I recently reviewed the Nike + iPod Sports Kit that includes a wireless sensor and receiver that communicate with each other to track your daily workouts. If you're a runner, you'll appreciate how the sports kit measures distance, pace, calories burned and time. The receiver collects all this information and displays it on the iPod's screen as you workout. If you're running, and can't look at the screen, you simply press the center button to hear audio feedback of your progress. Once you dock your iPod, the information is sent to Nikeplus.com via iTunes where your progress is displayed on a chart for your eyes only. Don't worry, unless you challenge others, nobody should be able to see your workout summaries. The information is presented in a very clean, and easy to read format.

After setting up an account at Nikeplus.com, you'll also have to make some changes on iTunes. To sync your iTunes to Nikeplus, go to iPod Options > Nike + iPod > Automatically send workout data to nikeplus. Once this is done, everytime you dock your iPod nano, data will be sent to Nikeplus.com, as well as ask you if you want to visit the webpage after the information has been sent. This eliminates the extra step of going directly to Nikeplus.com everytime you want to check your progress.

You can also set any goal you want for yourself at Nikeplus. You have four options under goals: More Often, A Distance, To Burn Calories and Faster. Under the "More Often" tab, you can choose the number of runs you want to run per week in increments of 4, 8, 12, or 16 weeks, same goes for "A Distance" and "To Burn Calories" goals. The "Faster" pace goal is perfect for military or law enforcement folks who want to improve their timed runs before those annual physical tanning tests.

If you're in a challenging mood, you're able to invite up to 50 people to show you what they got, as well as meet team goals. This is a great feature to keep your workout buddies honest. Join others in your quest to stay fit, and monitor each other's progress with this tool. The possibilites are really endless, and it won't be long before we see sports enthusiasts weblogs challenging each other on individual marathons all over the world.