It sounds pretty lame, but apparently USA Track and Field rules state that elite runners competing for USATF championships or cash prizes aren't allowed to use electronic devices. Everyone else is free to.

Adding to the whole mess, Goebel was only made the winner after the fastest woman was earlier disqualified for accepting a water bottle from a friend, instead of just official water stations. On a forum debating the water incident, a photo of Goebel using the iPod turned up, and then the shit hit the fan. Again.

"If they're going to disqualify me for having an iPod they should disqualify everyone who had one. It's just a little ridiculous. I went there to have a fun race with my friends. If you're bored, it pumps you up a little bit."

I hear ya, but rules are rules, I guess. [JSOnline via The Sporting Blog]

You see, the face of the watch features the world record times for running at various distances:

The outer arc shows records of less than 60 seconds: 100m, 200m and 400m. The two inner arcs align with the minute and hour hand respectively, for records of under and over one hour, showing distances from 800 metres all the way up to 100km.

Designed for Mr Jones Watches, the On Foot is intended to serve as an inspiration to the wearer—to "make and break records." Unfortunately, we are probably more about records of the "most bacon eaten in an hour" or "WOW endurance" variety. [Mr Jones via MocoLoco via DVICE]

However, as has been noted, this rechargeable $80 gadget may have been designed with the best intentions in mind (i.e. protect you from becoming a bug on someone's windshield), but it looks a bit big and unwieldy for running. Perhaps the LED, which casts light a respectable 54 feet ahead, is more suited to the slightly more leisurely pace of the ambitious cave running circuit I'm currently selling incredibly hard right now?

In any event, it's due out in October. The headgear, I mean. [Black Diamond via BBG]

For comparison's sake, Honda's Asimo robot can only manage a meager 6 km/h. We assume Toyota was able to squeeze the extra kilometer per hour out of their robot with a strict training regimen and what can only be described as a mild dose of physical abuse—their robot can re-balance itself when pushed lightly, as you can see in the video.

Just don't get too pushy, young lady. Word on the street is these robot things are about ready to rise up and kill us all. [Jalopnik, YouTube via Smart Machines]

The upside is that it's only $59 and functions as a wristwatch when you're not running. It doesn't have all the features that an iPod and Nike+ combination does, and you obviously can't listen to music, but it lets you run without all that extra stuff on you.

BoingBoingGadgets doesn't say whether or not you can actually calibrate your runs, but you can use Gmaps to map out your path and use that as calibration. Not an optimal solution if you're only going to be running on treadmills.

Still, it's $59, and if all you want to do is run, this is it. Launches Wednesday. [BBG via iPodNN]

Here's our list of five apps that make tracking, remembering, and motivating your resolutions easier than willpower alone. All of them (except RunKeeper) run on both iPhones and iPod touch models.

RunKeeper for motivating your run

Running is one of, if not the best, exercise plan for those who like immediate, measurable proof of their progress. RunKeeper, a free app that Adam used to roll his own Nike+ iPhone for free, is the data-hound's running companion. Using the iPhone's GPS powers, where and how far you went is mapped out (if with a few glitches), your calories burned and average speed marked, and it can all be searched through and/or synced to the RunKeeper web site. For a similar solution with a different mix of strengths and features, try Fitnio. (RunKeeper Free and Pro)

Weightbot for, well, your weight

For just $2, you can grab an app that makes measuring your body weight sort of (seriously) fun. The previously toured iPhone/iPod touch app has a really slick look to it, and takes your weight down in tenths-of-a-pound increments, along with auto-calculating your Body Mass Index. Your day-by-day progress can be graphed out and tracked against a goal weight, and if you're concerned about friends prone to "Ooh, let me see your iPhone apps!" fever, Weightbot can be password locked before giving away the stats. (Store link)

Remember the Milk for everything else

This one's a bit pricier, but you're getting more than just a nagging reminder to do this or don't do that. With a $25/year Remember the Milk Pro account, its iPhone/iPod touch app (which offers 15 free days to any account) gives you pretty much complete access to all your lists, tasks, alerts, reminders, and whatever resolution you're plugging in. Plus, using geo-location features, you can goad yourself into stopping by Goodwill to finally drop off those clothes, since you're already shopping in the neighborhood. As noted in its Top 10 entry, though, RTM's real benefit is that it syncs itself everywhere at all times. So remembering to buy a better paper filing box while you're at your desk can pay off the next time you're in an OfficeMax. (store link)

iOwn to stop hoarding stuff

Most of us can probably do with a little less stuff, and we're all prone to buying things we already own—I'll point you to a drawer full of barely-used duct tape, if you'd like. iOwn is a one-stop spot for keeping track of those things you always tend to buy more of, or just want to have more details about the stuff you already have at your fingertips (does the DVD player take component cables, or just S-Video?). You can give any item as many attributes as you'd like, and the full $5 version lets you store, and backup online, as many items as you can think of (the free, Lite version is a 10-item trial). It's pitched as a total-home organizer, but if you've just got one collection or acquisition habit you're looking to reign in—spices, music, photo frames, whatever—it's pretty indispensable. (via LA Times Blogs; iOwn free and lite links)

Mint for managing your money

Mint.com's a streamlined webapp for graphing, tracking, budgeting, and otherwise keeping tabs on your money. Its free iPhone/iPod companion is no less a handy tool, and it's just as secure and informative. Check your basic balances, browse your last few days' cash flow, and peek at multiple budgets you set up for yourself from a series of sliding screens. If you fear losing your device and opening up your financial world to the thief, you can remotely deactivate the read-only tool from your Mint.com profile. If you can get your head around Mint's money management, you'll really benefit from this app. (Store link)

That's our flight of five apps, but we want to hear what free or paid iPhone/iPod apps work for goals and resolutions. Share the app names in the comments.

A new study led by MIT professor Hugh M. Herr revealed that the high-tech feet didn't give Oscar an advantage over able-bodied runners, conflicting with a January study at the German Sport University, which stated they were 30% more efficient than a human ankle. The German study also suggested that the springy feet meant that a user would need 25% less energy expenditure than an able-bodied runner to achieve the same sprinting speed: this is the study the IAAF based the ban on.

A panel at the Court of Arbitration looked at both studies and eventually ruled in favor of Oscar, overturning the IAAF's ban and opening the gates for him to try to qualify for the 400m.

Oscar was born without fibulas, and had the lower part of both legs amputated when he was 11 months old. He runs on the J-shaped Cheetah feet now, and does so remarkably well: his PB is 46.56 seconds, which is just shy of the 45.55 second qualifying time for Beijing. He plans to train hard, but may be invited to join the South African relay team even if he doesn't beat the individual race qualifying time. And that sounds much more in the spirit of good sportsmanship than banning the guy in the first place. [Flexfoot and Yahoo via Popsci] (Images courtesy of www.ossur.com)

What's even better for people who live in cold places or don't like to run outside (me) is that there are sensors for talking to exercise machines to fetch data. The only downside? Nike's slow-ass development cycle means you're not going to see this for another year or two. Seriously. Some of these leaked Nike products back from January 2007 still haven't been released. [iPodNN]

[Digibarn via MAKE]

The runners themselves are divided. Some old folks say running with music ruins the experience, and some other folks say that if they're banning folks because they can't hear they should ban deaf people as well. Us? If it's like whiteboard marker huffing—which totally gives you an extra six miles, btw—and doesn't hurt anyone, it should be allowed. [NYTimes]

The Pyxis' GPS means you can find out how many yards from the green you are, as well as displaying hazards such as bunkers and rough, and keeping score for you. There's even a car GPS mode, as well as what looks like a port for connecting to your computer. [AVING]

I can understand why Apple made the decision to make the Nike+ Sport Kit not work with the iPhone (providing a reason to buy an iPod Nano, preventing possible damage to a $399 device, differentiating products, whatever), but iPhone users still want this thing to work with their phones. After all, the phone's flash-based, relatively small and light (if you use an armband), and should work perfectly with the kit—in theory.

Is making the kit work with the iPhone possible? Can you access the 30-pin accessory port with the iPhone? If you can, is it possible to interface with this thing using the iPod nano as reference? Is this a pipe dream, or could this possibly be done?

If enough people get behind this idea, there could even be a bounty set up to reward the hacker(s) that enable this. Let's see where we can take this.

Marathon Training for Nerds [CrunchGear]

P.S. Biggs, your iPod looks disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself.

This is especially nice to hear given that the average Nike running shoe can cost as low as $50 or so while the Nike+ compatible shoes push the $100 price tag. Fifty more bones just for a little hole cut in the sole? Yeah, I'll just create my own way to attach the adapter. (Hit the jump to see how I did it.)

So it may not look as snazzy as the other shoes, but I saved $50 buying these running shoes, rather than the Nike+ compatible shoes, and it took me a whole five minutes to attach the sensor to the shoelaces. –Travis Hudson

Nike promises more iPod-enabled kit [Pocket-Lint]

Nike+ Without The iPod? New Product Info Leaked [Podophile]

Both of these cases will protect your Zune, but one feels great and the other feels awkward.

The winner? The Leather case. The finish is supple and soft, which makes for a great feel when you're fiddling around with your player. There's a magnetic clasp to secure the flip-open flap, and the buttons aren't too hard to push—unlike with the Jam Jacket.

The only problem comes from the lack of a cutout on top for the hold switch when the player's closed. Not a big deal, when you think about it. And it's most likely the way they designed it. Pretty decent buy for $34.

The loser? The Action Jacket. It's no fault of DLO's that the Zune is so large. In fact it's so large, that mounting it on your arm while jogging will ensure that you're going to bulk up one arm more than the other.

The case itself isn't bad—it's made of rubber and felt—but the player doesn't quite line up with the cutouts and the buttons. Not a huge deal when you're jogging, but if you just want this case to carry around, we'd recommend you go up $5 from this $29 and go with the leather one instead. – Jason Chen

Leather Case Product Page [DLO]

Action Jacket Product Page [DLO]

Gallery [Gizmodo]