I just might be the most disorganized runner ever: I don’t keep track of my time or distance, I’m really bad about pacing myself, and it never occurs to me to monitor my heart rate. But perusing the product picks of ThisNext’s speediest shopcasters, I’m feeling slightly inspired to regain that motivation and meticulousness I once had as a member of the high school track team.

The runners of ThisNext have the most fun workout toys, such as the Nike + iPod kit recommended by Kelli J (“the greatest invention to running since Nike put the waffles on the bottom of shoes,” she declares). Probably the running gadget I’m coveting the hardest, the Nike + iPod features a sensor that attaches to your shoe and a receiver that attaches to your iPod, explains Laura from Starling Fitness. Your iPod screen will then display your distance, time, and pace while you run, but Laura’s favorite feature is the Nike.com software that keeps track of all your workouts online. Such record-keeping may end up revolutionizing your running life, according to Laura:

“The Nike.com website really understands how to make running like a video game. Beating my high score can keep me playing a video game far past my bedtime. Beating my best time or longest distance is a way for running to become more like play and less about drudgery. I’m excited to see how this affects my running over the next few months.”

...continued: Running gadgets

We’re mostly intrigued by Sony’s soon-to-be-released Walkometer because of the fact that it vaguely resembles a Lightsaber. But, says Alex at Geared Up Blog, the soon-to-be-released Walkman-pedometer hybrid has other winning features as well:

“The two versions are silver and black and 1gb and 2gb respectively. It sports an interesting cigar shape, metal construction, water resistant (sweat resistant more like), FM tuner, unique twisty knob navigation and has an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display. It doesn’t quite have the features of the Nike+iPod kit but if you want a cheaper running tech with music alternative without all the extras (not to mention you can use your own shoes) then this might be something for you.”

Blasting your ears full of motivating music isn’t the only way your iPod can help you through a workout. At Videogame Workout, Glen Raphael blogs about PumpOne’s series of exercise routines created for display on your iPod:

“It’s a simple idea, well executed: a couple screens of text and pictures for each exercise to remind you what to do next and help you keep the right form. There are several exercise levels for each focus area, so you can order a collection and rotate through them for variety.”

So far PumpOne’s got a little more than a dozen kinds of workouts, including PumpedPilates, Pumped(6)Pack, KettlePump, and Pumped Mama.

Nothing keeps me going mid-workout like loud, snarly guitars and fast, heavy drums. But for Billy at Beer Belly Blog, the “prevalent use of groove” and “trippy soundscapes” of techno/dance music are the main motivators. (“Listening to this playlist makes me feel like a 10 year old with ADD high on caffeine,” says Billy, who’s got “Jump” from Madonna’s Confessions On A Dance Floor on his iPod workout playlist. “I can do my cardio exercise forever.”)

To discover more of those prevalent grooves and trippy soundscapes, Billy uses Pandora, a free streaming radio service. Here’s how it works:

“Pandora has hundreds of attributes for all the songs in their database and basically match up these attributes to a song that you pick. When songs are selected for you, you have the choice to tell them whether you like it or not. And the longer you listen to Pandora and guide them towards your preference, the more accurate it becomes in picking out tunes that you love.”

If it weren’t for my headphones, I might never make it through a workout. Running blogger Ginger Breadman at Reality Check also believes in taking advantage of his iPod’s energizing effects, soundtracking his excursions with music that “simply has some effect on your spirit or on that energy inside you.” A few choice tracks off his playlist:

-“Free As A Bird” by The Beatles
-“Redemption Song” by Bob Marley
-“Zoo Station” by U2
-and, believe it or not, the Great American Hero theme

How do you frost your video ipod? Over at New Zealand blog Girl’s Toys they have a nice list of options on their “Wednesday 5 - Frosting for your Video iPod” post. They have one of my favorite designs on there - it is the Bennie and Olive iPod jackets that are made out of vintage pulp fiction book covers.

ThisNext wants to know what you’re really putting on your video iPod - feel free to make a list, and if you’re lacking in ideas or technical knowledge… i found this Video iPod blog that will fill you in on how to get your DVD’s on there with full walk throughs for many different programs. So what’s your excuse now? If you have this lovely gadget and haven’t been maxing out its potential?

If you like to keep your finger on the pulse of the indie music scene, and keep up with what’s sure to be the next big thing, then IndieInterviews.com is a must read…you little hipster, you.

Actually, it’s not so much a read as a listen (oh the irony…listening to a music blog), as the site features podcast interviews of bands like We Are Scientists, David Bazan, LCD Soundsystem and The Wrens, to name only a few.

Moving forward, the site is going to offer interactive interviews to the music community via their Insider Program as a way to “allow the participants to assist in the interview development. Basically, it would just invite others to feel heard and involved.”

We’re all for mindful curating for the consumer, so listen up!

We are all about customization whatever your taste. How hardcore is your nano? Made by Heavy Metal Buckles, these cases are made from base metals, and feature clear screen protectors and openings for the click wheel, headphone jack and hold switch. They retail from $28-$35. [via iLounge]