Nike+ Original Run: A-Trak

nik.mercer — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:21:36 -0700

While this author isn't much of a runner himself, he is certainly quite impressed by Nike+'s "Original Run" initiative. As most of you know by now, the shoe company has been commissioning artists (the Crystal Method, LCD Soundsystem) to compose forty-five-minute tracks that are ideal for running. Anthem's not tested any of the personal workout soundtracks out, but we can safely say that we assume they actually work! Every piece begins with a peppy yet easily digestible intro, builds and builds until about the thirty-minute mark, and then sputters out―along with you, the athlete―with a couple minutes to spare. It's certainly better than watching CNN and sprinting on your treadmill or timing yourself with a dinky stopwatch. (More fashionable, too!)

Anyway, A-Trak is Nike+'s latest catch, and his "Running Man" contribution to "Original Run" is pretty stunning. As we expected, it's more DJ-oriented than some of the others, but that strangely works... and considering that this is summer, doesn't everyone want to be running about to some hardcore electronic? When we actually do attempt a few laps around the track while plugged into this song, you can bet that we'll spike our Gatorade with some vodka. That's how we stay in the zone...

A-Trak's "Original Run" will be "used as promotions for "The Nike+ Human Race," a running event to be held on August 31. Approximately 1 million runners in 25 cities across the globe are expected to partake in the one-day event, which aims to bring sports and music together."