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Back in 2005 I started working out and eating better and generally felt the best I’ve had in years. In early 2006 I started a new job and had just moved. Since then I never really got back on the fitness wagon. Since then I’ve re-developed the gut I worked so hard to get rid of. Well, I’ve decided that this month is going to be my month to get back on track.

At the beginning of the month I finally picked up a pair of Nike+ Air Max Moto IV I’ve been wanting since last August. Armed with my Nike+iPod kit I’m just starting off with running for the next 6 weeks. Right now I’m using the Beginners 5K Schedule from nikerunning.com and its been working out good for me so far.

[Download the PDF of the Schedule]

To keep track of my progress I’m using Traineo. Traineo is fitness web2.0 style. It allows you to keep track of your workouts, diet, weight and more. The biggest feature is that you can add motivators who get weekly updates of your progress via email or anyone can subscibe to an RSS feed of your progress. You can also join different groups and chat in forums.

[My Traineo Page]

I’ve only been back for two weeks but it feels good to run again. With my schedule I’m going to the gym after work which is about 1:30am. Its nice because there is minimal people there and I don’t have to wait for machines and showers. This works well for 3 of the 4 days I workout but Friday the gym closes early so I’m still debating how I’m going to handle Fridays.

Tags: health, nike, traineo, workout

January - started using Mac OS X

February - built dedicated computer to run Mac OS X on

March - Starting using iTunes to manager my media

April - stopped using Bloglines, switched from Exchange to Google Mail and Google Calendar, bought a Jimi wallet

May - switched Layout, Skype is free for the rest of the year, started a new job, Macbook’s released, went to grand opening of Apple 5th Ave store, bought my Macbook

June - joined valleyshwag, MC360 released for XBMC, bought a Nintendo DS Lite, canceled my Final Fantasy XI account after 3 years

July - switched to Flock, Macbook got hit with discoloration, started running using the Nike+iPod kit, Macbook Random Reboots started

August - switched from del.icio.us to Shadows, started using OpenDNS, got hard to find Trauma Center and Phoenix Wright for the DS, new mc chris and Evanescence albums, bought the Timbuk2 blogger bag

September - started new full-time job, fall TV season starts, bought a Xbox360 after Guitar Hero 2 is announced with new controller, canceled my Myspace account

October - got tickets for macworld 2007, Xbox360 troubles, 300 trailer, Macbook RSS fixed, bought my first Blackberry, my Xbox360 has its own blog

November - interviewed for MacNewsWorld, Gears of War, Guitar Hero II and Elite Beat Agents all released on same day, turned 28, XBL Video Marketplace released, subscribed to Netflix and Gamefly, bought an HD DVD

December - Geekdrome dead, started reading comics again, finally found out what all the hype about Battlestar Galactica, Veronica Mars and Greys Anatomy was all about

Tags: 2006, 360voice, apple, blackberry, blackberry8100, blackberrypearl, blog, blogging, bookmarks, browser, cellphone, comics, del.icio.us, dslite, elitebeatagents, flock, games, gaming, gearsofwar, geekdrome, gmail, guitarhero2, hddvd, interview, itunes, job, macbook, macbookrandomshutdown, macnewswworld, mcchris, movies, music, myspace, netflix, nike, nintendo, opendns, osx, skype, valleyschwag, xbox360, xboxlive

Yup, Nike has its own brand of contact lens call Nike MaxSight. These are made by Bausch & Lomb and target athletes.

* Provides distortion free optics
* Covers the entire pupil eliminating glare and enhancing contrast
* No frame or nosepiece obstructuon - no lens fogging or fit issues
* Blocks specific wavelengths of light - details appear clearer and �pop� off the background
* Filters out more than 90% of harmful blue light and 95% of UVA and UVB

They come in 2 colors, Amber and Grey-Green. Amber is geared toward sports like Soccer, Tennis, Baseball, Football and Rugby while the Grey-Green covers activities like Golf, Running and Training.

I’m looking to pick up some contacts soon and I might take a look at these. They offer a free trial and I have a lot of Retailers in my area.

Tags: health, lifehacks, nike

I’ve been looking forward to the Nike+iPod Sports Kit since the day it was announced. As soon as it was available i rushed out to get it. I bought the kit and the Nike+ armband together. Now the only thing that was left was the Nike+ sneakers. While the kit and the accessories were relatively easy to find, the sneakers have been hard to find. If stores have any, its the Nike+ Shox which are pretty ugly. I’ve been looking forward to the Air Max Moto’s but no one has them or has any item when they will be available. Most stores seem to think late August.

As I do workout and running is my main choice for exercise, i own a pair of Nike jet Streams which are about a year old and in great condition. I really don’t need a new pair of Nike’s but thought I would have to buy a pair of Nike+ ones for the kit to work properly. Then came along a post I seen on digg about attaching the sensor any shoe under the laces. While this was brilliant and seemed to work well in all accuracy test, the application was a little “ghetto” to me. This is when i got the bright idea to mod my own Nike’s to have a pocket under the sole and put the receiver in the shoe like the Nike+ shoes do. This way it doesn’t look like my shoes came from goodwill and the receiver will be protected from being lost, getting damaged or hit with water when running in the rain or through puddles.

My Nike Jet Streams

The Nike+iPod Sports Kit

First things first. Needed to open the box and check out the sensor. Its actually quite small and light. A little smaller than i was expecting, which is even better. Here is my Nano next to the receiver and transmitter.

Time to rip open my shoe and get this thing in. Unlaced my right shoe and pulled up the sole.

Found a nice spot under my arch to the transmitter would be someone comfortable and started cutting out a square with a utility knife. I used a pair of small needle nose pliers to tear out the foam as its pretty rubbery and wouldn’t be able to hand. After a few minutes of cutting and sizing and pulling I had a 90% perfect compartment. I could have done deeper but where i picked was the thinnest part of the sole on these shoes.

With the receiver in, not bad if i say so myself.

And here is the final project. As good as new with no cosmetic differences. There is a slight lump under my sole because I didn’t want to go any deeper with these shoes but you stop feeling it as soon as you start walking and when your running its non-existent. They are also very accurate out of the box. Was about .1 off a 1/4 mile and as soon as i calibrated the kit, its now dead on. Since I already had a iPod Nano and a set of Nike’s, i just spent the $29 which is well worth ever penny for this product if you run.

Tags: apple, diy, ipod, mod, nike, nikeplus

Seen over at Engadget, among other places, that Nike is releasing a new line of shoes called Nike+ and a Pedometer that interfaces with your iPod. Big deal right? Well, this is what it does also:

• Voice prompts to let you know your status without always looking down at your iPod

• Center button makes use of your “power” song. That one song that gets you really moving went you need it.

• Its social. Your data is synced in iTunes and sent to a server so you can chart your progress and look at others.

The Sports kit is $29, which is very reasonable but Nike+ sneakers are $80~. I’m in the market for new running shoes anyways so this doesnt bother me as much as others. I already have an iPod Nano so thats covered. So basically, I’m sold. I do alot of running at the gym and this will be a nice motivated. Nothing gets me motivated like gadgets and social networking. First shoes are available June 1, and I’ll be picking up the Air Max Moto+ next week.

Tags: apple, ipod, itunes, nike, workout