Can Technology Make You Run Faster?

Make You Run FasterForget about bionic legs and power armor. Think more in terms of wearable technology. Can it make you run faster?

Whether your an athlete, a runner, or a just looking to stay in shape, at some point the question crosses your mind how to get faster? There are plenty of training programs by experts that’ll lead to your goal, but not everyone has access to those kind of resources or funds.

The answer to getting faster lies in technology. It already exists. It doesn’t come in the form of hardware but more like software. It’s data actually.

The data that can make you run faster is measured in g-forces, breathing patterns, and adrenaline. Professional sports have used these metrics to baseline athletes. The information gathered let’s the athlete train smarter.

The good news for the those of us that want to get faster, this technology is not out of reach.

Under Armour E39 to make you run faster

Since 2011, the E39 has become more prevalent among aspiring rookies at the NFL Combine. Scouts are now not just looking at a players 40-yard time via stopwatch, but also measuring how fast they recover and how much power they generate.

Make You Run Faster

This information is useful for scouts, but it also tells the player how to train. This smart shirt comes equipped with a module and chest strap which feeds data wirelessly to a mobile app.

Here’s the kind of data it provides:

  • Willpower: According to Under Armour it’s, “an algorithm that combines how long you workout, what you did, profile info like gender and weight, and key heart rate measures to give you a single score.”
  • Heart Rate
  • Calories burned
  • Intensity

Put all these metrics together and you have the type of information that can you use to make you run faster. With the data instantly available you draw conclusions about your workouts and where to alter training accordingly.

Make You Run Faster

The E39 retails for $149.99 so it’s not something to try out. It’s an financial investment to make you run faster. But even if you have the money, it still comes down to time, effort, and commitment to want to run faster.

Chris Narbone is the founder of Amplify, a life, technology, and running blog. You can find him on , Twitter, and Facebook.

Posted in: Technology / Tagged: , ,

How to Stay Hydrated for Running with the Help of Technology

Stay Hydrated - How to Stay Hydrated with the Help of TechnologyA cautionary tale on why it’s important to stay hydrated with the warmer here to stay for the next few months.

The heat caught me by surprise a couple of weeks ago. I’m able to workout during my lunch break so I went for a run as the weather was awesome. It was the first time the Chicago area had hit the 80 degree mark in months.

During my run I was sweating more than I was used to. I should’ve listened to my instincts and slowed down but pushed on. The more I sweat, the more depleted I felt. At the end of the run, I was exhausted. I tried drinking water but it just didn’t seem to appeal to me.

After drinking some Gatorade, I started to bounce back  a little but still fought off a headache and nauseousness - I was dehydrated. I felt like a fool for not picking up on the symptoms on my run and post-run. I run mostly in the morning when the temps are cooler. The need to stay hydrated in the morning isn’t as important as say at noon.

Once I recovered, I knew I had to get a handle on my hydration situation. I turned to technology to get me on a path to solid foundation for hydration. Here’s how I what I came up with:

Set a smartphone reminder to stay hydrated

Why bother? Just remind yourself to drink more water. Easy, right? With kids, house duties, and a full time job it’s amazing how fast a day goes by without consuming enough water. I programmed a reminder a couple times in the morning and afternoon to grab a glass of water.

Setting the reminder relieves you of that panic of having play catch up of how to stay hydrated. What I learned about the run mentioned earlier is that I should’ve been sipping water throughout the morning. I had a busy morning with meetings and a conference call. I didn’t think of drinking water until I laced up my running shoes – not nearly enough to stay hydrated.

Use food journaling apps to record glasses of water

LoseIt! and MyFitnessPal are great food journaling options and have features to record your water intake. If your goal oriented, set this up to stay hydrated throughout the day. Men should aim for 13 glasses of water a day and 9 for women.

Set your mobile app to ping you for water

Find yourself a water bottle that’s easy to carry. Next, program your running app to alert you after each mile (or time threshold reached). Chances are the app won’t tell you to take a drink, but the alert will be a reminder to drink consistenly.

Every time you hear an alert take a drink. It’s kind of like a drinking game without the beer or the rowdy gang of people rooting you on.

Final thoughts on how to stay hydrated

If you get bored with water and need a twist, consider a slice of lemon or a lime. I also enjoy cucumber slices. The effect is the same as you’ll stay hydrated and it’ll taste refreshing – whatever it takes to keep the fluids flowing.

Do not underestimate the effort of how to stay hydrated. It does require some timing and discipline. If you’r looking for a productive summer of running, take hydration seriously and plan ahead.

In an upcoming post, I’ll highlight some innovative products to stay hydrated on your run.

Chris Narbone is the founder of Amplify, a life, technology, and running blog. You can find him on , Twitter, and Facebook.

Posted in: Nutrition / Tagged: , , , ,

What the Ways of the Ninja Have Taught Me About Parenting

Just like a real ninja, you probably didn’t see this post coming, did you? And your probably wondering how it relates to parenting? Ponder this ancient ninja proverb:

One must find the truth of the current task before one can move on to the next one.

What the ways of the ninja has taught me about parenting

I recently finished John Man’s book Ninja: 1,000 Years of the Shadow Warrior. It’s an amazing read as it does a great job illustrating the fascinating history of the ninja. These fearless assassins lived by a moral code in which many became ninjas as a way to support and protect their families. Many were farmers or trades people by day, and masters of deception by night.

As I finished the book, I realized there are some ways of the ninja that can be applied to all aspects of life. The focus of this post will be parenting.

1. To the ninja, silence is golden

My wife is great at this. When one of our boys throws a tantrum, I’m trying to broker a peace deal. Her stance is to ignore and let them work it out. Her strategy wins almost every time.

What the ways of the ninja has taught me about parenting

To the ninja, silence is an asset as to engage a friend or enemy at any time reveals their vulnerabilities. This is so true. My acknowledging the tantrum, I shift leverage to my kids.

2. Know how to escape

At the park, restaurant, or the mall inevitably kids act up or have accidents. How you respond to those will shape the situation. Sometimes a Genghis Khan style meltdown by your kids requires a exit. Escape to the closest exit or find the nearest bathroom to regain composure and return.

My son and I were recently at a park when he had an accident. Apparently, I should have asked a fifth time if he needed to go to the bathroom before we left.  Any way, as we arrived at the park, I scoped the area and located a bathroom just in case. When he came to me with his accident, we quickly walked away, cleaned him up, and he was back on the playground.

No matter where you are, have an escape plan. Know how get out of any situation quickly and unseen. Classic ninja escape techniques call for smoke bombs or firecrackers, but consider employing a more subtle approach.

Distraction is another weapon used by the ninja. Kids can be distracted into a lot of things when situations call for it. I’d prefer this tactic as making a bigger commotion to overshadow a child feels like a stretch.

3. Learn how to control by words and non-violent influence

There’s plenty of research that points out spanking or other forms of force do little to get kids to behave.  Listening and reacting appropriately verbally goes a long way. Again, my wife is Shinobi warrior in this tactic. A steady hand is required when dealing with kids especially when it comes resistance.

The ninja observes people and understands their needs and wants, which can be advantageous if used correctly. I’m not implying anything underhanded, but rather practice listening in order to satisfy and advance your agenda.

There’s a common misconception that ninjas were ruthless mercenaries. To some extent this was true, but predominantly violence was a ninja’s last resort. Stealth and influence were just as lethal as the sword.

 

Final Thoughts: The Ninja and Parenting Connection

Ninja’s had more in common with parenting then you maybe thought. Just like the shadow warrior, parents use a code to govern themselves to protect and raise their families. Stealth, influence, and self-control are a true mark of ninja and certainly go a long way in parenting.

Chris Narbone is the founder of Amplify, a life, fit, and tech blog. You can find him on , Twitter, and Facebook.

Posted in: Family / Tagged: ,

5 Ways to Optimize a Running App

5 Ways to Optimize a Running AppA couple of weeks ago I proclaimed not all running apps are the same. They’re not – I’m not budging from that statement. However, they do have some common features that enhance your running experience.


When I started running a with an app, I went the plug and play route. For some reason, I ignored a number of the standard features – I just wanted run! Yeah, well, that’s fine and all but I paid good money for that app. Here are a few ways to get the most out of your running app.

1. Socialize with your running app

This feature might feel obnoxious, but it’s worth your time. After a run, apps will let you tweet or share your workout. I used to think, “Who cares?” Actually, people do. One, they’ll support you no matter how fast or slow. Two, it’s a great way to find other runners, pick up tips, or share running experiences.


 

2. Race against yourself

Looking for a challenge? How about the person in the mirror? That’s right, apps have a feature where you baseline a route, and then you track your progress on how you run against it. My advice is to have at least 5 different routes. Using the same route or two can create running boredom.

3. Enter your vitals

Open up and share a little bit about yourself. Specifically, entering your weight is a good alternative to just weighing yourself. Running apps should have a weight tracker making it an ideal aid in fight to lose weight.

4. Training Programs

Whether you’re new or experienced runner, everyone can you use a training plan for a race. From a 5K to a marathon, any running app worth its code should have a training plan to help you. Additionally, apps should have this feature as a standard and at no additional cost.

I’m using this training feature for a half marathon coming up at the end of the summer; expect a full report

5. Sync your running app with other fitness devices

5 Ways to Optimize a Running AppThere are probably just as many fitness gadgets as there are running apps, and they do sync up with each other. Rather than manually entering your workout the app should transmit data back to the device. This let’s you really leveraging the wearable technology to your advantage.

 

A running app is a great aid in improving a runner’s training. Each running app is a little different but their standard features shouldn’t be ignored as they provide additional motivation and utility to any runner.

Need more info on a running app? Check out Five Best Smartphone Running Apps by LifeHacker.

Chris Narbone is the founder of Amplify, a life, fit, and tech blog. You can find him on , Twitter, and Facebook.

Posted in: Running / Tagged: ,

How to tell your story with photos and videos

Tell Your Story with the Disney Story AppThe hardest part of sharing photos or videos is grouping them together and doing it quickly (free helps too). The pictures tell a story, or the video captures a moment maybe pictures can’t.

When sharing these moments, just posting on social media or sending an email doesn’t always do it justice. Disney created an app that let’s you tell your story to give your photos and videos the treatment it deserves.

How it works to tell your story

Story by Disney gathers the photos and/or videos on your Apple device (sorry no word on Android yet), and then creates a digital scrapbook. Customize it with text, layouts, and themes. You’re in control and get to tell your story the way it should be told – by you.

The relief about this app is what I described above can be done in seconds. It really depends on how creative you feel. The first story I told only had some text and a theme. In total, it took me less than in a minute. I think I spent more time wondering if I was missing something – it’s that easy.

When you’re satisified with your story, share it. Right now, the only options are Facebook or email. I anticipate more sharing platforms will come aboard soon.

With iCloud capabilities, your story is saves and can sync with other Apple devices.

With all that, here’s the story book I put together:

 

Why it works to tell your story

With a very user friendly interface, the Story app’s focus is usability from the start. The auto-suggestion feature places pictures in the story book, and still allows you to rearrange them if you’d like.

When you have the pictures in your preferred order, you can resize, change the layout, add a caption, or delete and add a new one.

There are other photo sharing apps available for download, but the Disney Story app makes the experience quick, easy, and fun. So how are you going to tell your story?

Chris Narbone is the founder of Amplify, a life, fit, and tech blog. You can find him on , Twitter, and Facebook.

Posted in: Apps / Tagged: , ,

Parenting Help: How to Introduce Kids to Superheroes

I loved superheroes growing up. When I became a parent for the first time, I hoped for the chance to share that love of superheroes with my son. I wasn’t too concerned about looking for parenting help when it came to this subject. I thought I had it covered.

I’m not sure how my parents approached the topic. I guess it wasn’t that big of deal at that time. The internet wasn’t around and cable television was scarce. It was easier then to control content for kids then it is now.

When my son showed interest in Spider-Man, he was around 3-years-old. I’m not sure how the introduction was made: maybe a flip book or a random toy. Either way Spider-Man was his guy.

Parenting help on how to introduce kids to superheroes

I was excited to introduce him into the world of Marvel and eventually DC Comics characters but stumbled as to how to do it. There was no shortage of material. Between the internet and cable television I was covered, but that was also the problem.

How to responsibly make that introduction without exposing him to concepts he wouldn’t understand proved to be a challenge. I learned that I needed to pull back as I didn’t want to ruin the experience for my son. I came up with some tips to navigate the fun but challenging topic.

Useful parenting help on superheroes:

  • Control the flow of information: Kids don’t need to every detail about their favorite superhero. Peter Parker’s uncle died as result of Peter not stopping a criminal. Probably tough to explain for any kid, but if death is concept that’s not been discussed yet, best to leave it for some other time when it’s necessary.

  • Pictures then videos: I had this backwards. I found some Spider-Man cartoon on the Cartoon Network but it was too much as far as content goes. The explosions, the fighting, the villains, and Peter Parker dating Mary Jane – too much too soon. In hindsight, reading books and and telling stories based on pictures of superheroes would have been more appropriate.

            Only about a year later did I find some Spider-Man clips on YouTube that sufficed. Like this one from the 1960’s with the famous theme song:

  • It’s all just pretend: My son and I now talk superheroes. He wants to know more about other characters – everything from their powers to how they became superheroes. At the end of those conversations, he’ll always ask if superheroes are real. Telling him they’re not cuts down on the confusion and establishes what’s real and what’s not. They are no more real than Jack and the Beanstalk or Little Red Riding Hood (both of which offer plenty of violence by the way).

  • Stress the good not the bad: Superheroes help people in trouble. Save the villains for another time unless you love nightmares and screaming at 2:00 am.

Additional Parenting Help

When you’re little guy or girl is ready to enter the exciting world of superheroes we found books like these that are reasonably priced at Amazon.

If you’re looking for a suitable television, commonsensemedia.org has a list of age appropriate cartoons to choose from.

Introducing kids to superheroes is a lot of fun even the “older, big” kids. Rely on instincts and best judgement to determine what’s appropriate and the experience will be fun for everyone.

Have any parenting help on this about introducing superheroes? Leave a comment and drop that knowledge!

Chris Narbone is the founder of Amplify, a digital life and personal technology blog. You can find him on , Twitter, and Facebook.

Posted in: Family / Tagged: ,

How YouTube Will Destroy Television

Remember when YouTube was full of just user-generated amateur clips? Maybe not because YouTube has matured pretty significantly since it first went live. The video-sharing site is now poised to destroy television. But let’s not prepare a eulogy for television just yet – maybe think about calling the coroner though.

I’m just not referring to the destruction of network television but cable as well. A change like this is inevitable. Think about how accessible the internet has made media to our culture. We’ve gone from “must see TV” on Thursday nights to on-demand to streaming. YouTube is potentially the nail in the coffin for TV as we know it.


Geek and Sundry

The success of subscription channels like Geek and Sundry and Felicia Day’s The Guild has generated, not only buzz, but advertisers in YouTube. A new format combined with the mythical 18 to 34 year old demographic is hard to resist. Early advertisers that invest will probably be rewarded handsomely as YouTube matures even more.

YouTubefelicia day

 

 

 

 

 

 

The way television (network and cable) is structured is outdated.  The YouTube model for viewing is based on engagement. Television today is all push. The content received on any day or night of the week is based on schedule or recording. The format in which most people watch television today is all in one direction.

In an increasingly more mobile culture, those tools for viewing are dated. Much like the twilight of radio, listeners that like music pull it in via iTunes or streaming services like Pandora or Spotify. Listeners aren’t waiting by the radio to hear their favorite song or record it.

Video media today is pulled and consumed via YouTube and to some degree Netlfix. This makes the television delivery we know obsolete.

Television, much like radio, must seen the signs of downward trend coming because of streaming. Take Netflix as an example. They are taking on HBO with its series of original content. Now YouTube is strategically positioning itself to one-up Netflix. What YouTube brings that Netflix doesn’t is the back and forth between content and subscribers. Real interaction in a way that television, or Netflix for that matter, can’t compete with.

Advertising and videos aren’t enough to destroy television though. Those are mere flesh wounds. Court a cable network to abandon television completely and host it’s own YouTube channel – now you can call the coroner.

For quite some time, YouTube was fun and it still is. I used to think of it as a way to see sports highlights or see some daredevil-type stunts. Those days will still live on, but new ones will rise as serious original content becomes a force to reckon with.

Posted in: Technology / Tagged: , , , ,

3 Ways to Earn Rewards for Fitness

Fitness programs provide obvious benefits like reducing stress, improving sleep, and controlling weight. How about earning rewards? You might argue the benefits named are already rewards, but I’m thinking in terms of money or merchandise.

I’ve discussed the concept of social media fitness sites where you gain virtual rewards.  For someone looking to gain something tangible. Consider it a little extra motivation to earn rewards for working out.

A number of apps and programs exist that provide some great benefits for time fitness in the gym or on the road. Here’s a look at three of them.


Walgreens – Steps with Balance Rewards

Working Out

  • Earn points for walking, running and tracking your weight
  • Track progress toward your fitness goals
  • Sync a device to log activity on-the-go
  • Connect with friends in our revamped community forum

Visit Walgreens’ website for information on Steps with Balance Rewards. It’s free to sign up and you rack up points pretty quickly. Be sure to download the Walgreens’ mobile app to track your fitness activity on-the-go.

 

Nexercise

nexercise

 

  • Pick from over 200 exercises to earn points towards merchandise or gift cards
  • Game like experience that tracks your fitness activity
  • Perfect for anyone who is active beyond just exercise (yard work, non-sedentary job, etc)

Download the free Nexercise app to get started.

 

shopkick

Working Ou

  • Not technically geared towards fitness, however, you’re rewarded for walking into some well known retailers
  • Get rewarded for shopping and scanning items on your smartphone
  • Don’t underestimate the calories burned shopping especially when carrying bags on a long afternoon at the mall

Download the free shopkick mobile app and earn points towards major retailers like: Target, Best Buy, Macy’s, Sports Authority, Old Navy, and many others

Whether you’re in a work out funk or looking for a way to diversify your fitness, consider a rewards program to think differently about your activity. To get started is free and benefits are many!

Posted in: Apps / Tagged: , , , ,

Where Is My Iron Man Suit?

Iron ManThe idea of Iron Man fascinates me. Superhuman strength via technology without the side effects of gamma rays, radiation, potions, or deals with the devil. There’s a lot of upside to what Iron Man offers.

It’s the concept of power armor is what gets my imagination going. Part of the reason I named this blog “Amplify” has to do with notion of technology amplifying humans. Robert Heinlein conceived the power armor in his 1959 novel Starship Troopers. That’s right – 1959.

starship troopers

Iron Man is the culmination of power armor. Thanks to comics and a successful movie franchise, what could have been a  cartoonish idea might some day be a reality.

A lot of technologies were at one point fiction (or science fiction). Take the airplane or the computer. Years before they were even scale models to create the idea might have been perceived as black magic.

Technology always has some challenges to clear, but that hasn’t stopped anyone from figuring them out. Power armor is no different because it has challenges like:

  • Strength of the armor: If it was really made of iron, then it would only exist in a glass case in a museum. The alloy would have to be invented to be light and strong enough to endure harsh conditions to attacks. Now what does exist are exoskeletons that military is developing. This allows soldiers to run faster or lift heavy objects but not the full suit  for protection.

Iron Man

  • Flying: This is probably a long shot. We’ve seen the guy on the jet pack fly around. The challenge here is to condense the jet propulsion unit into something that can fit into a suit. Not saying it can’t be done but will require some heavy innovation.
  • Sensors and computer: Actually suiting up in power armor can leave one vulnerable as peripheral vision and other senses are dulled. Iron Man has a pretty sophisticated computer to complement what he can’t see or interpret outside the suit.
  • Cost: Yes, there would have to be a Tony Stark involved to get a project like this to get it off the ground. Right now, it’s estimated that an Iron Man-type suit would run $10 billion. Not sure how one budgets for something like.

I’m not down on the whole notion of power armor. There’s actually a few folks out there took a try at creating their Iron Man suit. For now, it’s just science fiction, but this is where innovation and creativity are sparked.

iron man

As Iron Man opens May 3, someone is going to watch this movie and think: “I can make a real Iron Man.” Chances are his (or her) name isn’t even Tony Stark.

Posted in: Technology / Tagged: , ,

What a Music Streaming Service Can Do For You: Songza Review

In an earlier post, I wrote about the changing landscape of the streaming music scene. There are a lot of players in the marketplace that give you control over music. These applications let you pick the songs, artists, and genre so that each playlist hand-crafted. It’s fun but it’s also a lot of work.

What if time is not on your side? Let me paint a picture for you.

My Life Before a Music Streaming Service

Circa 2005, my soon-to-be wife wants to make dinner for my parents, sister and brother-in-law. Dinner was to take place at my condo, and she would take care of the cooking and making my place less like a bachelor pad. My job? Booze and music. The former was easy, the latter was chaos.

My music library consisted of thrash metal, alternative, some electronica, and classic rock (think heavy rotations of Megadeth, Mudhoney, Crystal Method and Thin Lizzy). I knew this wasn’t copacetic for a dinner party.

I ran to the Tower Records that was a stone’s throw from my place. I desperately asked the sales gal for recommendations for dinner music. I got a strange look like, “Why would you eat music for dinner?”

I had to trust my instincts on this one. I randomly picked up three “Best of” CDs: Frank Sinatra, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis. Cool, swanky and always en vogue, right?

coltrane

Yes, but what I failed to realize was that each CD was only about 40 minutes. This proved to be a problem as the last CD finished and I had to go back and key up the first one again. Let’s just say, quite a few bottles of wine and lots of after-dinner drinks later, John Coltrane’s “Blue Train” some how got stuck on repeat. To this day, that album haunts me (still a great album though).

My Life Now with a Music Streaming Service

A lengthy story, I know, but it illustrates an interesting situation you might’ve found yourself in. What if I had implemented a service like Songza to take care of the music for me? Yes, a hangover would have still existed, but songs from “Blue Train” would have only been a sampling of what I heard that night.

Songza is a music streaming service that matches music to your mood or activity. The service recommends music based on on your preferences.

Music Streaming

For example, in my situation back in ’05, I would have opened Songza and reviewed playlists around dinner music or  a cocktail party. From there, you’re given a number of sub-genres. I would’ve selected Classy & Sophisticated Jazz, and looked like someone who throws a mean dinner party.

The music Concierge in Songza is a tremendous help because you start by selecting the day and time of day. From there, it proposes a number of activities or moods that might coincide. Or if that’s not working for you, click “Explore” and filter by topics like genre, activities, moods, decades, culture, or Record-store Clerk.

The app is extremely intuitive and definitely takes the guess work of figuring out what to play. I wrote this post listening to Liquid Dubstep - all based on the following filters: Tuesday Evening > Playing Video Games > Electronic Focus Msuic > Liquid Dubstep

music streaming

With so much music available in a streaming format, I find it less of an instance to just want to listen to one artist or genre. Sometimes I don’t want to deal with the guess work of figuring out what to listen to. Songza fills that gap nicely – oh, and it’s free.

This music service is also different from the others because the playlists are curated by music experts and there are no listening limits. But if your a control freak and having the ability to hand select every song is important to you, try one of the paid services like Spotify or Rdio.

Songza is a solid music streaming service with plenty of ways think about music. It’s a fun way to match your mood or activity with a soundtrack that someone has in mind for you.

I have no affliation with Songza, I just genuinely enjoy their service. Consider downloading the app today via iPhone, Android, or Kindle Fire.

Posted in: Apps / Tagged: ,
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