman’s voice or the mans. I get to pick my “power song” which is a song that I can play whenever I feel I need a boost of energy…it’s a fun little feature.

Basically, I’m in love. Between this new little gadget, my new headphones and my bike, I feel that I’m really going to be able to turn this whole bad training trend around!

To top off the great things Nike has to offer, I learned this past week that Nike has several marathon training sites that they offer throughout the week…for FREE!

So Saturday mornings, at Foster Ave beach they have the weekly long runs that we can join in on at no cost. UM…HELL TO THE YEAH! This is really fantastic! I can’t WAIT to get involved. I’m going to find out more information about it tonight, and once I do, I’ll post it here for everyone else to see, but right now, it sounds like a great way to get back on track and make sure to get my distance runs in there at the right training pace.

Tonight I will be testing out how accurate the Nike+ system is on it’s own. I didn’t calabrate it last night in order to see what happened if I didn’t. Since I’m running a 5k tonight, I know that I can set it to a certain distance, run that distance and compare to see how far it shows I ran as well.

I’ll update you all on that accuracy tomorrow too!

In the meanwhile, happy running, biking, swimming, volleyballing and sporting people! More to come soon!!!

Best,
Devin

five little miles

Jamie and I ran five miles last night. It was a nice casual five mile run (as most of them have been for me lately) and we got to talking and walking and running some more…good times.

I have realized that I’m having a harder time this year getting really energized about my training. I think it’s in part because of how much more I have on my plate these days.

I need to step it up, and I’m aware of this, but still, I’m struggling to do so. Meanwhile, summer keeps passing me by and I feel that I’m just getting more and more behind as each day fades into night.

However, I will not allow myself to get too DOWN about it or beat myself up over it; that would lead to nothing good or productive. Marathoning is a choice, and it’s my choice, and I am fully aware that I can run a marathon successfully and without injury. This year’s goal was to beat last years time…and by a significant amount. I don’t know if I can run a four hour marathon, but I would like to. But I am also giving myself a 15 minute leeway. The goal is to run a 4:00:00 to 4:15:00 marathon. Ideally, I’d run a sub four hour marathon, but I’m not thinking that is at all reality for me this year since my training just hasn’t shifted into high gear yet.

In the meanwhile, two weeks of training will come to an end this Saturday with my long run. I plan on running 11 miles. Hopefully I’ll be running with a Nick from my beach volleyball team…he’s training for his first marathon this year and has a similar time goal (though I’m sure he’s MUCH faster than I am). We’ll see if that can work out.

For now I just keep cheering to myself:
Keep going, keep going! You can do it runners! One.More.Mile!!!

One more mile indeed…

six sexy miles

OK, what made the miles sexy was not the distance at all, but the fact that Jamie and I were running them…together. Yeah, that’s some hotness! (And yes, I’m a goof)

Anyway, we met up for six miles at six in the evening. The weather was perfect. Jamie’s legs felt like lead from her 11 miles Saturday morning, mine felt fine since I hadn’t run more than four since Thursday evening…

We took it nice and slow and enjoyed some walk breaks and conversation. Let me tell you, running is SO MUCH EASIER when it’s done with one or more persons. SERIOUSLY…

I miss not training with a group this season, but right now, I just can’t commit to raising money for something like that because I know I will fall short. So, I’m struggling through training on my own for now…I’ve bobbled a bit, but I intend to get much better soon!

Watch out people…my legs have slimmed down half an inch which only increases my drive to push further and harder and be more dedicated. I’ll also say this…yesterday I shared some really *fun* emails back and fourth with someone which really REALLY helped add some motivation to my maintenance run last night.

I’m thankful for the extra push…but I can’t wait to get there on my own!

Another longer mid week run is approaching, and tonight, THE DUNE-DAWGS PLAY their second (technically first) beach volleyball match.

GO DUNE-DAWGS!!!

Lightning, nickels and bikers oh my!

I did NOT want to run my 4 miles tonight. But since I didn’t do my long midweek run Wednesday, I knew I HAD to get in another run before 10 long hard miles Saturday morning.

I texted Jamie to see if she wanted to go for a run, but ended up not being able to. So I finally dragged my ass out of my apartment for a short run around 9:15 at night. I figured it would be cooler out then. I didn’t run with my nano for fear of rain, so it was just me, the open streets of Rogers Park, it’s occupants and the fresh summer air.

I won’t deny that again, this was another hard run for me. I was sort of dreading the four miles even. It was still sticky warm, and even though there was a breeze, it wasn’t cooling me off that much. I ran north to Pratt, then east on Pratt to Loyola Park Beach…I ran along the lake front and listened to little kids playing in the sand as the distant rumble of thunder alerted me to an impending storm.

I enjoyed watching the light show over Evanston as I made my way up to the cemetery. I walked a lot, mostly because I’m out of shape and I was tired, but also because I just felt drained for some reason.

Once I hit the turn around point I walked further north On Sheridan to enjoy the lightning in the sky and then finally doubled back to head home.

While at the south east corner of Pratt and Sheridan I kept hearing the sound of falling change. I never saw were the money was coming from, but it appeared to be raining nickels all around me. Finally, after the cross walk light had lit up, I picked up one of the nickels and ran towards home.

I have NO IDEA who was throwing money at me or why. Strange…I ran under the el tracks getting closer to home when a friendly byciclist nearly ran me over. I took a giant side step in fright and he jerked his bike hard left to avoid colliding with me. I think I said “sorry” but it was he who was completely in the wrong. He appologized profusely as he repeated he was ignoring traffic signs and he hoped I was alright. I said, “safe travels man” and he thanked me with a warm smile and we were both on on merry ways.

Anyway…all in all it was a hard run for me. A lot of walking, strange events and just hard on my body. The entire run there was this nagging voice in my ear repeating itself over and over “you must get new shoes you must get new shoes you MUST get NEW SHOES”…I wanted to punch myself.

I KNOW ALREADY. I have to get new shoes, my old ones are shot. Next weekend, I’ll be lacing up some new Brooks Axiom’s and they will be awesome.

Hope training for everyone is going well…I really need to throw in some push ups and crunches after my runs because my arms are WIMPY!!!

Wimpy arms are NOT acceptable…plus, it makes running faster that much harder.

Just keep running…just keep running…running, running…

Last night I did a little more than five miles. A “maintenance” run if you will. I was NOT looking forward to this run and was dreading it from the time I got home till I finally went for it.

I knew I needed to do at least four miles, and once I got out there I decided to run five. I had no music because my nano was charging and so it was just me, the open road and the sounds of this great city we live to that’s next to the lake.

I didn’t run too hard, and it didn’t feel too fast, but I certainly wasn’t thrilled with my time. I want my resting runs to be at 9:30 minute miles, but last night I think I was running closer to 9:45/9:50′s. Ultimately, I want to work it down to a very comfortable 9 minute mile as my slow pace and 8 is my faster pace.

Oh well, I’m a little behind, but I did do my first maintenance run for this week. Tomorrow I will do a long mid week run of about 8 miles(?)and then Thursday I will do a speed work, Saturday I think 10 miles.

With my first 1/2 marathon creeping up on me (July 27th in NYC) I don’t want to blow it! I also have a 5 or 10k coming up on June 29th that I want to do well on, so really, I’ve got to get my ass in gear!

This weekend I hope to do a little recovery swimming Sunday night, I’ll let you know how that goes (I’m going to get goggles so I don’t look so ridiculous in the pool splashing around like a harpooned whale). Hopefully the cross training will set up my game.

All in all this five mile run wasn’t horrible. It was much better once I got out there and actually did it. Since the sun was setting it was much cooler and running actually felt good. My legs are already taking on a better shape, and so I didn’t feel completely stupid in my running shorts.

With the breeze, the water and the pretty sun set, it turned out to be a better five miles than I had anticipated, and ULTIMATELY, I felt really good about having gone out and done it, despite my serious urge not to. Mind over matter…

So here’s to hard work starting to pay off again…

Next up on the bill? BEACH VOLLEYBALL…TONIGHT!