Ifit & BitGym

Last year when it looked like I wasn't going to be able to swim ever again I bought myself an elliptical machine. After trying dozens of them I finally found one with an unusually long stride that felt comfortable. I've used it nearly every day, until I started swimming again, and I still use it on the days I don't swim.

However, it can get a bit boring.

I pop my iPad up on it and play music, but the machine is designed to interface with an outside service called "iFit" which tracks your speed, plays videos of places you can run through, and supposedly adjusts the resistance on your machine based on the terrain. Supposedly you can plot out a course on Google maps and it'll use Google street view to show you the course.

Neat idea. Unfortunately the online reviews are nearly universal in calling it a piece of shit that does not work. I never sprung for the expensive iFit module because of that.

But the other day I was poking around on the App Store and discovered BitGym, another app that does everything iFit does except adjust your machine. And it's free.

There are quite a number of courses you can run, all over California and here in Seattle and through the gorgeous parks in the Southwest. There are also Italian courses and runs through the Swiss Alps and I don't know what else. I will be exploring these in the coming weeks.

This morning I ran from the Seattle waterfront down to the Pike Place Market and was a half hour into it before I even noticed. My music played on the iPad while ambient noises of the run played in the background. The program uses the iPad's camera to track your movement and adjusts the speed accordingly.

Damn slick.

Our elliptical machine can hook up to iFit, but I've never seen a need for it.

My wife puts on her iPod when she works out. I turn on the television in front of the elliptical machine (on the now-rare occasions I am able to use it).

This morning I ran along trails in the Shasta-Trinity mountains, the Boy Scout Tree trail, Siskiyou National Park, Rogue River.  Some breathtaking scenery although the trails can be a bit treacherous.

Friday I ran the road down the Argentine coast in Patagonia.

I feel like a cat watching someone take a shower. "It's all over you!"

This morning I ran up into the mountains on the Glacier National Park trail. About every six minutes the cameraman takes a breather, to pan around the surroundings. At the top of a steep rise we came upon a panoramic view of the valley below, and got to see a gorgeous rainbow hovering below us in the valley. Stunning.

Ran across New Zealand this morning. That be some pretty country!

Watch out for the sheep.

Why, are they carnivorous?

What do you think?

Nice.

Reminds me of a very nice image I ran across a couple weeks ago while making a CD cover for "Instant Karma":
http://a1.s6img.com/cdn/box_005/post_15/621258_7779310_i.jpg

That is a very strange picture.

Isn't it? And I like that it takes a minute for the strangeness to sink in. First reaction is "Ho-hum." Then a couple seconds later you go, "Hey wait a minute!"

Goblin Park in Utah and The Grand Canyon. Some elevation gain!

The trail around Crater Lake is stunning. I might have to try that one in person!

Brand new route around Maui. People everywhere but pretty scenery.