Comments on: Strap on your running shoes!

Strap on your running shoes!

web-goddess — Thu, 31 May 2007 16:11:42 -0800

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.

By: web-goddess

web-goddess — Thu, 31 May 2007 16:12:24 -0800

PS - My goal for this one is to come in SECOND. So somebody better step it up!

By: hindmost

hindmost — Thu, 31 May 2007 16:28:29 -0800

Hey, is there any interest in doing a similar thing with the Garmin Forerunner series? Maybe even a bicycling challenge?

By: croutonsupafreak

croutonsupafreak — Thu, 31 May 2007 16:31:45 -0800

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?

By: hindmost

hindmost — Thu, 31 May 2007 16:36:05 -0800

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.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Thu, 31 May 2007 16:48:03 -0800

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.

By: freebird

freebird — Thu, 31 May 2007 17:30:17 -0800

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!

By: ODiV

ODiV — Thu, 31 May 2007 20:53:39 -0800

I have the Metafilter Runs. It must have been something I ate.

By: middleclasstool

middleclasstool — Thu, 31 May 2007 21:32:09 -0800

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.

By: Jon Mitchell

Jon Mitchell — Thu, 31 May 2007 21:35:54 -0800

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?

By: oddman

oddman — Thu, 31 May 2007 21:55:48 -0800

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.)

By: web-goddess

web-goddess — Thu, 31 May 2007 22:17:46 -0800

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.)

By: pj_rivera

pj_rivera — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 02:39:49 -0800

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.

By: youcancallmeal

youcancallmeal — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 09:10:52 -0800

i want to be added. i'm at amandaudoff@gmail.com on there.

By: Jon Mitchell

Jon Mitchell — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 11:17:56 -0800

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!

By: lostburner

lostburner — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 22:49:03 -0800

pj... is it too late to be added? I'm lostburner on the Nike site... the listed email address is nike.com@elbowhead.cjb.net.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 07:49:31 -0800

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.

By: pj_rivera

pj_rivera — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 11:09:31 -0800

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.

By: web-goddess

web-goddess — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 14:20:36 -0800

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.)

By: smackfu

smackfu — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 14:31:23 -0800

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???

By: pj_rivera

pj_rivera — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 15:41:17 -0800

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.

By: web-goddess

web-goddess — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 17:11:05 -0800

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...

By: smackfu

smackfu — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 08:54:09 -0800

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.

By: darkripper

darkripper — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:28:35 -0800

Sign me up: darkripper on Nike+ as anywhere else.

By: web-goddess

web-goddess — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:16:28 -0800

Hey, distance is distance! I need all the motivation I can get these days. (Brrr, it's cold.)

By: ODiV

ODiV — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:15:25 -0800

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.