Running is one of the best things you can do for your health. In fact, a recent study found that running for just a few minutes a day lowers the risk of an untimely demise by 30 percent. That said, there is a good way to run and a better way to run. So make the most of your run with these cool and new technologies.
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Wireless Headphones With Built In Heart Rate Monitor: Jabra Sport Pulse
Like many other headphones designed with athleticism in mind, these are wireless, waterproof and sand and dust resistant. But what sets these apart is the inbuilt heart rate monitor which delivers stats at clinical-grade accuracy.
For anyone serious about running, heart rate monitors are pretty important. If you’re heart rate is not in the right zone, it can be hard to achieve your fitness, strength or weight-loss goals. This is where the Sports Pulse earbuds really shine — they come with a companion app and together these tools can help you make sure that you’re training in the correct heart rate zone. They also help you track and evaluate your progress.
It’s also worth noting that these Jabra headphones won an Innovation Award at this year’s CES.
A Technologically Perfectly Fitted Shoe: FITZI® at The Athlete’s Foot
You can have all the fitness gadgets in the world, but let’s face it, if you have the wrong runners, you’re gonna have a bad time. Ill-fitting shoes cannot only hinder your fitness progress but they can straight up hurt you! For real.
The Athlete’s Foot have a nifty little walk-on device called FITZI® that combines video and pressure mapping. FITZI has more than 4000 sensors to analyse the pressure points on your foot, while the video footage helps determine the level of support required. The result is a shoe that is tailored to your specific foot and running requirements.
If you’re one of the 66 percent of Australians that experience aching feet every month, then it’s totally worth giving this a go. And if you’re not, try it anyway for funzies.
The Apple Watch: Best Running Apps
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you would have heard about this recent release of the Apple Watch. We all know what it is, we all know the basics of what it can do. But — now that some of the best fitness apps have developed versions for the Apple Watch — it is now a pretty good piece of technology for all the runners out there. Top rated running apps like Runtastic, Nike+Running and Strava are available on Watch OS and there are only more to come. These apps will help you track your speed, distance, time and calories burned, so you can make the absolute most of every run.
Just in case you want another reason to get an Apple Watch, Beyoncé has one. She wore it to Coachella.
Compression Wear: New Skins A400
Once again Skins are changing the realm of sportswear. The pioneers of compression wear, Skins garments allow more oxygen into the muscle for an overall better performance and faster recovery when exercising.
Recently, they’ve redesigned their A400 line for men and women and included a number of technological innovations. The new construction of the Skins A400 is designed to deliver the most precise compression possible and to ensure that compression levels are tailored for the active body. In addition to compression, the A400 wear now use muscle wrapping and temperature control technologies that help reduce muscle soreness, fatigue and injury.
If you’re serious about running, then you’ll want to at least take a look at the new designs. This interactive tool will show you everything you need to know.
Adaptive Shoe Fit: Saucony Triumph 12 with ISOFIT
Ain’t nobody got time for sore, achy feet. Especially runners. Which is why Saucony has developed their ISOFIT technology. ISOFIT technology works through the integration of stretchable air-mesh sleeve and floating support cage into the shoe. Together, the sleeve and cage allow the shoe to have a dynamic fit — unceasingly adapting and morphing to the shape of your foot.
ISOFIT also means that the shoe is pretty damn comfy. The shoe feels more like a sock than anything else. And the 20 percent more cushioning makes you feel like you’re walking on a cloud! If you’re serious about running, you should probably check these out!
Hands Free Dog Leash: Dog Walkie Belt
For those who like to run with company, sometimes holding a leash in your hand can interrupt your flow and just generally make your run a hassle. Fortunately enough, one dog lover out there invented the hands free dog lead. This one by DOOG is a great option.
The Dog Walkie belt sits securely and firmly around the waist and is suitable for dogs of all sizes. One testimonial says that it was secure enough to use with a 35 kilo German Sheppard. Along with a carabineer for attaching your lead, it includes an iPod/iPhone clip, tennis baller holder and several secure pouches for storing keys and cash.
What gadgets help you with your exercise routine? Let us know in the comments.