Strap on your running shoes!

May 31, 2007 4:11 PM

MetaFilter Runs v.3.1 is nearly finished, and it looks like ajr is going to take out the speed title. Congratulations, ajr! There seems to be a consensus that the distance challenges are more motivating though (especially for those of us who are decidedly more tortoise than hare), so pj_rivera has proposed an ongoing series of monthly distance contests. The June one is just starting, so please list your Nike+ username if you haven't been issued an invitation yet.
posted by web-goddess to MetaFilter Gatherings at 4:11 PM (25 comments total)

PS - My goal for this one is to come in SECOND. So somebody better step it up!
posted by web-goddess at 4:12 PM on May 31, 2007

Hey, is there any interest in doing a similar thing with the Garmin Forerunner series? Maybe even a bicycling challenge?
posted by hindmost at 4:28 PM on May 31, 2007

Is there anyway to participate in this without unnecessarily spending hundreds of dollars (already got three non-nano ipods) and buying shoes that don't work for my feet?
posted by croutonsupafreak at 4:31 PM on May 31, 2007

croutonsupafreak, you can attach the sensor pod ($30) to any pair of shoes with a number of cheap hacks or buy a $6 pouch. You will need an ipod nano though.
posted by hindmost at 4:36 PM on May 31, 2007

I finally get cleared to run by my PT! So I can use the sensor I got way back at xmas. So far so cool.

My username is smackfu there too.
posted by smackfu at 4:48 PM on May 31, 2007

I came in a bit late and I've been forgetting my gadgets when I run - well OK I've also been not running. But do we need to do anything special to get in on the June one? I'm in!
posted by freebird at 5:30 PM on May 31, 2007

I have the Metafilter Runs. It must have been something I ate.
posted by ODiV at 8:53 PM on May 31, 2007

croutonsupafreak, I feel you. I really really want to get down with this, but I don't have the disposable cash or the inclination to buy a nano just to get down with this.
posted by middleclasstool at 9:32 PM on May 31, 2007

I actually found the speed one more motivating....you can at least catch up towards the end if you're in the ballpark anyway, but with the distance you have to just be plugging away...Which, OK, I guess is the point. But I am a lazy man. Why don't we have a simultaneous 2 challenges for both speed and distance every month: presumably the runs can count for both?
posted by Jon Mitchell at 9:35 PM on May 31, 2007

Well, my Nike+ user name is supposed to oddman, but it won't let me log in unless I use my eezaldivar (at) gmail dot com address.

Please add me to the June challenge!

(Suddenly, I feel like a pokemon.)
posted by oddman at 9:55 PM on May 31, 2007

I believe that only the person who created the challenge can invite people, so pj will have to add you guys. (That's smackfu, freebird, and oddman so far.) Once he's added you, you'll get an e-mail with a link to click on to accept.

I think that's correct about the login, oddman. My name there is "web-goddess" but I have to login with my e-mail address. I think Nike set it up that way so you can have people invite you to challenges without necessarily being able to see your e-mail addy.

And I agree, that sounds like a good idea, Jon Mitchell! Do you want to start it up? (I'm reluctant because I *hate* speed challenges.)
posted by web-goddess at 10:17 PM on May 31, 2007

I’ve invited everyone to the distance challenge for June. A couple of invitations bounced back to my inbox, so if you didn’t get the invite, check in the challenges window of the Nike+ site to see if you can join the challenge there. If not, post a comment here or email me, and I’ll try again.

As to the concurrent speed challenge Jon proposes, I’d be happy to set one up. To limit the ‘invite spamming’, I’ll just send invites to the challengers who ran 5K in the previous speed challenge. If anyone else wants in on this parallel speed challenge, just express that feeling in this thread or on the trash talk window of the distance challenge.

Another note on the challenge invites: I just use the ‘reissue challenge’ option to restart the challenge each month, which means that all the previous participants get an invite. If you don’t want to receive invitations to future challenges, just cancel your participation to the current challenge via the Nike+ site.
posted by pj_rivera at 2:39 AM on June 1, 2007

i want to be added. i'm at [e-mail] on there.
posted by youcancallmeal at 9:10 AM on June 1, 2007

Cheers pj....now that my back is no longer in kayak-related sciatic agony, I'll actually make a stab at getting a decent time in this one!
posted by Jon Mitchell at 11:17 AM on June 2, 2007

pj... is it too late to be added? I'm lostburner on the Nike site... the listed email address is [e-mail].
posted by lostburner at 10:49 PM on June 2, 2007

Anyone have opinions on an armband or similar for the nano? So far I've been carrying it in my hand, which works pretty well, but I'm a bit concerned about dropping it and getting it sweaty.
posted by smackfu at 7:49 AM on June 3, 2007

I've added you guys to the challenge. I have to warn you though, AJR has run something like 17k in 2 days, so things aren't looking too good for the rest of us...

About the armband: I've got the black/red Nike armband, which is OK I guess. I believe it comes in two sizes. Recently they started selling a new version of the armband which has a window in it for the ipod screen. A whole lot more practical than the 'old' windowless one.
posted by pj_rivera at 11:09 AM on June 3, 2007

They launched the Nike+ kit here in Australia without a single armband that would actually fit the thing. No, I'm not kidding. I went to, like, every Apple retailer in Sydney. I ended up going with the iSnug, which works pretty well... as long as I turn the iPod part UPSIDE-DOWN. (The Nike transmitter is too big to fasten the Velcro that holds it closed on the bottom.)
posted by web-goddess at 2:20 PM on June 3, 2007

I have to warn you though, AJR has run something like 17k in 2 days, so things aren't looking too good for the rest of us...

I know... Last Run: 9.21 miles???
posted by smackfu at 2:31 PM on June 3, 2007

Well, I try to look at his feats as some kind of positive stimulation. He's just trying to give us something to aim for, you know... rather than face the fact he's just too damn good. and getting better all the time. gulp.
posted by pj_rivera at 3:41 PM on June 3, 2007

I prefer getting in lots of little runs/walks. Those big ones are too mentally taxing. Although I did just sign up for the City 2 Surf, so I need to start training for a - *gulp* - 14Ker...
posted by web-goddess at 5:11 PM on June 3, 2007

It almost seems like cheating that it counts walking the same as running for distance challenges. I have no trouble hiking 4 or 5 miles, but running it is a different story.
posted by smackfu at 8:54 AM on June 4, 2007

Sign me up: darkripper on Nike+ as anywhere else.
posted by darkripper at 9:28 AM on June 4, 2007

Hey, distance is distance! I need all the motivation I can get these days. (Brrr, it's cold.)
posted by web-goddess at 4:16 PM on June 4, 2007

I just signed up. odiv on nikeplus.

Thanks for the motivation! Hopefully it will get me to walk/run more every day. Finding out just how much I do walk aready will be pretty cool too though.
posted by ODiV at 11:15 PM on June 5, 2007