14 DAY TRIAL // A year ago, Apple partnered with Nike to bring out Nike+, a product that lets your running shoes talk to your iPod to bring you data on time, distance, calories burned. As an integral part of the system, the syncing through iTunes and the nikeplus.com website expand on the experience and even more can be expected in the future.
The Nike+ experience has proven to be incredibly popular, creating in its first year, the world's largest online running destination at nikeplus.com, with runners logging over 22 million miles. Nbow, new features being introduced this summer will take the experience even further, offering runners new ways to challenge each other and participate in "virtual" marathons.
New functionality on nikeplus.com, available this summer, will include a challenge feature that provides users with more options and enhanced customization tools. Users can choose their own challenge theme, set their own rules and select the number of participants and team names. Now, they will be able to upload their own pictures to highlight their challenges on the nikeplus.com homepage.
Another new feature introduced this summer allows runners to participate in virtual marathons. For example, while the actual Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco this October already is sold out, women can still run the race anywhere, by using Nike+ and participating online in the event. Other new features include the Nike+ Distance Club where runners need to achieve 100, 500, or 1000 miles to be initiated into the club and a Weekly Poll added to the forums to learn more about our Nike+ users.
"Nike+ is changing the running experience. It's a great motivational tool to get people out for a run. It's attracting and connecting thousands of new runners each day, with members from more than 160 countries," said Trevor Edwards, Nike's Vice President of Global Brand and Category Management, in the press release. "It started as a simple idea and has quickly become the world's largest networking place for runners. Whether their goal is fitness, fun or a cause, runners of all levels are embracing Nike+ and nikeplus.com to become part of a global running community."