TightWind is written by Kyle Baxter. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Wired has a great article on how Nike+ makes running more effective, and enjoyable:

Competition can be another great motivator. Nike+ has a feature that sets up challenges for a group of runners, from just two friends to the entire massive community. Software developer and Nike+ runner Cabel Sasser compares the system to a videogame. “Like any good online game, you can challenge your friends,” wrote Sasser on his blog. “First to 100 miles? Fastest 5-mile time? Your call. These challenges wind up being incredibly inspiring … Logging in after a long run, uploading your data, and seeing where you are in the standings is a pretty awesome way to wrap up your exercise. And more important, sitting around the house, wondering what to do, thinking about jogging, and then realizing that if you don’t go jogging tonight you’re going to lose points and slip in the standings—now that’s true videogame motivation.”

I have lusted for Nike+ since it was released, and I did not even know it could do that. That is a great feature — imagine setting up leagues within your online (or real-world) community based around running. What a wonderful way to connect people in ways not possible before, in a productive and healthy way.

The most important part of exercise is not how far or for how long you did it. Eventually, you will be able to exercise for extended periods of time. The hard part is consistency — continually going out and exercising. By creating a community around running, Nike+ gives runners that boost to go outside in the evening and run a few miles, something they would not have had otherwise. That is huge.

I cannot run due to shin splints, so I ride a road bike and ski for exercise. I really want to use something like Nike+ for these two sports, but equivalent systems for cyclists and skiers just do not exist, unfortunately, but Apple has apparently patented similar, but not identical, systems for skiers and mountain bikers.

(Via Buster Benson.)