iRun

If you're a health conscious, body mass index inspecting type of person (e.g gay), there's a good chance that you have an established workout regime that keeps things taut and trim. Maybe part of that regime is pounding away on the treadmill watching the 'Calories burned' counter painfully ticking up as you repeat your prayers for the 30 min run-time to be over already. The grating whine of the machine's rubber conveyer, the uninspiring gym interior, the person sweating and panting away next to you, not the most appealing way to burn off that afternoon chocolate is it?

I used to be a treadmill guy but am now totally converted to running outside. Try it and you just may find it more invigorating and satisfying than gym-running. Despite having to negotiate oblivious drivers and the occasional dog turd, going for a 'real' run sure as hell beats the dreaded treadmill grind. When I was doing my PhD, myself and a few other workmates used to go for runs during lunchtimes twice a week. We used to run along Rushcutters Bay, or through the Botanic gardens, along the beautiful waterfront of Sydney harbour, around Mrs. Macquaries chair and the Opera house.

Sydney Harbour run loop. It’s about a 7 km (4.3 mi) run.

Despite burning calves and desperate breaths, running on a clear spring day with the Sydney Harbour bridge in sight, and with the mesmerising ocean backdrop, was bloody awesome. With the endorphins pumping it was bliss.

As a reward to myself for submitting my PhD thesis I bought an 8 GB iPod nano (2nd generation) which I love. Purchase of the Nike+ running kit quickly followed. The kit consists of a sensor that is placed in your shoe, which measures distance travelled and the data is transmitted real-time to a receiver that plugs into the bottom of the iPod. Over at the Nike site they have a nice video illustrating how the kit works, but the kit basically makes your iPod into a fancy pedometer with audio feedback that tracks your progress ("5 minutes to go!") and of course provides a playlist to run to. Once your iPod is synced with your computer after a run your data is transmitted to the Nike+ site where your data is stored, runs graphed, and you can set goals and see how your runs fare against all the other Nike+ users around the globe. This global comparison/rank thing is actually pretty cool.

Nike insist that use of the kit requires purchase of their shoes, which have a section in the sole to hold the sensor. You don't need to buy those shoes. I just put the sensor in a small plastic bag for protection against the elements and use packing tape to attach it to the tongue of my shoe, underneath the laces. It works fine and the distances are amazingly accurate when compared to Gmaps Pedometer, a very handy tool to calculate the distance of your runs. More do-it-yourself tips on how to attach the Nike+ sensor to your shoe can be found at Podophile.

As part of the Nike+ kit, you can program a 'Powersong' to play when you hold down the centre button of your iPod. It's supposed to psyche you up and encourage you to work through the burn man. Mine's Champion by the Australian band, Grinspoon. It's a bristling, amped rock tune that is great to run to, hear for yourself!.



I miss the harbour runs in Sydney, but one extra incentive for running in Boston occurs after my run. It's when I arrive back at my apartment, panting, sweating and revelling in the sports-induced endorphins bouncing around in my brain. In this slightly joy-frenzied state I plop down on the stairs leading into my building, stretch out my legs and look. On my stoop I see branches of the tree in front of me, hypnotically swaying in the breeze, leaves rustling. Lazy clouds stream by in the overhead twilight sky. There's always a background hum of light traffic passing by. A pair of old ladies clutching grocery bags amble home. Several college girls pass, their conversation punctuated with delighted squeals and smiles. Cyclists, dogwalkers, individuals of all dispositions go by. It's people-watching at its best.

Of course the cute boys cruising past automatically capture my attention. Some are running, others have their girlfriends in tow, sometimes they pass by ensconced in their personal iPod world. It never ceases to amaze me how effortlessly hot some guys are and how they continue to stream past. Not all pass by however. Today I spied a hot, young professional looking guy, black collared shirt, black pants, sandy hair messed up in that careful kinda way walking down the street. Way out of my league. Still, I watched with interest as he turned and entered my building. Sweat drippng down my face, lounging on the steps, iPod blasting, I looked up and gave a small smile and nod of the head. Not flirting exactly, more of a polite acknowledgment to a fellow tenant. A polite return smile and nod from cute guy. No Sydney harbour views today, but there, sitting in the evening Fall twilight, I'm content.