Reebok ZigTech: Bill McInnis talk ZigTech on OSD

On Episode 121 of the OSD Talk Show, we were joined by Bill McInnis, the Head of Advanced Innovation at Reebok; point-blank, he is that DUDE behind the new Reebok ZigTech sneakers.

Bill is responsible for the creation and positioning of technology with a focus on consumer benefit, function and price.

Having joined Reebok in 1994, as a strategic planning manager, Bill worked hard and climbed the corporate ladder at Reebok to be promoted to Director of the Running category, where he was responsible for creating and marketing Reebok running products such as the DMX-line.

To simply write that Bill is smart is an understatement, the man spent 4-years working with NASA on the space shuttle program.

Bill holds an M.B.A. from UCLA in Los Angeles (CA) and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University in Medford(MA).

Listen to the interview as Bill breaks down the lead-up to the current Zig Pulse technology and what runners, basketball players and sneakerheads alike can expect from Reebok and the Zig Pulse technology, aptly dubbed an "Energy Drink for your Feet."

In the meantime, be sure to follow OSD on Twitter at Twitter.com/OSDlive and Twitter.com/OSneakerD.

Until next week, Walk GOOD!

Reebok ZigTech: Bill McInnis talk ZigTech on OSD

Adidas on the Come Up?

Adidas isn't playing around when it comes to the world of sprinting.  Having looked around at what Usain Bolt did in Beijing, at the 2008 Olympics, rumor has it that they've signed, what they hope to be the next "fastest Jamaican to lace-up some spikes" in 19-year-old Yohan Blake.

The 19-year-old Blake has been running on all cylinders and set a personal best at the 2007 Carifta Games by setting the national junior record of 10.11 seconds in the 100m.  

This past weekend, at the Fifth Camperdown Classic, Blake ran a 46.80 seconds in the 400m.

Word around JA is that Blake signed a five-year $1 million (US) deal with the 3-stripes that allows him to pursue his education and training gearing up to the 2012 Olympics, where he would very well compete against training-partner Bolt.  This is going to be very interesting!

So, keep your eyes peeled for Blake, for now you've been brought into the belly of the beast that is track and field.  More FIRE!!!

Adidas on the Come Up?

OG: Nike New Boston ('76-'77)

From Obsessive Sneaker Disorder (OSD)™

When an OG tells you that he's got some old school kicks, most folks think to a time of the '80s or even the '90s, but when OGShoehead tells you that he has some joints that are truly 'Original', you take his word.

His family's connection to sneakers runs (pun intended) more than three generations and he continues to pull out kicks that very few 'heads know about or were even born prior to their release.

On last week's OSD talk show, OGShoehead (real name: Bryan) shared that he recently picked up some Nike New Boston sneakers that have sentimental value to him, because his father ran the Boston Marathon in the sneakers back in the day. We asked for pictures of the sneakers and OG came through with the quickness.

So, ladies and gentlemen...boys and girls and 'heads from around the world, I present to you the Nike New Boston running sneakers from 1976-1977:

From Obsessive Sneaker Disorder (OSD)™

From Obsessive Sneaker Disorder (OSD)™

From Obsessive Sneaker Disorder (OSD)™

From Obsessive Sneaker Disorder (OSD)™

OG: Nike New Boston ('76-'77)

Nike + iPhone interface

So the first pictures hit the street for the Nike + iPhone interface and from the looks of it, Nike+ users will get all of the nifty performance graphs right on the phone (before this stuff was available on the web only). But the biggest improvement over the old Nike system may be Google Maps support:



I'm not sure how detailed the Nike+ maps will be, but the mapping routes directly to the iPhone could be the best thing since sliced bread for organizing a training session. Not being a runner, I wonder how one manages to use the touch screen while running?



*Photos courtesy of Gizmodo.

Nike + iPhone interface

Marathon Day

Well, it's Monday, April 16th and to folks in the New England area, it's known as Marathon Monday or more appropriately called Patriot's Day. No, it's not a day where folks go down to Foxboro Stadium and tailgate and get drunk, rather it's a day to give thanks to the men and women who put their lives on the lines a long time ago.

As the runners are contending with gusts of 50 miles an hour that will be slapping them in the face, I tip my hat to them because running a marathon on its own is grueling, but running it amidst a Nor'easter adds another dimension.

Good luck to all the women and men running and I'll see you next year!

Marathon Day