Guest Column: Technology and Running

This continues a new category of posts: Guest columns where friends and readers share how technology is reshaping their hobby – fishing, basket weaving, rugby – whatever.

This time it is Eric Dirst, CIO at DeVry.  Eric has used SaaS for years now and is a proud iPhone early adopter. So, not surprisingly he also looks for innovative technology in his hobby, running. The picture is that of him at the finish line of the Chicago marathon in 2007. His son, Bryan ran the last 6 miles, and I suspect will adopt his dad's hobby as he ages.

“On surface, running appears to be a simple sport, needing only shoes, shorts and a t-shirt. Indeed, the joke is a runner is someone who is dumb enough to pay over $100 for gym shoes. The reality is that wearing a typical gym shoe for running anything over 10 miles is a recipe for foot injuries, knee problems, and spine alignment issues.

I started jogging to improve my cardiac and respiratory health – but it would be a poor tradeoff if that damaged limbs and back. Fortunately, shoe technology has evolved nicely to not require that sacrifice.

Modern running shoes are significantly lighter and designed with appropriate padding and soles that hold their shape. The New Balance 769 ($100), for example, weighs only 11.7oz for men and 9.5oz for women.

Shoe technology has also allowed for customization depending on the terrain where you run. If it is trail running (dirt, roots, rocks) you can get shoes from Montrail that provide adequate grip and hold up to the additional pounding the shoes experience from all the obstacles.  Then there are Triathlete shoes like the Zoot Advantage ($110) that have elastic laces for easy pull-on entry and breathable uppers to move water out of the shoe quickly. There are other technology enhanced shoes such as cross-trainers, cinder track shoes, and even new lightweight running shoes that help build up your foot muscles by mimicking running barefoot…without the chance of painful scratches/cuts on the bottom of your foot.

Running is not just enhanced by shoe technology. In the past few years, there has been an explosion of other technology for runners including:

· Web resources - Like this website which allows you to track your workouts, calculate distance automatically and share them with others in the online running community.

· GPS for running – Did you know that Garmin, common in cars, also makes specialty technology products for runners? An example would be the Forerunner® 405, which is a GPS-enabled sport watch. This watch tracks your training, and then wirelessly sends your data to a computer. It monitors time, distance, pace, calories and heart rate. It also remembers the courses you run so you can compare how you have done on the same course, or even race a Virtual Partner®

· iPhone applications - With over 15,000 applications available on the iPhone, no wonder more than a few are aimed at the runner. Examples include the “The Running GyPSy” by Kimber Technology which uses the GPS capabilities of the iPhone to track your running distance, speed, pace, and workout laps. Of course, you can listen to music while tracking your workout data. There are other applications like RunKeeper Free, by FitnessKeeper, Inc., that tracks all the information mentioned above, but also includes information such as total rise, altitude versus speed, and even keeps track of GPS breadcrumbs to map your route.

· Nike+ – probably one of the coolest running technologies introduced in the last few years is the Nike+iPod Sport Kit. This technology pairs your iPod (or iPhone) with a sensor that goes in your Nike shoes (yes, only Nike shoes). Data collected by the sensor is automatically sent to your iPod. The data gathered includes time, distance, pace, and calories burned. The data can later be synched with nikeplus.com website and tracked for all your runs or shared with other runners around the world.

· Heart monitors – Experts tell us if you exercise at 60-70% of your max heart rate you achieve the best aerobic conditioning. Heart monitoring devices include chest straps with wireless communication to a wrist watch receiver. Many of these devices synch the data to your PC so you can graph your training runs to verify you are exercising in your maximum aerobic zone.

· Technology to help with injuries/pains - Runners use specialized technology such as shin splint compression sleeves, and thigh straps – and many use the cho-pat knee strap which keeps your patella stable while you are running.

· Treadmills – these have been around for a long time, and the technology keeps getting better. An example would be the True Fitness PS800. Of course, the problem is good devices still cost an arm-and-a-leg (e.g. $2,500+). The better news – most health clubs have high quality devices and you pay by the month. You get the SaaS versus on-premise scenarios even in running!

· Hydration - It used to be that the best you could do was carry one or two water bottles with you as you run, or strategically place them around the course you plan on running. Now there are lightweight hydration backpacks, and specialized water belts like RunLite™ Hydration that promise bounce-free behavior and quick/easy access while running.

· Socks – yes, there is even technology employed to create specialized running socks. Normal cotton socks are terrible if you are running long distances. They do not remove water/sweat from around your foot, and they rub, resulting in nasty blisters. Instead, you can buy running socks which wick water/sweat away from your foot and reduce the chance of blistering. Running socks also resist bunching, reduce friction, and include strategic padding/cushioning under your feet where it is needed most.

· Other Clothing – Besides socks, there have been many other technological advances that enhance or improve your running experience. My favorites are the improvements in technology for running in the cold. Living in Chicago, where we experienced -18 F (-45 F wind chill) recently, you need some really effective gear to stay warm. Forget the old adage of “dress in layers” – lighter and tighter fitting is in. Lighter is warmer, by using GoreTex and other technologies originally used in gloves. Tighter fitting helps reduce drag in windy Chicago.

It is a great hobby, but the innovations in running technology really get me going. Indeed, I would say “it’s all about the gear”!

Comments

[New Balance WR1224]

great post!