The Best Running Video Yet

A few weeks ago we looked at a cool running video from Japan that Nike did with Undercover. Seems like we've seen a lot of this kind of thing in the past couple of months so it's a little difficult to get excited about them at this point. Then this comes along. Now I know that wheat paste isn't really all that new and I don't live in a cosmopolitan city so it is difficult for me to tell if it is even still in style. However, it's what they do with it in this video that is so cool and makes me want to drop out of the start-up world and go to film school.

This come from Nike Stadium and was shot in Milan. Enjoy.

via Hypebeast

Undercover X Nike video

I check streetwear blogs on the regular and sometimes follow the link check on prices and availability. Inevitably, the stuff I'm, most excited about shows up on some Japanese site with all kinds of characters and crazy rendering. I still check the price and it's always like tens of thousands of yen. I don't bother to do any math.

But this post isn't about crying over the state the dollar, this is a post about how Japan always seems to have the best gear. I'm sure at some point in time, you've seen flocks of Japanese teenagers with astounding outfits. They'll have Nikes in exotic colorways and New Balances in models that you've never seen before. Their jeans actually fit and they make it look effortless. Meanwhile, I'm scratching my head wondering- why are these American companies holding out on us stateside and how come these teenagers dressing so well while American teenagers are still wondering in the wilderness.

So you can imagine my frustration when I see a video like the one below. I run probably 3 to 4 times a week (just to throw that in there.) I usually wear an old t-shirt or some functional polyester top. I figure its that part of my day where I really don't need to stress my look. Meanwhile, these Japanese guys just don't stop. They have a team that's running all weekend in knit beanies and nicely cut windbreakers. They are making collaborations with Nike and filming videos with nice drum beats. Even if we could get our hands one any of this stuff, we wouldn't be able to afford it. Still though, I have the sense not to run in traffic. 

Gyakusou International Running Association from POP Magazine on Vimeo.

More on the collaboration and the line at Pop Magazine

Can we talk about gimmick shoes?

My brother sent me this youtube video with Kenny Powers advertising some new K-Swiss trainer that comes with a state-of-the-art technology they call “Tubes.” I’m not exactly sure what Kenny Powers’ origins are. I’ve never seen Eastbound and Down save for a few youtube clips and I see him featured in internet memes from time to time. I’m pretty sure he is a fictional character though it appears the actor spends a lot of time in character ala Paul Reubens. Anyway, my point is that I want to give K-Swiss props for kind of admitting that their new shoes are a ridiculous gimmick.

Gimmick Shoes-

I’m only an casual footwear historian and will not pretend that I know the origins of gimmick shoes but the first one I remember being cognizant of was the Reebok Pump. You probably remember remember the big campaign push. I also remember the kid with indulgent parents showing up with a pair in gym class. Of course they weighed like well over a pound and even fifth graders kind of thought they were silly. 

photo via NiceKicks

Gimmick shoes are back. Actually, they have been back. As anyone in the shoe industry will tell you, Nike Shox are a joke and actually pretty bad for you if you run in them. Of course adidas rolled out the Bounce soon afterwards. I was in an adidas training session one time and was told that the Bounce is for people that aren’t serious about working out but want to look cool in the gym.

Reebok has been busy too. I’m no insider but it seems like adidas, the owner of Reebok since 2005, has been looking for a space to put Reebok in that won’t actually cannibalize adidas sales. Their solution is gimmick shoes.

One is supposed to give you a workout just be wearing them and has lots of great ads with girls rocking spandex and wearing these around.

The other is supposed to work like a slinky and spring you forward or some such. They weren't shy with the colorways on this one.

Photos via City Sports

I know this all because I had the benefit of talking with a Reebok sales rep at a running tech event last weekend. It was kind of comical. He showed up late to this big running tech event and squeezed his table between the Saucony and Mizuno tables. The Saucony and Mizuno gear is really well respected in the run world and their reps are really knowledgeable and take gear super seriously. The Reebok rep was a nice guy but just a full on sales personality. He started talking up the Reebok gear like it was the second coming of the pump. He had a slinky out on his table and would push it over on its side and say, “See that? These shoes are just like that.” It was a little shocking how many people wanted to hear more.

All the serious run techs in the room were quietly shaking their heads- kind of amused and kind depressed. I’ve talked to some retail sales associates and they’ve told me that people are always asking about the Reebok products because they want a work out but they don’t want to work out.

So where am I going with this? If you shoe is gimmicky, embrace it and get Kenny Powers to endorse it. I know there are NFL players in the ad as well but nobody has ever emailed a youtube video to their little brother because Drew Brees is doing a push up. 

More World Cup viral awesomeness from NSW

Are you ready? Are you pumped? Yes the world up is almost here. Here's one more video to get you excited about the big event.

NIKE SPORTSWEAR: NSW+FBGT from fla on Vimeo.

ilovedust and AQKA animated ad for Nike

I also wanted to share this fun little ad featuring a destructive robot and a very courageous Asian woman wearing some Nikes. It's got a cool electro-pop soundtrack and pretty fresh animation. Music by Vitalic (Repair Machines.)

Nike chase from ilovedust on Vimeo.

Nike rolls out its own animated ad for the world cup

Nike shows that it can do animation as well in this spaced-out ad featuring the Brazilian kit.

Nike / Brasil National Team Jersey 2010 from Universal Everything on Vimeo.

Olympic Odds and Ends

Aussie snowboarder Torah Bright


NHL wins gold

Well, it’s over. Sidney Crosby closed out the Olympics with an overtime goal between Ryan Miller’s pads. It was a great game and the US can be proud of a silver medal but I still felt pretty empty last night. With some more time we can move on and put the game in a larger perspective.

One thing that’s clear is that the NHL won gold with the way men’s hockey played out in Vancouver. All along the NHL had been looking for a US vs. Canada final to ramp up interest amongst US fans. They got that and more after the US upset Canada earlier in the tournament. The final game ended up being “a game for the ages.” Despite losing two weeks worth of revenue, this final has to be good news for a league operating in a very competitive market with in a country with only marginal interest in hockey. I think a US gold medal would have been even better but an overtime silver with an earlier victory against Canada is a close second.

And so does Nike

Likewise, men’s hockey made good on Nike’s decision to become the official sponsor of the winter Olympic games for the first time. All the hockey teams in the tournament were wearing Nike so it had exposure throughout the tournament. However, this final had to provide a big payoff in Nike’s mind. I hate to take anything away from a team like Finland or Slovakia, but those markets are so small compared with the US and Canada combined.

AT&T's bet falls a little short

I loved the AT&T ad with the Lou Reed song and Gretchen Bleiler wearing all white and flying out of the half pipe and into outer-space.The song is great and Gretchen Bleiler's looks and style are inspiring. It's a pretty strong ad though and clearly portrays Gretchen Bleiler as a superstar snowboarder.

The only problem is that Gretchen didn't win the gold. In fact, she put in an uninspired performance and came in dead last in the final heat. Australia's Torah Bright won the gold.

No big deal, we all have bad days and I hate to call out an “amateur” athlete. I'd be bummed, though, if I were AT&T because NBC ran a special story about the US women’s half pipe team right before the final round. Instead of talking about snowboarding and her dedication, Gretchen Bleiler was talking about hanging out and Japan and starting a clothing line. She didn’t mention that she’d been training or was stressed out about winning at all. She kind of reminded me of Lindsay Lohan. Not a good look for right before you come in last.

NBC's female sports audiences

Finally, a little gripe about Olympic coverage. I’ve read that 56% of the Olympics television audience was female. You can tell by the media placements.- the P&G and Wal-Mart campaigns directed at moms. My only gripe is the sport coverage. NBC is really light on sports and heavy on human interest stories. I heard numerous women tell me, I love the Olympics because you get to hear all the stories about everyone. It’d be appreciated if MSNBC or CNBC could just run sports coverage on the weekends instead of the paid programming they tend to run. kthanksbye