Social Workout

Revolution

Workout+

Geek Fitness Porn

Here at Social Workout HQ, we've gone deep into the world of online fitness challenges. As we scramble to organize the B.O.W.C., the first ever literary fitness challenge, we've spent several dozen hours on the Nike+ web site, as well as sites like Runner+ and Plus 3 Network, not to mention chatting up nice sales guys at Paragon Sports. We've also written in the past about the growing penchant for body monitoring. This morning we're simply here to tell you there's a minor revolution afoot...

Body Monitors + Social Networking + Fitness Challenges = Big, Big, Big

Many of us wish to be pushed/held accountable for working out, and, now, thanks to the web and lot's of cool wireless new gadgets, it's very possible for several thousand complete strangers to track your caloric intake on a minute  to minute basis. (We're more into logging by haiku at the moment, but we're likely to move into the market very soon.) This stuff works mainly for runners for now, but surely it'll come for bikers and swimmers. If not yogis and dancers. (Count your oms?)

There's alot to discuss here, and we'd love to hear your thougths -- we mean to return to the story regularly. One salacious tidbit to pass along right away: We acquired our first $29 Nike+ Sports Kit last week, and were forced to return it after several days of life-shortening tech-support calls. "I'm not surprised," said Paragon Sales Guy when we returned to the shop. "I see alot of returns." It seems, perhaps somewhat like iPods, the Nike+ has a dubious service record. (We found evidence online of fairly widespread problems -- especially with the battery life.) But, at $29, it's sort of hard to get too angry.

More to come...