Summer time is around the corner. Gyms become suddenly crowded, while parks and streets are filled with bicycle riders and runners.

My girlfriend lately belongs to the latter category, also thanks to an amazing on-line platform which is definitely contributing to her commitment: Nikeplus.

Nikeplus allows to keep track of how many miles you run, through a smart (and unexpectedly cheap) iPod Nano accessory, then to upload those information to the cloud via iTunes. What makes Nikeplus unique is the compelling and attractive way it presents and manages your data, building a community of runners who challenge each other and share their passion for sport and healthy lifestyle.

My master swimming season is still in its topic period, which is even longer this year because of the European Championship in Spain. But I must confess a strong temptation to get my running shoes out of the closet, sooner or later. Maybe this time I wouldn’t miss the fascinating target of running a marathon, thanks to this new breed of training tools…