T2 - Judgement Day

             Back in July 2012, I was called by my doctor to discuss some abnormalities in my blood tests. When I reached his office, he explained to me that my fasting sugar was higher than normal and wanted me to undergo some more tests. I asked him by how much was my sugar high ? He said, very high. At least 4 times the normal fasting glucose number. That was a surprise to me. He said, "I had crossed the diabetic range by a huge margin and he needs to confirm if I had Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes."   
             Hearing this was a huge blow to me. I was not prepared for this at all. I kept asking myself where did I go wrong ? I was eating healthy, I was eating home cooked meals, I was not overweight, I was running regularly, I show no symptoms of diabetes, then why these results ? and why me ? 
            My dad was a diabetic. He passed away in 2003. I was aware of the complications he had to suffer being a diabetic. I had tears right in front of the doctor and nurse. I told the doctor, "I had finished a Half marathon with a good timing just weeks before the blood tests. how can I have high sugar ?" (apart from sugar, the tests showed that I had very high Cholesterol and Fats as well). 
He checked my past records and said : 
"You drink ?   No
You smoke?  No
Red Meat ?   No
overweight ? No.
Then I guess it must be genetic. "

That's how I learnt that I was a diabetic. Now it was just a matter of needles or pills for the rest of my life.

           With tears still in my eyes, I told him that I was prepared to be diabetic after 20 years and was ready to accept "genetic" as an answer, But I was not ready to hear this at a young age of 29. Just 2 days ago, my wife's OBGYN confirmed that she was 2 months pregnant. That was a fascinating news for both of us and now I have to deal with this terrible news.  The doctor was very kind and told me that I was better off than some of his other patients that he had to break similar bad news to. He said, "I had a 17 year old boy yesterday who we found out was a type 1 diabetic. You are already living a healthy life. You just need to adjust your diet and you can lead a very healthy life without any complications." He referred me to a nutritionist, prescribed some pills, assured me that I will be fit to run my next marathon if I promised to take the medications regularly and changed my lifestyle.
           With that shock, I let the nurse draw some more blood and I left the doctor's office. Telling this news to my wife was the most difficult task ahead of me. And how do I tell this to my mother ? She has already experienced the horror of losing her husband to diabetes. 
            My wife was patiently sitting at the waiting lounge of the doctor's office. I told her to get ready to leave. As we exited the doctor's office, I told her about my condition. She was brave enough to accept it and promised to help me all the way till I feel better. Imagine how a 24 year old girl will feel when she hears that her husband is diabetic. That too after just 3 years of happily married life and just a few days after her OBGyn tells us that she is 2 months pregnant. We drove home and I went to bed straight away. 
             I was very angry at myself that I let this happen to me. I was so aware of this disease and its family history, still I neglected the symptoms. In fact, when I looked back a few months, I started to realize that I had the typical symptoms but I ignored them saying to myself, "I am not old enough to get diabetes".  I was so wrong. Many times, I woke up at night to take a leak, right after that I drank 2 glasses of water before I went to sleep. I was always hungry and was ready to eat anything in front of me. My teeth were turning yellow, gums turning black, any cuts during shaving would turn black even after healing, My legs were always dry and cracked. I needed to apply moisturizer cream almost daily. If you google symptoms of diabetes, you will see all of this. I was foolish to ignore them and now I was paying the price. 
            Like a video game, I though of resetting my life,  but too bad, we only have one life and I had ruined it. I kept praying that let the next blood reports bring some better news. I was ready to give up sugar and sugar based food items. The doctor had said, "Change your diet, eat more greens and whole grains". Well, I was already doing that. What more am I supposed to do ? I just hoped that I don't have to rely on insulin injections to keep my sugar levels under control. The next blood results were out. In the note, the doctor said, "Good news. No sign of Type 1 diabetes". 

July 2012 Numbers :

Fasting BG      : 256    (Range 65-100)
A1C             : 11.6   (Range 4.0-5.9)


BG = Blood Glucose 

             That's how my life changed. Ask any doctor or diabetic what these numbers mean to them and you will know how bad my health condition was. 

Its been more than 2 years after this incident now. I have a very cute son, understanding wife, supporting family and friends, am maintaining a healthy weight, and still kicking' asphalt when I am on the road for a run. After being diagnosed with T2, my marathon timings have improved for every run. Diabetes has taught me to respect my body, enjoy life and be happy as there is nothing more precious than seeing yourself and your family happy and healthy. I was never a smoker, drinker or obese. Yet, I managed to become diabetic. I don't know if I should blame my genes or myself for it. Instead of playing this blame game, I am very grateful that I know my weakness right now and I deal with it so that this doesn't go out of control the next time. Many Indians just ignore something as simple as a routine blood test. I am happy I did a test and found about this early. Knowledge is power.You study the enemy, find out its weak points and attack it. I knew the numbers that I needed to bring them down. 
        Every morning started with eating a mouthful of fenugreek seeds. Breakfast had blueberries and steel cut oats. Lunch and dinner was home cooked with half the portions than my usual consumption. Lunch and dinner now included a salad. I gave up soda, sweets, bread, potato and all the oily stuff. My doctor had gifted me a glucose meter (worst gift I have ever received). I kept notes of what I ate and what were my sugar levels after 2 hours. This helped me identify food stuffs that I could eat without any problems and which foods to avoid. Turned out that apart from desserts, rice and potatoes were my biggest enemies. I now avoid eating meals that only consist of rice or potato. Apart from the daily prick on my finger, I had to undergo a comprehensive blood test every 3 months to check my cholesterol and A1C. I was showing good progress, the bad numbers were coming down. The results kept motivating me. finally, before heading back to India, my test results were pretty close to normal. My Doctor proudly said, "You are my healthiest patient in the office right now :)"


July 2014 Numbers : 
Fasting BG      : 87    (Range 65-100)
A1C             : 6.0   (Range 4.0-5.9)              
           

Here is a very funny way to describe a diabetic. 

Being a diabetic is like living with a King Cobra. As long as you keep its mouth shut, he is your friend. The moment you let it loose, it will come and bite you.

My life has definitely changed with this incident. But that does not mean that I have to live a dull life. I continue to savor delicacies prepared by my lovely wife. I continue to enjoy my Pav Bhaji, Misal Pav, Bhel, Biryani. In fact, since I know my enemies, I can come prepared to fight them before every meal. I am very close to reversing all the symptoms of diabetes that I had. It has also taught me to be polite and not get angry or aggressive under any situation as stress makes your sugar levels spike. Ask me. I have tested my sugar levels before and after I getting angry with a BG Meter and I confirm that losing your temper is as bad as eating 3 cups of ice cream. So for the rest of my life, I have to listen to my body, be a good husband, dad, son and also be friends with this king cobra. 

If you don't know me and have stumbled upon this blog, I hope I am an inspiration to you and all your diabetic friends. If you know me in person, feel proud that your friend has not given up and is constantly pushing the limits to make himself and you feel even more proud. Every time you get into a conversation about running, cycling or diabetes, don't forget to mention that you have a sweet friend who runs marathons like a piece of cake :)

Runger is real

     

Image Credits : CaitChock.

              If you are a female, have been pregnant, and have had cravings for food, I know your feelings now. When running the Pune International Marathon in December 2014, I experienced this feeling for the first time. The Pune Marathon has a route that covers the heart of the city. It started from the Baba Khandoji Chowk and ended at Swargate. The entire route was through the streets and flyovers in Pune. The race started at 6:10am and with my pace of 6 mins per km, I was aiming to finish the race at around 8:20-8:30am with a timing of 2 hours 10mins. The first few kms were easy as I maintained a constant pace of 5:35 mins per km. After the 12th KM marker, I started to get tired. it was close to 7:30am and the roads were slowly getting busier with traffic. 
       As we crossed a small street, there was a corner where many people gathered to have breakfast. Idly-Vada Sambar sellers setup their stalls and the hungry crowd gathers. I got so jealous of these people enjoying the warm breakfast, I wanted to stop and have some with them. Poha, Upma, khichdi, So much to offer. This was my 12th Half Marathon and I had never experienced this kind of urge to eat something. The smell of the various food items went into my nostrils and that's where I lost it. My mind and my body wanted to have that idli-sambar. "Those damn lucky people having Idli-vada and I am an idiot who paid a hefty sum to running around the city on a Sunday morning." I crossed the food stalls and within 400 meters, was a small snacks hotel where there were a few people sipping tea in those small plastic cups. Again my mind was distracted. Now my mind wanted to have some tea. I was seriously thinking that I stop there and have tea. "Nothing will happen if I finish 5 mins late." I am glad that I didn't stop there.   
         Next was a fruit seller where I again started dreaming of food. This time for bananas. I could see myself eating bananas in my mind. I promised myself that "Bananas are waiting at the finish line. Don't stop here. "
         While running, A Newspaper guy crossed the road on his bicycle while we were running. I almost collided with that guy. I gave him an angry look and then I noticed, he was carrying Half liter milk packets in the bag hanging on his bicycle. Again the same urge to have the milk. "Ah ! Cold Milk ! I can easily drink 1 Liter right now. I can pay the guy right there and run with 2 milk pouches in my hand." 

        Stopping for Idli-vada, Tea, Banana, Milk was a stupid idea that could have come to my mind only when running a marathon and feeling very hungry. Later I found out that this kind of a feeling has a word for it. "Runger". Half way into the race, I was confident, I will finish the race in less than 2 hours. Then this Runger struck.  With frustration in mind about not able to eat breakfast when running, I completed the race with a timing of 2 hours 11 mins. 

After completing the race, I wanted a Banana. NOW. But too bad, the organizers had not arranged for any snacks like fruits, biscuits, buns etc. That was very disappointing. I gulped 1 liter water and cooled myself off. I called my sister where I was heading after the run to have a bath and breakfast. She told me "How about Idli for Breakfast ?" I instantly replied, "Yes. A lot of Idli".

So close to a Half Marathon !

Getting closer to my goal. Half marathon is just 5 Kms away. And a full marathon is 27 Kms away. When will I reach 42Kms mark ?!

dahsiN's top 10

A lot of people, friends, relatives, park joggers keep asking me, How can you run so much ? How can you pedal for so long ? Why do you have to get up so early ? Why are you doing all this to yourself ? What do you get after doing all this ?
In order to answer all the above questions, I have created my Top 10 reasons, Why I am doing all this. I will start in the reverse order,

10. When I was 20 years old weighing 73 kg, I wasted (or rather enjoyed) my time playing Quake 3. College days, played quake 3 all day and night. Food I ate was all junk, Chicken, eggs, fried rice, Noodles, and what not. At the age of 24, I was 82 and I realised where I was heading. That's when I decided to lose weight.

9. Joining a Gym, a diet program was all tried and tested, nothing worked.

8. Running at first thought, was not for me. Like others, I used to bonk in just 1 or two rounds. Others of my age, completed 5-6 rounds in ease. That made me feel ashamed of myself. One day, I don't know, what happened, This running and cycling got into me. (In Marathi, we call it "zapatne") It became my habit, that every morning, I go to the park, run at least 3 rounds and come back. I took the harder way of losing weight, Run run and run. Cycling helps build your stamina, so cycling came along.

6. Of all the people I see around, I notice, 60% are overweight, if not overweight, they have a bouncing tummy. A survey has predicted that by 2040, all the people in US will be overweight. I have made up my mind, Never in my whole life, I will become overweight again, have a tummy like that. Today, I have a massive intake of food. In order to maintain, I have to go through all this running and cycling.

5. Nobody is born strong, You have to make yourself strong. People drop their jaws when they hear about my stamina, how much I can run or pedal. (I drop my jaw when I hear about real athletes, and their stamina) You need not be this strong, but at least you should have the stamina to walk the stairs 6 floors without running out of breath. Trust me, I was one of those who would come last in a 200 mts race. Afraid of the traffic on the road. Ate chicken as if it was the last chicken left on the earth. Waited for lifts to take me to the 2nd floor. Now, I don't care if the lift works or not. going up to the 10th floor is never a problem.
Check these 3 things in life, and you will live healthy :
a. Always use the stairs. Never take the support of the handles along the stairs.
b. Sit on the floor with your legs folded. When you get up, never take help of your hands. If you already have problems getting up, I doubt, you need exercise.
c. Everybody uses shoes. Majority of them tie their shoe laces while sitting on the chair. I say DON'T DO THAT. Make it a habit to pull your socks, tie the shoe laces while you are standing.

If you follow these 3 habits, you will never have a health issue. You might also not have to read all of my dahsiN's top 10 !!!

4. These habits help me save money ! Don't believe me ? I have saved a lot ! A descent bicycle cost me 4000 rs. I have done at least 10,000 kms on it. Imagine me buying a motorcycle and riding it for, lets say 10000 Kms. I might have consumed petrol worth 12000 rs + the actual cost of the motorcycle. I can travel to any part of Bangalore on my bicycle without second thoughts. I don't keep any shame in my mind about being such a grown up, and still riding a bicycle.

3. This habit has changed my lifestyle. Earlier, I used to sleep late, get up late. With this running in my mind, I have to go to sleep early, and wake up early. And you all know the benefits of a early morning walk. These habits make me stand out in a crowd. Instead of a me being recognized as on of the millions and millions of software engineers, I am better known to people as a guy who rides a cycle to his office and does a 10K run in his free time.

2. We have a company bus to our office, One of my team mate asked me, why don't you join the bus ? You can come to office, and go back sitting peacefully. I replied, " That is what I don't want" People find it easy to board an auto, bus or accelerating a bike. Instead of the easier way, I would rather choose the harder way. Accelerating a bike is easier than pedaling a bicycle. Even for the weight loss, joining a fitness centre, paying thousands and thousands of rupees to lose weight was much easier than running. I chose the hard way to lose weight, so, weight gain for me will be harder :-)

1. People say, riding a bicycle for such a long distance is crazy stuff. Yes it is !! but only in India. In many European countries, people respect cyclists. For them, no distance is too far on their bicycles. People ask, "What pleasure do you get by doing all this to you ? " I said, "Pleasure ? I do it for the pain" Yes, its as as crazy as riding a bicycle. Like most of us, my parents have brought me up in a very simple way. No costly gifts, no un-necessary spending, no fancy clothes. When I started earning, I was living a luxurious life. A salary which my parents would not have thought of when they were of my age. A few month's salary is enough for you to forget the pains your parents had to suffer, just to give you good food, good education, and a good life. Riding a bicycle or running long distances, hurts a lot. My legs pain, my stomach pains, my back aches. Every time they hurt, it reminds me about my parents, my relatives and all the good people who came in my life. There was pain when your mom's hands burnt when she prepared food for you. There was pain when your mom was worried about your illness. There was pain when your dad had to pay donations for your admissions. There was pain when you grew up and stopped listening to what your parents said. I feel good when my runs make me hurt. Maybe this is my way of thanking my parents for all the things they did for me! This pain will not go unnoticed. In a couple of years from now, my mom will see me as a healthy, fit, and a very active son.

Run maadi run

Finally, It was race day. I was all set. I knew I was not here to win.(At least in this race) but to finish in the top 200. A total of 20,000 runners had participated, and around 5000 had opted for the 10K run. I saw people warming up. getting their shoe laces tightened, Clipping the bib numbers to their T-shirts, visiting the rest rooms just before the run. I was cool. No worries. I was pretty confident of finishing the run with a good timing. During my practice runs, I could finish 10K with ease, Thanks to my Nike+ipod. I had prepared a "Run Special" playlist which will make me run faster. I saw a couple of guys who used to practice at the same park as i did. All of them were very serious about the run. It seemed, that I was the only one who was taking the run lightly.


It was 8:55 am, and we all gathered near the starting line. At sharp 9.00, the run started. I started with a steady pace. I knew I had taken a lot of efforts for this race, and I will not quit in the middle. 1 Km milestone passed. I saw Kingfisher females giving away water bottles to the runners. Cheer leaders (Yes, like the ones you saw in IPL) cheering you, residents near the road coming out in their balcony, entrance gates and cheering us ! The media van taking live footage of the run, A helicopter taking rounds over your head, An Ambulance, just in case, and above that, 5000 determined runners along with you. It feels great when you are a part of such an event. 2 Kms passed, but my Nike+ipod showed that I had covered 2.5 Kms. I knew, there was something wrong. Till yesterday, I was thinking that the 10Kms counted by the device was exact 10Kms, and based on this, I had done all my calculations. But now, I knew 10 Kms was longer than what I expected. I trusted the milestones on the roads, as this was an international event, the distance ought to be accurate.
At 3 Kms, I saw people slowing down, falling behind, stopping for water. I was not yet tired, I continued. An old man, in his 60s just crossed me and went ahead. he was all sweating, but I couldnt see fatigue on his face. Withing a minute, he was far ahead of me. This incident made me feel ashamed of myself. A 60 year old has the guts and the power to continue, and a 25 year old young blood is slowing down ! In spite of so much of practice, so much of efforts, I was felt that I was not at all worth of doing this run. If I am like this today, at the age of 60, I will not be able to get off a simple chair !! Maybe I might not survive to celebrate my 60th birthday !
Even today, as I write this blog, this incident always makes me bow down in shame. Now I knew, why others were so serious, and I was so cool. At 8 Kms milestone, My nike+ congratulated me for completing 10 Kms. Actually, there were 2 more Kms to go. My device was very badly calibrated. By now, the sun was sucking all the energy of me. I started having stomach pains. I had to slow down. I collected a bottle of water, and started walking on the road. people started overtaking me. A female, about my age crossed me and zoomed. This was another em brassing incident for me. After about 500 mts of walk, i again started running. The stomach pain had reduced. I focused my sight at the finishing line, which still seemed to be very far.
I slowly gained some more speed. I saw cheerleaders again boosting my confidence. Photographers started clicking photos, I saw the timer, as i crossed the finishing line. I took 56 mins to complete the race. My nike+ read that I completed 12.5 kms. My friends were waiting for me just next to the finishing line. They were glad that I completed, they congratulated me. I collected the refreshment kit and went straight towards a bench. My legs didnt seems to get hurt, but I was mentally stressed out. I had expected to finish the run in 45 mins, and i took 11 mins more. The friends said, your position was not bad. the winner had taken around 40 mins. and I was still better than the rest. We went home, had nice lunch and a good nap.

A few days later, I got a courier of my run timings certificate, and a link to the photos which the officials had clicked. I opened the envelope, found out that I took 56:18 to complete.
And my overall rank was 211 !
I didnt expect me to be in the first 200, especially when I had slowed down at the 8 kms mark. But still 211 was not bad at all ! I have not lost hopes. I've done the 10K, now its time for half marathon. People think its crazy, but I think, it is required if I want to live to 60 without any disease or medication. Trust me, events like this can change your life. They will make you stand out in the crowd. At my age, people lose their health to earn money. And at the age of 40+, they lose their money and (try to) earn health. Everybody earns money. Very few earn good health.

The time has come, you dont quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest! if you must; but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow;
You might succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup.
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit;
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

The spirit of Marathon

Yes, Running can give you a high !

*Article from TOI Bangalore dated 28-03-2008
The reason I decided to copy paste this article was, Sometimes when I am having my 10K run, After 5-6 Kms, I start feeling lighter, and it seems I have no control on myself. My hands and legs continue their motion and I just helplessly witness the "Flight".
Maybe this is what happens to me sometimes :

The runner’s high: Every athlete has heard of it, most seem to believe in it and many say they have experienced it. But for years scientists have reserved judgment because no rigorous test confirmed its existence.
Yes, some people reported that they felt so good when they exercised that it was as if they had taken mood-altering drugs. But was that feeling real or just a delusion? And even if it was real, what was the feeling supposed to be, and what caused it? Some who said they had experienced a runner’s high said it was uncommon. They might feel relaxed or at peace after exercising, but only occasionally did they feel euphoric. Was the calmness itself a runner’s high?
The runner’s-high hypothesis proposed that there were real biochemical effects of exercise on the brain. Chemicals were released that could change an athlete’s mood, and those chemicals were endorphins, the brain’s naturally occurring opiates. Running was not the only way to get the feeling; it could also occur with most intense or endurance exercise.
The problem with the hypothesis was that it was not feasible to do a spinal tap before and after someone exercised to look for a flood of endorphins in the brain. Researchers could detect endorphins in people’s blood after a run, but those endorphins were part of the body’s stress response and could not travel from the blood to the brain. They were not responsible for elevating one’s mood. So for more than 30 years, the runner’s high remained an unproved hypothesis.
But now medical technology has caught up with exercise lore. Researchers from University of Bonn in Germany, using advances in neuroscience, say that the folk belief is true: Running does elicit a flood of endorphins in the brain. The endorphins are associated with mood changes, and the more endorphins a runner’s body pumps out, the greater the effect. Leading endorphin researchers not associated with the study said they accepted its findings. NYT NEWS SERVICE

CHASING EUPHORIA: It has finally been proven that endorphins exist! Getting a high during running or other intense, sustained efforts isn’t a myth anymore

I am Special !

After watching "Taare Zameen Par", I was wondering, these people claim, every child is special.
If everyone is special, there must be something special about me too ! I thought of some points which can make me special.
1. I don't smoke / Drink ?
There are many who don't smoke or drink.
2. I don't have a girlfriend ?
Many people don't have a girlfriend.
3. I spend money wisely.
Actually I don't. So I cannot be special.
4. Can I paint like Eshan Avasthi ?
here is the proof
5. I love my Mom.
Everybody loves their parents.
6. I like cartoons.
Not a valid point to qualify as special.
7. I am very emotional.
Again not valid.

Actually, I found 100 reasons, why I cannot be special. But there are a few good reasons which make me special.
I have never been to a Gym, but still people ask me, Whether I used to do wrestling (In Marathi we call it Kusti. This game is famous at my hometown Kolhapur.)
Nature has given me such a good built. Strong arms, strong legs. Good height. All the basic senses intact.
Now I am 25 years old. I looked back till the point I remembered, and asked myself,
When was the last time I was admitted to a hospital ?
Never.

When was the last time I took a Sick leave from Office ?
Not a single.

Did I ever break any of my bone ? Any Fracture ?
Nope.

Did I ever vomit ?
The last time I remember was when I was 17 years old, and I ate a lot of Mutton.

Did I ever suffer from any disease ? jaundice, TB, Typhoid, Cholera, Chicken Pox ?
I asked my mom. She said Never.

To be special, What more can you ask for from nature. (For me, Nature is God)

Recently, I figured out another special thing within me.
Its been 6 months, I have been going out for Jogging everyday.
I admit, I am at least 4 Kgs overweight, have an extra 2 Inches of tummy, and still I could run better than people who appear to be fit.
Recently, On nikeurunning.com, I found a VO2 Index Runners chart. according to that, My running pace is rated as "Excellent". When I tell people, I can run 10 Kms non stop. Their jaws drop.
I wondered, How can I run so much without getting tired ? I feel the pain, but that is at the toes. My Thighs never hurt, I never run out of breath (when running at a pace of 5 Kms / min)
If allowed, I can continue to run a marathon of 42 Kms at that pace non stop.
I think, I have the answer. Its my nose.
Lance Armstrong has slightly bigger lungs, which allow help him gather more stamina. Similarly, I have a bigger nose, from which, I can have a large intake of air in one breath. This fact is not proven by doctors. But I think I am right. Till yesterday, I kept cursing my nose. Half of the day, I keep scratching my itchy nose. Whenever I catch cold, I suffer wholesale !. (Imagine a Giraffe catching cough) But Now, I will use the same itchy nose for some good reason. That is what will make me special.
Because of my nose, I can run a long distance. Normal 'Fit' people get tired within just 1 km of run. I can run 10 Kms and dont get tired. After the run, I travel 3 Kms on my bicycle. Go home, I never feel tired. Of course, I get a snory sleep. But I dont collapse after reaching home.

Now, I will continue my runs. Improve my stamina. And one day, I will run a Full Marathon.
When I do it, I will consider myself, "Special"

Nike+ipod

I recently purchased one of the most awaited gadget for ipod nano- The Nike+ipod. Actually, it was launched long ago in 2006, but was made available in India recently. It costs Rs 2000 in India and is available in Nike showrooms, Thought of buying it, but finally ordered it from US thru a friend. It costs 30$ in the US. The product is quite a hifi gadget for ipod users, but the catch is, it works only with Ipod Nano. And, There's a catch from Nike too ! it fits in selected Nike Shoes. The gadget consists of a small sensor and a receiver. The sensor goes inside the shoe's sole and the receiver fits to the ipod. Thats it ! you are ready to run and track your workouts.

I had recently purchased new Reebok shoes worth 3500 rs, and I was not ready to pay more to buy those Nike+ compatible shoes. So after a little research, I found a wokaround. Instead of the sensor fitting inside the shoe's sole, It works quite accurately if it is slipped between the shoe and the shoe lace. So, along with the sensor, I order for a shoe pouch too ! It cost me 8$ and I cursed myself why did I spend 300 rs on this stupid pouch ? anyways, it is quite reliable and once you fit your sensor, you can forget about it.

So, finally i attached the shoe pouch to my reebok shoe, inserted the sensor, plugged the receiver to my ipod and I was ready. My ipod automatically detected the sensor. I got audio feedback in a female voice. This was the best part. It seems as if you are in some outer space and you are guided by someone. In addition to the audio feedback provided by a generic male or female voice (user's choice), there are pre-recorded congratulations provided by Lance Armstrong and Paula Radcliffe whenever a user achieves a personal best (such as fastest mile, fastest 5K fastest 10K, longest run yet) or reaches certain long-term milestones (such as 250 miles, 500 kilometers). This "celebrity feedback" is heard after the usual end-of-run statistics.

After I finished my run, I connected my ipod to my computer. Itunes automatically detected my run and sent the data directly to Nikeplus website. Here I got my statistics of the run, graphs, comparisons with previous runs, my position among other fellow Nikeplus runners around the world, in india, in Bangalore. Also, I downloaded a smal widget which will let you know how much I have run. It is placed in this very blog in the left hand side. There are a very few users of Nike+ipod in India, but I am sure, people who are fond of jogging/running, this one is a must have. existing ipod nano users, you have just another reason to do a workout.

I have already surrendered before this gadget.