PUBLISHED 09/15/2006
2000: FitSense FS-1 Speedometer
By Matt Schneiderman
Breakthrough: Assured you ran the required miles (or didn't)
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| Courtesy Neil Tischler/FitSense |
In November 2000, FitSense Technology and Nike both launched foot pods, and took the guessing game out of speed and distance. These descendents of the pedometer measure stride length to calculate pace and miles. FitSense's FS-1 Speedometer (below) also featured a heart-rate monitor, advances Nike combined with its foot pod several months later. Today, the pods are in a race with wrist-worn GPS units to be the measuring device of choice. GPS instruments, introduced in 2003 by Garmin, rely on sometimes unpredictable satellites, but they let you save and download routes for future reference.
Fresh Thinking: Polar plans to release the foot pod RS800sd this fall, which lets you analyze your cadence and stride length.
1993: Champion Nylon Track Shorts
By Brian Metzler
Breakthrough: Made shorts functional (where would you put your car key?)
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| Courtesy RaceReady |
When Champion began making shorts with nylon instead of cotton in the mid-'60s, runners rejoiced--lighter fabric, less chafing! But in 1967, Adidas stitched a bikini brief to the shorts, eliminating the need for a jock strap, and "the sense of true battle nakedness was attained," says two-time U.S. Olympic marathoner Kenny Moore. In 1979, the key pocket was added, followed by a rear nutrition pocket.
Fresh Thinking: "New machines are letting us create durable fabrics that can be sewn into seamless, chafe-free garments," says Stan Mavis, president of Sugoi, which is developing seamless compression shorts.
