PORTLAND, Oregon: Nike Inc. says it has helped runners log more than 22 million miles (35.4 million kilometers) with its Nike+ system in the past year. But more important, the world's largest shoe and apparel company has gotten them to sit down in front of the computer.
The wireless system, created through a partnership with Apple Computer Inc. and launched last year, allows some Nike shoes embedded with a sensor to communicate with Apple's iPod Nano.
Runners can track their speed, distance and calories burned and choreograph songs for themselves — a high-tempo number for a rough hill, for example. Runners can also map their routes, buy specialty songs and download their running data to track their progress.
But the most surprising component is the social networking aspect, Nike said. Runners challenge other runners on the Nike+ web site. One New York runner named Stephanie was featured on the main page Thursday, telling visitors: "I'd love to kick your ass."
Nike has said it will make all its running shoes compatible with its Nike+ technology by the end of the year.
ord = Math.random() * 10000000000000000; document.write(''); if ((!document.images && navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Mozilla/2.') >= 0)|| navigator.userAgent.indexOf("WebTV") >= 0){ document.write(''); }More than 1,000 Nike+ runners join daily, the company said Thursday.
"When you boil it down, the idea is pretty simple," said Trevor Edwards, Nike's vice president of global brand and category management. "You want to know how far you went, however many calories you burned. It also allows you to participate and be a part of a wider community."
The NPD Group Inc., a market research company, found that running was the top-grossing category in the athletic shoe industry in 2006. Analysts say Nike is seeing increased competition from companies like Asics, which is expanding its distribution channels. And Adidas has said it will increase its focus on the sport.
