Who wants to start an iLounge Nike+ challenge????

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gibtown

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iLounger said:
Hi all...

iLounge will award one (1) $50 Gift Certificate to any online store of your choice to the winner in each category.

Fastest 1 Mile - $50 Gift Certificate
Fastest 5K - $50 Gift Certificate
Fastest 10K - $50 Gift Certificate
Most Miles over 2 weeks -$50 Gift Certificate

Have fun and run!

Dennis
Now we just need someone to set up those challenges.
 

abelisle

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In order to set up this challenge, you'll need to submit all the e-mail adddresses to Nikeplus.com site under challenge category.
 

tenja

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Wow, those categories are extremely easy for one person to knock out pretty quick. Back in my college track and Cross country days I would have won each of those.

I agree, let's split it up a little. Too easy for one elite runner to take the cake (or $200) in this situation. Very generous offer though. This is what I like to see. Get out there and exercise people.....
 

gibtown

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tenja said:
Wow, those categories are extremely easy for one person to knock out pretty quick. Back in my college track and Cross country days I would have won each of those.

I agree, let's split it up a little. Too easy for one elite runner to take the cake (or $200) in this situation. Very generous offer though. This is what I like to see. Get out there and exercise people.....

True on both counts. We do need to make this fair for everyone. We probably need an age and experience category. I am new to running and typically do about 3 miles per run (but getting better); I recently submitted a challenge asking for similar novice runners for which three have confirmed so far for a "First to 50 miles race".

This could get complicated pretty quick. We could eliminate age and sex pretty easy and having something like the following.

Category 1 - 4 or less miles per run
Category 2 - 4-6 miles per run
Category 3 - 6-8 miles per run
Category 4 - 8 or more miles per run

Would that suit the purpose of the challenges without adding to much complication to the process? Like Tenja, I would like to make this fair.

The prizes were very generous but maybe it should be a prize for one challenge/race per Category. Would that make it a little fairer?

BTW - if you are a Category 1 and are interested in joining the "First to 50" challenge, PM me. The challenge begins 15 August!
 

Hect0r

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I like that we are getting some backing, but I would like to keep the most miles in one month challenge I created to have a simple fun thing to use. Someone else can set up the other challenges if they like. I think if you are going to split it into groups you cant award for everything or else the winner would get $12.50. I personally would like to see most miles would win because to run the most doesnt mean you are necessarily super runner, just that you are motivated and that is the purpose of this challenge. There are too many variables that affect speed.

Becky
 

wamez

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Be careful!

I don't know if anyone has brought this up or not yet, but even experienced runners do not increase their weekly milage more than 10-15% per week. When you do, your risk of injury rises exponentially.

One of the most common problems are shin splints -- which I can tell you from personal experience are terribly painful. By stressing out your muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc., you invite inflamation to knees, ankles, hips...the list goes on. In college I tore my hamstring because I hadn't trained enough before our first race (my coach's decision, not mine), and it took weeks of expensive ultrasound therapy to set things right.

I don't want to be a killjoy. I LOVE the Nike+iPod idea. I love the Nike+ website. I love the challenges. But I worry that inexperienced runners are going to lose their enthusiasm for the sport simply because they get hurt by pushing too hard. Believe me, I want more runners out there. I'm excited that so many people are taking up running for the first time because of Apple and Nike.

So just keep a couple of things in mind:

- Make sure you stay hydrated (Gatorade, Propel, etc. are great)
- Warm up and stretch before you run. Stretch again when you finish.
- Try to avoid running on concrete -- it's very hard on your body. Even asphalt is better.
- If running on asphalt, try not to get hit by cars.
- Try not to increase your milage by more than 15% a week. Even 15% is pushing it.
- Rest can do as much for your body as milage. I recommend looking at Runners World's "Smartcoach" calculator.
- Have fun!
 

gibtown

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Hect0r said:
I like that we are getting some backing, but I would like to keep the most miles in one month challenge I created to have a simple fun thing to use. Someone else can set up the other challenges if they like. I think if you are going to split it into groups you cant award for everything or else the winner would get $12.50. I personally would like to see most miles would win because to run the most doesnt mean you are necessarily super runner, just that you are motivated and that is the purpose of this challenge. There are too many variables that affect speed.

Becky

I agree with you that miles is better than the fastest times challenges. That is why I set up the first to 50 challenge. If novices sign up, we should all be pretty evenly matched, and all stand a chance at winning. I know I could never win a 'fastest 5k' challenge. Never!
 

gibtown

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wamez said:
I don't know if anyone has brought this up or not yet, but even experienced runners do not increase their weekly milage more than 10-15% per week. When you do, your risk of injury rises exponentially.

One of the most common problems are shin splints -- which I can tell you from personal experience are terribly painful. By stressing out your muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc., you invite inflamation to knees, ankles, hips...the list goes on. In college I tore my hamstring because I hadn't trained enough before our first race (my coach's decision, not mine), and it took weeks of expensive ultrasound therapy to set things right.

I don't want to be a killjoy. I LOVE the Nike+iPod idea. I love the Nike+ website. I love the challenges. But I worry that inexperienced runners are going to lose their enthusiasm for the sport simply because they get hurt by pushing too hard. Believe me, I want more runners out there. I'm excited that so many people are taking up running for the first time because of Apple and Nike.

So just keep a couple of things in mind:

- Make sure you stay hydrated (Gatorade, Propel, etc. are great)
- Warm up and stretch before you run. Stretch again when you finish.
- Try to avoid running on concrete -- it's very hard on your body. Even asphalt is better.
- If running on asphalt, try not to get hit by cars.
- Try not to increase your milage by more than 15% a week. Even 15% is pushing it.
- Rest can do as much for your body as milage. I recommend looking at Runners World's "Smartcoach" calculator.
- Have fun!
Sound advice killjoy, i mean wamez. just kidding...
 

tenja

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Good words Wamez. I have been thinking this exact thing.

Please do not do these challenges for the money prize. Do this for yourself and the desire to be physically fit. If you feel you are overdoing it, step back and rest some more. This Nike+ kit is really a cool technology and needs to be used with caution.

I also fear the desire for people to cheat. I know I could easily make something that will show me running endless miles each day. Is there any type of review system for people to determine if others are cheating? I would hop eit would never happen, but as soon as you put prizes up to win, the cheaters will always come out. Let's keep this clean and fair people.
 

abelisle

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Challenge contest integrity

In order to play fair, I would advise everyone participating to calibrate their footpods over a known measured distance e.g. a track or car determined distance on the road.

Also someone should attempt to gather all of the participating e-mails into one "Nikeplus challenge database" to allow everyone on this forum to create challenges outside of this specific one i.e. challenges for the joy of the camaraderie of running for running's sake!

Lastly, do any of you out there prefer listening to podcasts rather than music while running? Which are your favorite ones?
 

gibtown

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abelisle said:
Lastly, do any of you out there prefer listening to podcasts rather than music while running? Which are your favorite ones?
I listen to both. I like to mix things up. As far as podcasts, I subscribe to PODRUNNER and I really like what dj steveboy has done. I also recommend you subscribe to the 'Run to 300' video podcasts; it is pretty funny, although it is not really for running.

I really like the Nike+ workouts that iTunes has. They are very motivating and great to mix up your run.
 

[email protected]

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I think the advice about being careful not to increase mileage too much too fast is good, however, it is not clear that stretching BEFORE a run when your muscles are cold is good for you.

There is still a lot of raging debate going on about stretching in general. I do not stretch cold muscles. Most experienced runners will warm up first (2-3 miles), and then stretch.

I always stretch after a run, and it seems to be working well for me.

Obviously, everyone should do what their medical professional has recommended, but I don't think you can say that everyone should stretch before a run as a blanket statement.

I'm up for this challenge as well.

I've noticed that the Nike armband has caused me some headaches -- it's obviously been designed by someone who doesn't USE it. It completely covers the Nano, and renders it really hard to manage while you're working out, and the velcro stretch is tough to get around small arms securely.

Also, I've noticed some data corruption on the Nike+ website -- it refuses to note my fastest 5K, and lists a different one -- frustrating.

Also -- can you export any of the data from the site into Excel?

--Brandon
 

SephCast

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Is it just me or is the Nike server not working and not able to accept data?
 

gibtown

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SephCast said:
Is it just me or is the Nike server not working and not able to accept data?
I went on a run the AM and synced it up with no problems. However, I don't know if the data got transfered to the challenge that was suppose to start today. Of course, I have never done a challenge before so I don't know if i'm suppose to do something or not.
 

wamez

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I think the advice about being careful not to increase mileage too much too fast is good, however, it is not clear that stretching BEFORE a run when your muscles are cold is good for you.

There is still a lot of raging debate going on about stretching in general. I do not stretch cold muscles. Most experienced runners will warm up first (2-3 miles), and then stretch.

I always stretch after a run, and it seems to be working well for me.

Obviously, everyone should do what their medical professional has recommended, but I don't think you can say that everyone should stretch before a run as a blanket statement.

I'm up for this challenge as well.

I've noticed that the Nike armband has caused me some headaches -- it's obviously been designed by someone who doesn't USE it. It completely covers the Nano, and renders it really hard to manage while you're working out, and the velcro stretch is tough to get around small arms securely.

Also, I've noticed some data corruption on the Nike+ website -- it refuses to note my fastest 5K, and lists a different one -- frustrating.

Also -- can you export any of the data from the site into Excel?

--Brandon
I don't know where you're getting "stretch cold muscles". I clearly said "Warm up and stretch before you run."
 

Hect0r

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how do you view the challenge? As the person who started it I just have a list of who is confirmed and who isn't. How does it look to participants and how might I access a graph or something showing how everyone is doing. Thanks.

Becky
 
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