It’s jogging, tech-geek style

Meet PowerSong: the endorphin-charged spawn of Nike and Apple

Get set, because PowerSong is the next techno-savvy buzzword that’s going to infiltrate your vocabulary. The hipster power couple of Nike and Apple has collaborated to renovate the way you run. A chip inserts into a pocket in the sole of Nike+ shoes and communicates with a receiver plugged into an iPod nano. When you go for a run, the device records distance (you choose miles or kilometer), time and calories burned. And that tune that puts a little pep in your step—you know, the one you shamelessly rock out to in your car—is at easy access. When you’re dragging mid-run, just hold the center button to activate your PowerSong, a pre-selected tune from your music library that gives you a little extra boost.

A voice, which can be male or female (or turned off), feeds you information throughout your workout. It also keeps a database of your runs. Your iTunes syncs up to your nikeplus.com account and automatically feeds your information to the site when you plug in your nano. You can see a line graph of your run, evaluate your pace, check out at what point you played your PowerSong and design simulated races with friends who also have an account.

To be the most technologically advanced runner on the track, you’ll need three things:

1. An iPod nano, $149.99 to $249.99;
2. Nike+ iPod Sport Kit, (chip and receiver), $29;
3. Nike+ shoe, approximately $100.

The gadgetry isn’t just fun for hard-core runners, either.

Megan Weaver, who has cheered on many marathon-running friends from the sideline, is hesitant to call herself a runner. About three times a week, she tries to get out for a two- or three-mile run. After a month of use, Weaver, a practicum coordinator for the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology, could already tell that the device had changed the way she approached running. Weaver isn’t a big fan of the treadmill. She likes to run outdoors when the weather permits, but before she got the Sport Kit, she never really knew how far she’d run unless she timed it or drove the route. Now, she can push herself to beat her old time and can vary routes. When she achieves a personal best time, Lance Armstrong chimes in post run with a congratulatory message. She saves up two or three runs on her nano before she uploads them onto her computer. She looks at what point in the run she hit her PowerSong, “Frozen” by Tegan and Sara, to know where her weakest spots are. “It’s motivating,” Weaver says. “It will tell you when you have 300 meters to go, which makes it really easy to speed up because you know you’re getting really close.”

As always, Nike keeps friendly with celebrity athletes, and Armstrong isn’t the only big name in the marketing campaign. On its website, Nike offers up the PowerSongs and personal music philosophies of Steve Nash, Dontrelle Willis, Michael Vick, Freddy Adu, Tom Brady and more. Maybe you’re like Vick and Brady who both get pumped up to Jay-Z. Who’da thought?

The upside and the downside to the device is the technology. It’s a revolutionary way to approach running, but it requires technological literacy. You have to have the most up-to-date software for both your iPod and iTunes, both of which can be downloaded online. Apple.com has diagrammed directions, and nike.com/nikeplus has a video tutorial that will clear up a lot confusion.

Weaver says she didn’t have much trouble getting everything set up. The instructions are easy to follow. She recommends, though, that you calibrate your device. You can begin your runs without calibrating to your pace, weight and age, but Weaver says that she noticed a pretty big difference once she did. Local Foot Locker and Finish Line shoe stores carry Nike+ shoes and Nike + iPod Sport Kit.

Where to get it

Foot Locker
• Battlefield Mall, 2825 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-882-7999

Finish Line
• Battlefield Mall, 2825 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-823-7484