OK. I wouldn’t say I’m a Geek. I like to think of myself a Gadgeteer. I had the first generation iPod. My MacBook Pro was from the first lot (I can tell by the fact that I need asbestos pants to have it on my lap) and I check four email accounts from Treo 700P. I think a real Geek would have added, I moblog from my Treo 700P.

I am not a runner. I used to have to run when I wrestled in high school. This post might be the only record of my wrestling career. Needless to say, I sucked, and running to make weight sucked. Running until now, has entirely sucked.

Enter the iPod Sport Kit. A tiny sensor for your foot, a transmitter that connects to your iPod Nano and voila. It tracks your run – gives you vocal feedback while running (400 meters to go… 100 meters to go (and you can pick the gender of the voice)). These features, in and of themselves were enough for me.

BUT WAIT – THERE’S MORE.

When I get back from my run, I plug in the iPod and it instantly uploads to my Nike Plus account and I see my history, speed, distance, cumulative statistics etc.

BUT WAIT – THERE’S MORE.

The Challenge. I can now challenge someone else. My fellow Gadgeteer Erik and I are currently in a challenge to see who can run the fastest 3 miles before the end of the month. Just about every day since the challenge we’ve been pushing each other to go faster. It’s always easier to exercise with someone else. It’s difficult to coordinate. Now, I exercise with him, virtually.

This combination of community, technology and cool is actually making me healthy. The web harnessed for pure good.

So, how fast can you make a Geek run? To date: 8:58 per mile.