Fitness | Gear Diary

iLuv FitActive Sports Headphones

If you read the site you might recall that I’m married to a woman who doesn’t like headphones and earbuds. Yes, Elana finds earbuds to be quite uncomfortable and, if used for too long, downright painful. There is one exception – well until now just one exception – that is YurBuds. I learned about YurBuds at CES 2011 and while the headphones look kind of funny they are incredibly comfortable – even for Elana. In fact, she tried them on when I got home and then just kept using them. You see, not only are they comfortable but they stay…

Crowdfunding

Metal Medal Hangers with a Shelf, Kickstart This!

If you participate in any organized sporting events, there’s a good shot you will end up with a medal. Running races generally give out medals for half-marathon and marathon distances, and championships in team sports often also reward players with hardware. Yes, there’s an easy joke here about how these days “everyone gets a medal” but they make great souvenirs to remember athletic experiences. However, once you take one home, how you do you display it? One or two can be hung on a hook, but above that you want a better way to show them off. Enter the Kickstarter…

News & Features

iPhoning Cyclists, Take a Look at the Wahoo Fitness Blue SC

Here’s a great little gadget if you are a biker AND an iPhone-user. The Wahoo Blue SC from Wahoo Fitness is a speed and cadence sensor for iPhone. The $59.99 gizmo wirelessly connects to your iPhone (or iPad) using Bluetooth 4.0 technology and pairs with cycling apps such as Cyclemeter and Strava. From there, cyclists can monitor critical cycling data from their iOS device. As the release explains Wahoo Fitness’ Blue SC bike speed & cadence completely transforms your iPhone into the ultimate cycling computer. Coupled with the Wahoo Blue SC, the iPhone can provide cyclist with all their critical…

Health and Fitness

The Singularity Is Coming, and It Says You Run too Slowly!

Runners have all sorts of ways to make themselves run faster. Personally, I like using my Garmin Forerunner, since nothing makes me feel slower than watching my snail’s pace tick off on my wrist. Then I convince myself the Garmin is judging me for being slow, and it makes me push harder. Others use landmarks, like trying to run harder to the nearest tree and then slowing down, etc. Now there’s a way to train harder that ups the geek ante to near-infinite levels. According to Runners World, engineers in Australia have invented “joggobot”, a flying drone that floats ahead…

Editorials

The Adult Vanquishing of Childhood Monsters

Two weekends ago I ran my first 5k road race. Ever … and at 46 no less. For most folks it is no big deal – a look at what Carly Z has done and my first little 5k seems meaningless. But for me it was a life-changing experience. Why? Well, that requires a little history. I was never ‘small’ or ‘thin’. Like my own kids I was always one of the tallest kids, and in spite of a life-long love of fruit and vegetables (also like my kids) I wouldn’t describe my eating habits growing up as balanced or…

News & Features

SPIbelt Debuts a New Design for the “American Widow Project”

I love my SPIbelt. It is probably my most-used piece of running gear, and I recommend it enthusiastically to everyone I know. The folks at SPIbelt are constantly pumping out new designs and styles, and their latest ones give a portion of the profits to the American Widow Project. From SPIbelt: The American Widow Project Stars and Stripes SPIbelt™ and SPIband™ The American Widow Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to the new generation of those who have lost the heroes of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. They emphasize healing through sharing stories, tears, and laughter. Military Widow to Military…

News & Features

Quad Lock Mounting Deluxe System for iPhone 4S, Review and Giveaway

You need the right tool for the right job and the $69.95 Quad Lock Mounting Deluxe System for the iPhone 4 and 4S MIGHT be the right tool for YOU but it sure isn’t the right tool for ME. Here’s why and a chance to win the review sample. From Quadlock: The Quad Lock Deluxe Kit gives you everything you need to mount your iPhone just about anywhere. Mount your iPhone with the Quad Lock Bike Mount PRO while cycling and the Quad Lock Wall Mount in the home, office and car. The Deluxe Kit includes: 1 x Quad Lock…

Gear Bits

McDonalds Catches the Running Bug

Quick, what’s the first corporate sponsor that might come to mind for a huge distance race? If “McDonalds” didn’t spring to the forefront of your mind, you aren’t alone. However, the folks at Rock n Roll Marathons see some opportunity there, as they have teamed up with the big M to sponsor several of their upcoming races. From the press release: Five markets to feature select McDonald’s menu options San Diego, CA – May 23, 2012 – Competitor Group, Inc. (CGI), the leading media and event resource in the active lifestyle industry, today announced a partnership with McDonald’s USA…

Reviews

A Second Opinion on the LifeProof Case

At the start of the year, Dan reviewed the LifeProof iPhone case. He loved it. I have had one for a few months, and on paper it is the ideal case for me. But I don’t have the unconditional love for it that Dan did. So will the pros outweigh the cons? Read on for my take, though if you haven’t yet read Dan’s review i suggest you head there for a quick overview of the fundamentals of the case first. As I said, on paper this is the case for me. I run, in all-weather conditions, so having my…

Gear Bits

Professional Athlete Doesn’t Always Mean Millionaire

Running is not as popular as, say, football or baseball when it comes to spectators. So it isn’t surprising that professional runners don’t have the same earning power. But this article from Runner’s World surprised me with how low compensation can be, even for a talented runner. According to the survey: – Our sport has a very steep pyramid of income opportunities. A select few enjoy a very good living…though even they can fall hard in a short period if performance lags or injuries intervene. – The top variables that affect an athlete’s earnings realization are “world ranking” and “event”….

Health and Fitness

How Dangerous Is Football?

I played rugby for several years, both in college and post-college. Just about every person who heard I played rugby had the following comment: “Rugby? Isn’t that dangerous?” Yes, rugby is a rough sport, and I can’t deny that (especially with two screws in my knee from a rugby practice-related injury). But I always tell people that I feel rugby is safer than American Football, which has always struck me as a dangerous and chaotic sport. There’s been quite a bit of debate about concussions and football lately, and according to Forbes, even former football player Kurt Warner doesn’t want…

Reviews

SportsYapper for iPhone Review

Through many events in our lives, we follow a feed. Twitter, Facebook, Google+. Whatever your flavor is, there is a way to share experiences and let people know what is going on. It is often fun to follow Tweets or friends’ status updates during your favorite game, especially during the playoffs. What if there was a service that allowed fans to comment on certain games or follow all current games being played? SportsYapper promises to do just that. The app for talking sports! SportsYapper is the place to chat with friends and fans while you’re watching the game, and discuss…

News & Features

Mother’s Day is Almost Here, and You Know that Mom Loves Her Gear!

Still debating what you should get the woman who loved you first for Mother’s Day? Look no further; we are here to help … Eers PCS-150 Eers PCS-150 are “high-end headphones with a special twist”. Carly reviewed these amazing headphones and loved them. The music-loving parent will too. Here’s what they offer… Custom-fitted earphones in only 4 Minutes! Single driver, dynamic speaker Single button in-line microphone compatible with all mobile devices Crisp, detailed sound Excellent Frequency response with hard driving bass Safe and Comfortable SonoFit™ Fitting Process. Custom-fitted shape creates Sound Isolation “Acoustic Seal” Secure fit so earphones do not…

Reviews

Nike+ Fuelband Review; ‘The Out-Of-Shape Geek’s Dream Fitness Motivator

It’s been few weeks since the release of the Nike+ Fuelband and, until last week, I had been unable to get my hands on one. This is probably the first fitness related gadget I have ever bought and, besides the super geek-esque Back to the Future style LED’s on it, I was excited to have something that would motivate me to get back in shape. I’ve had the FUEL for a week now and have worn it almost every day during my routine activities. Unfortunately I have not been able to take a jog or “officially” work out with…

News & Features

Striiv Fitness Motivating Pedometer Gets Smart, Gets Social

Back in January Judie and I found ourselves in an unplanned competition of sorts. Judie was using the FitBit fitness device and I was using the Striiv Smart Pedometer. The devices could not have been more different. The FitBit was black and the Striiv white. The FitBit clipped to your cloths and has a small LED readout to let you know what was what. The Striiv has a large, touchscreen face reminiscent of a tiny smartphone. The FitBit had a USB dock that, when the device was synced to your computer, tracked your progress and even offered the ability to…

Editorials

Rock ‘n Roll Marathon’s New “Mascot” Proves to Be Divisive

I have run a few Rock n Roll sponsored races, and I don’t view them with the same enmity that some runners do. Yes, they are big, commercial parties, but they also (mostly) organize well-done races. I gave them a pass on their disastrous Rock n Roll Las Vegas race; they really ran that into the ground, but a few months later at Rock n Roll DC, I was extremely impressed with how smoothly everything went. However, I really have to question their judgment with their new Facebook mascot/campaign. As you can tell from the graphic above, their new campaign…

News & Features

Boston’s Fenway Park Celebrates 100 Years of Baseball Traditions

Even as the world was still reeling from the sinking of the ‘unsinkable’ Titanic, a new era dawned in Boston, and in sports history. On April 20, 1912 Fenway Park opened to the public with a capacity of 35,000 seats … and the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Highlanders in an extra-innings thriller to launch the storied baseball stadium. At this point, Fenway Park is the oldest professional baseball stadium. Chicago’s Wrigley Field is the only other ‘classic’ park remaining. It is also one of the most famous venues in all of sports, with many legendary moments transpiring…

Gear Bits

The Amazing Story of the First Woman to Officially Run the Boston Marathon

It is hard to think that within my life there was a time when women were essentially forbidden to run a marathon – yet the image above is one of those magical moments caught on film. It shows 20-year old Kathrine Switzer as the first officially entered woman in the Boston Marathon (Roberta Gibb ran as a renegade the year before). And the image shows marathon organizer Jock Semple chasing Switzer and attacking her, reportedly shouting “Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers.” The image also shows a number of men helping Switzer hold off…

Gear Bits

Stay Cool as Temps Rise!

Monday is a big day for many runners. It’s the 116th annual Boston Marathon (the oldest marathon in the world!), which is always an exciting event. I love following Boston, even though I don’t have a shot at qualifying to run it unless they let me race with a rocket strapped to my legs. This year is going to be very unusual though, and it serves as a good reminder to always adjust as temperatures rise quickly in this warm spring. See, Boston starts at 11am, and this Monday it looks like it is going to be a bit warm….

Editorials

Ashley Judd Eviscerates the Gossip Industry

Gossip can be a very cruel phenomenon. There is reality, and then there is the truth according to viral videos, Facebook, Us Weekly, and the E! Network. Just this past weekend Sarah and I were in the grocery store, and she commented that the headlines screaming from the checkout magazines were just out of control and invasive. Did it really matter whether Kim Kardashian cheated on her (soon to be ex) husband? Do we really need to know the second Prince William and his wife get pregnant? So it makes me very happy to see a different kind of article…

Gear Bits

Americans Love Their Half Marathons!

It is no secret that I like running, and apparently, I am not alone! Running in the USA has looked at half marathon statistics for 2011, and the results are very interesting. Despite record levels of obesity in America, we are also seeing a push towards more fitness — just look at the popularity of apps and gadgets that track how far you walk, run or bike, or how many exercise themed apps are out there! And apparently, the half-marathon is the most popular distance! On the one hand, I am not surprised. Halfs are my favorite race distance too….