18 August 2009
Run It: Review of Nike+ Sportband
I finally received my Nike+ and used it on my Saturday long run! I must admit, having a new toy was the only thing getting me out of bed at 5am that day. Getting up for those runs has not necessarily been getting easier. Who would’ve guessed? But I never regret going afterwards, and that’s the important thing.
Anyway, I loved running with my new toy. It was completely easy to use (I love minimalistic technology… it only has TWO BUTTONS!) and comfortable to wear.
My only issue was accuracy. It just wasn’t all that accurate. I was running with several people who had GPS Garmins and as we ran, my Nike+ kept getting more and more off in terms of mileage. By the end of the run, the Sportband reported I ran 8.6 miles, when I had only run 8. That means the reported pace was way off, too. I calibrated the Sportband after the run and haven’t used it since, so hopefully it will be improved.
Bottom line? It’s a good device for those of us who aren’t quite committed enough to spring for a Garmin, but for serious runners, it’s probably not quite adequate. For my part, I’ll definitely enjoy using it for the remainder of my half marathon training, but if I ever train for a full, I’ll probably save up for a GPS watch.
On another note, I’ve been getting some great emails from all of you fabulous readers in the past week or so, and I promise I will get to them. I’m still in the midst of that other project, but it ends soon and then I’ll be back on the Nutritionista wagon. :)
11 August 2009
Inspired by this new running fanatic, I just bought myself one of these (thanks, girl! Until now, I thought I had to have a Nano in order to use Nike+). I didn’t want to splurge on a Garmin, so this seemed like a healthy (read: cheaper) compromise.
I’m sick of relying on running buddies to tell me how far we’ve gone and at what pace. Plus, this will be an easy way to track my progress.
For about $80 (including S+H and a shoe pouch for the sensor I bought separately), this system is less than half the price of similar devices I’ve seen. Even on sale, the cheapest Garmin will still run you $170, plus they seem like sort of a pain to use.
Anyone used the Nike+ SportBand? What do you think?
ETA: A good motivation tip… if you’re ever feeling blah about working out/training, buy yourself some gear to put a little pep in your step. Seriously, there’s nothing like new workout clothes/shoes/gear to get me going. It doesn’t have to be pricey, either. It can be as simple as a $4 wristband in a fun color (I also bought some of those today). I hope no one thought I was buying the wristbands in a hipster-ironic way. Noooo, I actually use them to wipe away sweat on my longer runs.
1 August 2009
After the Run Ritual
I woke up at 5:45 to join my running group for an 8-miler (which I finished in 1:14… not too shabby). This has become my after-the-Saturday-long-run ritual: bath with epsom salts and a green monster, extra green. In the mix this time:
- 1/2 C almond milk
- 1 nectarine
- 1/2 C watermelon
- 1/2 banana
- 3 T hemp protein
- about 2 C spinach
- a few ice cubes
All the fruit made this monster super sweet. It’s amazing how sweet something can get with absolutely zero added sweeteners.
I have to say, today I was reminded again about the incredible things the human body is capable of when trained correctly. For a mile or two, I was running with a drop-in runner who said the longest he’d ever run was 4 miles. But this was the type of guy who just looks like a natural runner. He was tall, thin, and looked pretty athletic. He was one of those people you look at and think, “I’m sure he could run if he wanted to.”
But he was lagging and had to slow to a walk before we reached the end of the run. I had slowed down so as not to leave him behind, but I wasn’t going to start walking, so I had to pull ahead. I felt bad for him, but at the same time, I realized once again the power of proper training. Six months ago, I could barely run a mile, but now, 8 miles is starting to feel normal. I’m not injured (besides the mega-calluses, but thanks for all your great suggestions!) and I feel great. The human body is capable of adapting to nearly anything.
27 July 2009
Recently, I whined to Emily about my problem with blisters. I seem to get them on all my long runs! Emily, who’s training for a marathon, gave me some great advice I wanted to share:
- Use Body Glide on your feet. I used to only put it on my arms and thighs, but I now slather my toes, my arches and the insides of my step with Body Glide. It really does help.
- Thick socks might help…but there is a chance the socks are actually part of the problem. I SWEAR by Balega socks. They are great for long distances because they fit snugly (meaning they don’t move around much) while still having enough padding that it provides your feet some cushion from the road.
- Runner’s world ran a pretty good review of the best types of socks…you might want to check that out too: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-320—12456-2-1-2,00.html.
- Finally, treat yourself to a pack of ”Band-Aid” Brand Blister Band-Aids. I don’t run in them, but they work miracles on my feet the rest of the time. They actually dissolve into the blister and help heal it much quicker. At first these things freaked me out, but my dad (who is in the medical industry) basically forced me to use them and they have cut my blister recovery time in half!
Thanks, Emily! I know I’m going to stock up on those blister band-aids and some Body Glide asap!
