T.O. Women’s 5k–Saturday August 29, Sunnybrook Park

http://www.towomens5k.com/

More Running Links!

Runner's World
http://www.runnersworld.com/
Running Shoe Reviews to help you choose what's best out there!
http://www.runningshoeswizard.com/
The Best Running Shoes
http://www.runningshoeswizard.com/best-running-shoes.html

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Sunday, September 27th

http://www.events.runningroom.com/site/?raceId=4216&contentId=16490&vrindex=0
http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/

Nike Running Lounge!

Luckily we have one in Toronto & even better, it's all free!! All of the clinics are free in contrast w/ the clinics at The Running Room which is not free.

Don't worry! They don't try to push you to buy stuff because that is not their job. They don't work for the Nike store. In fact, the staff are very nice!

My favourite events are mostly for the Women's only nites which are on Wednesdays. Previously they had a yoga class, foot massage, and a pedicure event, just to name a few.

Originally the NRL-Nike Running Lounge was in Summer Hill & near Rosedale, not too far from Yonge&Bloor. But they have recently moved to Yorkville right at Bay&Bloor right infront of Yorkville Park and right outside the Nike Store.

So when you have time, check it out!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/nikerunnerslounge?ref=ts
http://www.martiniboys.com/Toronto/citystock/Gym/Exercise/727.html

They are open tues, wed, thurs nites & sat, sun mornings.

If you don't live in Toronto, don't despair b/c there may be an NRL near you. Just find out for yourself. So far I know that there's also one in Vancouver. But there's none in Hong Kong or Asia yet. I'm not even sure if there are any in the United States.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=608858223&ref=ts

Nike Shoe Warantee

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/609760

Nike Running Tracker Software

http://runningtracker.tuxfamily.org/blog/?langswitch_lang=en

Brooks Running Shoes

http://www.brooksrunning.com/
http://www.runningshoeswizard.com/brooks-running-shoes.html
Brooks shoes is a leading company that has dedicated itself to the running industry. I've heard a bit about this running shoe brand recently and heard that it's also very good. I just know that Nike is good, Asics is good & Brooks is also good. However, I'm still sticking to Nikes for now. But I wouldn't mind trying these out.

Nike+ 500 Mile Challenge

http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/?l=all_challenges,1757918659
I heard that if you run 500miles or more in a year then you can get a 500 t-shirt from Nike. But I don't know how that works. I think you just upload your runs on nikeplus & when it reaches 500miles they'll automatically send you a t-shirt or perhaps you just need to ask them for one by email. But I am very far from 500miles. What's that in kilometres? I'll check that. I'm sure that I can do it if I really wanted to. So let's just see.

It's not like I have to have it, but it helps me set some goals. It'd be very cool to show off a tshirt like that to your friends, but at the end it's really for yourself, for your health, well being, goals, etc...

Other Useful Products for Running

Florescent gear for evening-late night jogs.

Deoderant-it doesn't make you sweat less, just makes you sweat in other areas instead of where you put this stuff. It's more like a sweat blockage guard. It's very good for the underarms & that's where most people use it b/c nobody wants sweaty undersarms especially the smell. But don't put it on your back b/c it's perfectly ok to sweat on your back, and don't put deoderant everywhere on your body either b/c you need your sweat to come out somewhere. It's perfectly normal & natural, as well as necessary to sweat.

Anti-blister & chafing stick-may seem like an extra, but if you do a lot of intense training/exercise & tend to get blisters a lot then this product is for you.

Protein Supplement

Protein to maintain muscle. It's necessary even if you are not a weight lifter as it is hard to get enough protein from a regular diet if you are not a major meat eater. Whey protein is pure protein & the easiest to absorb type.

More on Nike+ Sportskit & Pedometers

I'd recommend the Nike Sportskit in use w/ the ipod. This product has gained many positive reviews by techonological critiquing websites.

All about the Nike+ Sportskit on Wiki!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike+iPod

Nike had also released a product that did not require an ipod to operate a year ago. That was the NikePlus Sportsband. However, that product was not as popular & had recieved less satisfying reviews by techies. I believed that Nike had discontinued & recalled the product from it's stores ever since. Now you can't find them at retail stores. But you can still find a few on ebay & perhaps some online discount stores. Is a good idea if you can get it for cheap! Then you can use a different mp3 player besides ipod.

There is also a product called the Nike+ Ipod Watch Remote which is basically a watch and remote control for the ipod, but it cannot be used alone but without the ipod. However, it does display your running details on the bracelet/armband when used in conjunction with an ipod & the sensored Nike+ Sports Kit. This item came out before the Nike+ Sportsband which was discontinued. This Watch is still available and has recieved favorable reviews.
http://store.nike.com/index.jsp?country=US&lang_locale=en_US#l=shop,pdp,ctr-inline/cid-1/pid-218268

If you don't already have an ipod & don't plan to purchase one, you can just purchase similar & less expensive devices/pedometers. Pedometers price range depends on the level of functions it provides, eg. heart rate, timer, speed, etc... You can get a watch w/ a built in pedometer. Nike also has sportswatches like that.
http://www.nike.com/timing/

Some pedometers provides uploading websites similar to NikePlus, but are probably less popular. Personally, I think that Nike provices more incentives & motivation. It just seems that much more cooler for some reason. But you don't have to go w/ the flow w/ whatever's the most popular. It's a personal thing. You can do your own thing!

I still haven't purchased either yet. The only ipod I've ever owned was an early generation prior to the first ipod nano. It was the "Ipod Mini." Sort of bulky, no colour & cost $300 back in the day. I probably should have waited a little longer. But back then I really liked using it, although it died just right after the 1yr warantee expired. So I'm kinda weary that if I purchase another ipod that it'll die after 1yr, so if I do purchase I'll certainly get 1yr extended warantee which the only option they provide. After 2yrs they'll probably have newer generation ipod anyway, so if it dies you just get a newer better one.

If I do get an ipod soon, I'll go for the nano or classic & that's the 2 I recommend too b/c the nike sportskit is the most compatible w/ these 2 devices & less w/ the ipod touch & totally does not work w/ iphone.

So in the end I may just end up using a regular pedometer, although I'm tempted to use my Nike Shox running shoes w/ built in sensor pocket specially made for the Nike sportskit. However, those shoes are pretty old & make rip apart soon & I may end up purchasing some other shoes brand or perhaps I may actually be that addicted to Nike, lol!

Actually I just learned that some pedometers have a builtin GPS which can track where exactly you start & end your run on the planet Earth. So I'm thinking of getting that in a digital wristwatch format.

What to Wear during your Runs!

FOR GIRLS!

HATS
I like to wear baseball caps & pull my ponytail through the back hole which has a nice tight hold on my ponytail.
Sometimes I prefer a visor hat b/c it allows my head to breath, but it doesn't provide the ponytail holding hole at the back.

SPORTSBRAS
I like sportsbras especially the really sporty, bright colourful ones, but I have not to this date worn one alone outside b/c I don't usually show off my belly. Perhaps I'll do it someday, when I do more ab crunches first, haha! I do have a grey sports bra currently but I wear it under tshirts & I prefer it b/c the straps never fall off as w/ regular bras.

TOPS
Usually I wear tshirts, but I do have a Nike tank top made w/ their special DryFit breathable fabric. I plan to get one or two more of these special tops b/c I just love the fabric & they're so comfortable. I saw a similar one at Walmart & it's not Nike but looks similar & I think it's similar if not the same kind of fabric so I may get it since it's cheaper in price, not necessarily quality, ok maybe just slightly.

SWEAT PANTS
Anything stretchy, comfortable & not too tight, I'll wear. I don't like those track pants we used to wear in grade school which had all those buttons on the sides which sometimes unbuttons by itself. But they did seem cool in the old days. I remember wearing shorts underneath during the summer time & when it felt too hot, i'd just peel the track pants off, lol. I usually wear long pants b/c I don't like wearing shorts that much, especially since the weather varies throughout the day. I may be buring one minute & freezing the other.

SKORTS
It's like a mini skirt/tennis skirt which has a built in part of shorts underneath so you won't accidently reveal your underpanties. I can't imagine running w/ one, but I'd love to play tennis w/ it. Perhaps I'll get one someday & try to run w/ it. Does anybody ever run w/ a skort on?? I wonder!!

HEADBANDS & WRISTBANDS
I don't actually use them to wipe my sweat off. I just wear them sometimes b/c it looks cool & sporty & gets me in the right mood to excercise. Makes me feel more energetic & more like a sporty person.

Twike!

Check out my Twike Page!
http://twiike.com/view-nike-plus-runs/941983436
It's a cross b/w Nike Plus & Twitter or a connecting site b/w the both.

I haven't done many uploaded runs b/c I don't have my own ipod&sportskit yet. I think that I will get them in the near future. I think I'll just stick to the Nike thing b/c I already started, instead of using some other brand & tracking website.

If you think this is cool, you can sign up right here!
http://twiike.com

My Nike Mini T!

Finaly got it! I think the first time I'll wear this will be on my bday which is on Fri, Yay! I love the DryFit stretchy fabric! It's so comfortable!

I'm planning to do other challenges as well in the future! Right now I'm really out of shape so I need a lot of hard work runnin, situps/crunches, pushups, lifting weights/dumbells.