Top 5 Gifts for Techie Athletes

Athletes like data, most of them, most of the time, anyway. Runners have their pace watches, beeping near the mile markers. Triathletes have their bike computers and power meters. Fitness fans have their heart rate monitors and calorie calculators. Those might be generalizations for who uses what, but we all know we track our data either religiously (with charts, logs and analyses) or periodically (when a race tells you your splits). We use data trackers and gadgets to power our workouts--working out harder, running faster and farther, hitting what once seemed like an unattainable goal. 

The problem is that sometimes we don't like to buy these gadgets for ourselves. Or after we've paid for the races, maintenance, training facilities, shoe updates and apparel, we're not left with much money to spend on these training tools. That's my excuse--and I wouldn't even call myself that techie (based on the fact that I have yet to buy a tablet, attempt to read a book on a Kindle/Nook, or update from phone to an operating system that would run all the apps I want to use). 

But maybe you know someone who's into fitness yet not into technology (and doesn't know the first place to start unless you gift her a device). Or maybe you know someone into technology but needs some fitness motivation to get up off the couch. Or maybe you're simply stumped on what to gift your fit friends. Keep reading as Fit-Ink shares some of the favorites we've uncovered this year.

Addicted to the FuelBand

It adds up your steps. It calculates your calories burned. It tells you how much fuel you have, and not the gas-guzzling or calorie-consumption kind but a metric that puts a number on all the movements you do during the day from taking out the garbage and walking the dog, to sweating through P90X video or Zumba and preparing dinner. And if nothing else, The Nike+ FuelBand makes for a pretty sharp-looking watch (hey, those were Nike’s words not mine, and I can’t help but nod in agreement).

When I first heard about the FuelBand, I thought it’d be the perfect exercise tool for my mom to use. She’s had pedometers and they’ve either overestimated her steps or met their demise falling into a toilet. She tried a Polar fitness watch, a variation of one that Liz got me hooked on, but got frustrated when the stick figure spent more time sitting than zooming across the screen (that’s probably more her fault than the machine’s but let’s just say it didn’t motivate her to exercise any more or less). And lately she’s just relied on the digital readouts on the elliptical, or the treadmill, or the stationary bike. And we all know how wrong those can be.

I was convinced that the FuelBand would help track her activity, from running up and down the stairs to the gardening she claims exhausts her more than her treadmill walks. And that it would dispel the elliptical readouts claiming she burned at least 200 calories even though she was barely on the machine for 15 minutes and never broke a sweat.

Fit-Pic: Make It Count on Leap Day

Plenty of Leap Day's have come and gone on my calendar, and I couldn't tell you what I've done for any of them. Except for today. But if I'm not careful, it's going to get fuzzy because the whole stream of events from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. is starting to feel like a dream. Thanks to Nike, I know I'm not dreaming and I got one heck of a Leap Day. 

How can you pass up a picture with Staley the Bear? Even if you look a little too giddy.

Keep the Feet Running

Did you have your eyes set on running October's Bank of America Chicago Marathon only to have your dreams dashed when the general event registration closed last month? Granted you can still sign up for a charity team, slots are available through select charities by checking the event website, but Nike poses a challenge for any runner seeking a sold-out spot. Challenge your feet, legs and endurance to a battle of the fittest--or maybe it's furthest--in the 100 Miles to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Challenge through Nike+. The goal: to see how far your legs can take you running through May 31 and to reach at least 100 miles on your Nike+ system. If you reach the 100-mile mark by May 31, you could score a coveted entry into the Chicago Marathon. And if you are the lucky winner you'll not only know where you'll be running on October 11 but you'll be featured on the Nike Running site. Talk about 30 seconds of fame.

Sign up for the Nike+ challenge online at the Nike+ site and start, or continue, logging your miles through May 31. With Memorial Day ahead, it's the perfect chance to work on those miles and rack up the distance while enjoying the outdoors. And it's not bad for toning those spots that aren't quite swimsuit ready. Are you up for the challenge? Check out all of the details here. Sample Nike+ challenge, photo grabbed from mat.vox.com. Posted by Kate