Building a Nike Running Community

Before I tell you about the new Nike Running Room in Coal Harbour, let me get one thing off my chest. I hate NIke. I've never gotten past the whole sweatshop thing and to be honest, I kind of don't get why anyone still buys them.

But now they've gone way beyond sneakers and clothes and created this Nike + thing that plugs into your iPod and tracks your running stats, and have started building running centres in major cities and I have to admit, I'm kind of intrigued. And I am doing a lot of running this year.

I won't get the Nike + adaptor because for one I don't have an iPod, and I wouldn't be able to visit their website everyday to track my progress (if the guilt didn't kill me, the batty navigation would get me for sure), but I used to run past the one at the Plaza of Nations last year and see the runners resting and laughing and trying on shoes. I'm not sure why it closed down, but with all the construction around there, Coal Harbour is a better place for it.

So aside from being a place you can stop in and take a break from running around the seawall, Nike Central offers massages, a stretching area, the ability to try out Nike stuff, lockers and a bag check area (which I have to say is a super fabulous idea, even in the low-crime neighbourhood of Coal Harbour), waffle breakfasts on the weekends (yes, seriously), an area to upload your running stats from the aforementioned Nike +, guest speakers and events, and a map of local running routes (which are pretty much just around the seawall area and not that interesting).

I will end up going - I know I will - if because of the waffles! Well, that and the fact that running can get a little lonely sometimes and it's kind of nice to have a go-to spot.

Nike Running Room
510 Nicola Street
Coal Harbour