BOSTON – Outside Interactive, a Boston-based developer of forward motion video software technology for treadmill runners, today announced it will be partnering with NYCRUNS, a premier event management company based in New York City, to film select road races offered by NYCRUNS for entrants to run their courses virtually on their own treadmill. High definition videos are shot from a runner’s point of view and allow the runner to interactively view different virtual running routes as if they were on the course itself.

“We’re very excited to be partnering with NYCRUNS,” stated Gary McNamee, president and founder of Outside Interactive. “We aim to capture all the electricity and excitement of select NYCRUNS courses on race day so runners can be engaged and entertained while virtually experiencing the race course on their treadmill during inclement weather, travelling or unable to train on the actual course. From the competitive athlete who wants an edge to a new runner competing in their first 5K, we hope our Virtual Runner interactive race course videos will also aid in keeping a healthier lifestyle.”

“This is a very innovative way for us to showcase our races,” stated Steve Lastoe, president and founder of NYCRUNS.  “Letting people interactively see a course ahead of time right on their own treadmill is a fantastic training tool. And given the popularity of our venues, it’s great to think that people all over the world can experience a race in a place like Central Park, not to mention promote NYCRUNS events to a whole new market in a whole new way.”

Many races offer previews of their courses. But fast forwarding a race down to a 10 minute snippet shot from a car is hardly an interactive experience. Through the use of its state of the art cameras, filming and editing techniques, Outside Interactive has created an interactive video experience which is engaging, immersive and entertaining. And for about a quarter of the price of a pair of racing flats, entrants can also have the competitive advantage and valuable training tool by being able to train on a virtual course with all its land marks and distance markers knowing where the hills are and how long and high they are all from an HD point of view video experience.

Many of today’s most popular races are selling out in record times or have qualifying standards, leaving many runner’s out of luck and a cap on revenues earned for the event. With Outside Interactive’s revenue share model, races now have an additional revenue stream while allowing many more runners to experience their event virtually. It’s a win for the race and more importantly, a win for the runner.

Virtual Runner is available for Windows and as an iPad app at the iTunes Store with the videos ranging from 5K up to the marathon. It is compatible with accessories utilizing ANT+™ wireless technology,  which interactively drive Virtual Runner. ANT+ is the de facto standard in wireless for sports watches and accessories in the health and fitness industry from such manufacturers as Garmin®, Timex®, Adidas®, Wahoo Fitness® and Suunto®. A brief demonstration can be found here:  http://vimeo.com/26057578 . Trailers of various courses can be found on the website http://www.outsideinteractive.com/

About NYCRUNS

New York City Runs Inc. produces over 40 races and running events per year and provides timing, registration, and race management services for dozens of others. The Yonkers, Brooklyn, and Central Park Marathons are among NYCRUNS’ signature events.

Founded in 2009, NYCRUNS.COM began as a race calendar and soon became an essential resource for local runners, running clubs, and race directors in the New York metropolitan area, reaching tens of thousands of runners each month. For more information on NYCRUNS, please visit http://www.nycruns.com.

About Outside Interactive

Outside Interactive is a Boston developer of Virtual Runner for Windows and Virtual Runner for the iPad, revolutionary patent pending forward motion technology solutions featuring famous race courses, popular running routes and scenic destinations, all shot in HD from a runner’s point of view. Founded by Gary McNamee, a lifelong Boston resident, avid runner and entrepreneur, Gary developed Virtual Runner after becoming bored on the treadmill and frustrated with not being able to train properly for the B.A.A. Boston Marathon in New England’s unpredictable and often harsh weather.

Unique app connects any ANT+ heart rate monitor and foot pod to videos of iconic running routes. ANT+ monitoring devices provide reliable data while controlling video speed.

Cochrane, Alberta (PRWEB) January 31, 2013 — ANT Wireless (“ANT” www.thisisant.com), a division of Dynastream Innovations Inc., announces certification of Outside Interactive’s Virtual Runner application and its compatibility with the millions of existing ANT+™ heart rate monitors and foot pods. These ANT+ devices interactively drive the Virtual Runner app, controlling video speed while monitoring performance data such as heart rate, speed, distance, pace and cadence. Consumers benefit with Virtual Runner’s unique treadmill running and training experience where popular running routes such as Niagara Falls and the Washington Mall are viewed via a Windows based PC/laptop or an iPad®.

“ANT+ is what enables the Virtual Runner app to be interactive and we are pleased to give our customers the ability to connect any ANT+ foot pod and heart rate monitor to our software. The versatility of ANT+ allows the user to customize their experience by using monitoring devices they may already own and prefer,” said Gary McNamee, Outside Interactive’s President and Founder. “Running on a treadmill can be very boring, but it doesn’t have to be. The Virtual Runner engages the user by allowing them to experience routes through places like Central Park or the Australian Outback while using ANT+ to simulate the video speed and view performance data live on the screen. Our goal is to create the ultimate treadmill experience while at home, at the gym, or on the road.”

With a foot pod, ANT+ controls the screen’s visual simulation by syncing the video speed of the software with the speed of the runner on the treadmill. An ANT+ dongle (iPad) or USB stick (Windows) then enables the on-screen dashboard to display the runner’s ANT+ heart rate, speed, distance, pace and cadence in real-time.

“Running on a treadmill can be a drag in comparison to running outdoors,” said Sharon Gayter, world record holder for the most miles run on a treadmill in seven days at 517.33. “The Virtual Runner software is as close as it gets to the real thing and it makes running on the treadmill a thrill.”
“The Virtual Runner made it feel like I was actually on the course,” said Mike Wardian, men’s treadmill half marathon world record holder. “I could see the landmarks, mile markers and track my progress right on the screen. The fact that the video adjusted to my pace made it a very real experience.”
“ANT+ is all about creating exceptional products that enable optimal consumer experiences and the certified Virtual Runner app does a great job of both,” said ANT Wireless Vice President, Rod Morris. “Outside Interactive has brought yet another unique and entertaining option to the market and we’re excited to be a part of it.”

ANT+ is the established wireless standard for sport, fitness and health sensor devices allowing users to mix-and-match products from top global brands such as Garmin®, Timex®, Geonaute and A&D Medical.

The Virtual Runner creates many market opportunities within the sport and fitness segment including being built into treadmills, potential integration into health clubs, video sharing of course routes and the promotion of race events with featured course videos.

A video demonstration of the Virtual Runner software can be viewed at http://vimeo.com/26057578.

Outside Interactive plans to release an Android version of the Virtual Runner application in the summer of 2013.

About ANT / ANT+ (www.thisisant.com)
ANT is a proven protocol and silicon solution for ultra-low power (ULP) practical wireless networking applications. With over 60 million devices in the market, ANT+ facilitates interoperability between ANT+ Alliance member devices and the collection, automatic transfer and tracking of sensor data. Applicable in sport, wellness management and home health monitoring, ANT+ (built on the base ANT protocol) defines device profiles that specify data formats, channel parameters and network keys. The ANT+ Alliance is an open special interest group of companies who have adopted the ANT+ promise of interoperability. The Alliance ensures standardized communications through optimized brand value and partnerships with other top tier products.

The company behind ANT Wireless is Dynastream Innovations Inc. (www.dynastream.com). Dynastream was established in 1998 and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. in December 2006. Dynastream is based in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, and is a world innovator in the research and development of inertial and wireless technology.

ANT+ Product Directory (www.thisisant.com/directory)
The ANT+ Product Directory is a complete inventory of all ANT+ certified or verified products. It is a tool designed specifically to help consumers source hundreds of industry-leading devices and all compatible products within the vast ANT+ ecosystem. Devices may be searched by product name, brand, activity or product category, allowing the consumer to create a monitoring system that meets their specific needs.

For further information on how the directory works, please visit:
www.thisisant.com/directory/d/getting-started.

About Outside Interactive (www.outsideinteractive.net)
Outside Interactive is a Boston-based startup and the developer of Virtual Runner for Windows and Virtual Runner for the iPad, revolutionary patent pending forward motion technology solutions featuring famous race courses, popular running routes and scenic destinations, all shot in HD from a runner’s point of view. Founded by Gary McNamee, a lifelong Boston resident, avid runner and entrepreneur, Gary developed Virtual Runner after becoming bored on the treadmill and frustrated with not being able to train properly for the B.A.A. Boston Marathon in New England’s unpredictable and often harsh weather.

Marketing contact: Catherine Aylesworth
Phone: +1 403 932 9292 ext 226
Fax: +1 403 932 6521
Cell: +1 403 966 1335
E-mail: catherine.aylesworth@thisisant.com
Website: www.thisisant.com

“The idea is to work with any treadmill and iPad,” said Gary McNamee, Outside Interactive’s president and founder. “Running on a treadmill can be a very boring experience for many. Our idea is to make the experience more engaging allowing users to learn different race courses before running the race, or view popular running routes of locations such as Central Park or the Washington Mall, or even scenic destinations such as Bali or the Australian Outback, all interactively while at home, at the gym, or on the road.”

How does it work?

Virtual Runner’s patent pending technology is designed to work with a runner’s existing hardware. No special treadmill is required. The Virtual Runner app is downloaded to an iPad along with selected course videos. A footpod is attached to the runner’s shoelace and a wireless receiver is plugged into the user’s iPad.

RELATED: Taking Visualization To A New Level

Once the app is launched, there is a brief countdown and then the course video begins to play on the iPad or HDTV using Apple Airplay. While running, the footpod transmits the runner’s stats to the iPad. The receiver then sends this information to the Virtual Runner software, which adjusts the speed of the video. If the runner runs faster, the video will speed up. If they slow down, the video will slow down, all to the exact pace of the runner. In addition, an on screen dashboard displays overall time, average pace, distance run and cadence. Heart rate is also displayed if the user wears an optional heart rate monitor.

The audio component contains the actual natural sounds captured when the footage was shot, which are not affected by speed change. Users can also listen to their music playlist if they choose. Runners have the option of starting anywhere along a given route by mile or kilometer or saved state, so a course can be broken up and covered over several runs.

The Virtual Runner app is available for $9.99 at the iTunes Store with the videos ranging from $4.99 to $9.99 and up for noted races and marathons. The app is compatible with accessories utilizing ANT+™ wireless technology. These accessories are what interactively drive the Virtual Runner app. ANT+ is the de facto standard in wireless for sports watches and accessories in the health and fitness industry from such manufacturers as Garmin®, Timex®, Adidas®, Wahoo Fitness® and Suunto®. With these accessories, the user interactively and accurately controls the video speed. If the user does not have or wish to purchase these accessories, they still have the option of manually setting and adjusting the video speed to match their pace by an onscreen slide control

http://running.competitor.com/2012/11/shoes-and-gear/new-virtual-runner-app-announced_62003

“The idea is to work with any treadmill and iPad,” said Gary McNamee, Outside Interactive’s president and founder. “Running on a treadmill can be a very boring experience for many. Our idea is to make the experience more engaging allowing users to learn different race courses before running the race, or view popular running routes of locations such as Central Park or the Washington Mall, or even scenic destinations such as Bali or the Australian Outback, all interactively while at home, at the gym, or on the road.”

How does it work?

Virtual Runner’s patent pending technology is designed to work with a runner’s existing hardware. No special treadmill is required. The Virtual Runner app is downloaded to an iPad along with selected course videos. A footpod is attached to the runner’s shoelace and a wireless receiver is plugged into the user’s iPad.

Once the app is launched, there is a brief countdown and then the course video begins to play on the iPad or HDTV using Apple Airplay. While running, the footpod transmits the runner’s stats to the iPad. The receiver then sends this information to the Virtual Runner software, which adjusts the speed of the video. If the runner runs faster, the video will speed up. If they slow down, the video will slow down, all to the exact pace of the runner. In addition, an on screen dashboard displays overall time, average pace, distance run and cadence. Heart rate is also displayed if the user wears an optional heart rate monitor.

The audio component contains the actual natural sounds captured when the footage was shot, which are not affected by speed change. Users can also listen to their music playlist if they choose. Runners have the option of starting anywhere along a given route by mile or kilometer or saved state, so a course can be broken up and covered over several runs.

The Virtual Runner app is available for $9.99 at the iTunes Store with the videos ranging from $4.99 to $9.99 and up for noted races and marathons. The app is compatible with accessories utilizing ANT+™ wireless technology. These accessories are what interactively drive the Virtual Runner app. ANT+ is the de facto standard in wireless for sports watches and accessories in the health and fitness industry from such manufacturers as Garmin®, Timex®, Adidas®, Wahoo Fitness® and Suunto®. With these accessories, the user interactively and accurately controls the video speed. If the user does not have or wish to purchase these accessories, they still have the option of manually setting and adjusting the video speed to match their pace by an onscreen slide control.

Virtual Runner in Health Clubs

“We’re seeing more and more members working out with their iPads these days,” said Ted Kyranos, Executive Director, of Old Colony YMCA in the Boston area. “Being able to run virtual race courses or even through Central Park or the Australian Outback right on the treadmill here in the Y is pretty compelling. Keeping a member engaged and motivated, it’s a great idea.”

Virtual Runner at the Races

Outside Interactive also hopes to work with interested race directors and race owners to showcase their event in a whole new way by highlighting their race courses on the day of the event, allowing runners to experience the races virtually, on their treadmill at their pace. Viewers can learn the race courses with their landmarks and elevation shifts, relive the race day experience, or run a virtual course they may be unable to travel to. Course videos for use with the Virtual Runner app would be available for purchase and download on the race’s website site, Outside Interactive’s video repository or the iTunes® store.

“Having a chance to preview a course beforehand is a great tool to have,” said Dave McGillivray, President of DMSE Sports and Race Director for more than 30 different road races annually around the U.S. “Often people from out of town fly in to run a race and with such a short window, they don’t have the chance to see the race course ahead of time. What better way to preview a course than at your own pace while you are on your treadmill?”

Virtual Runner on the Treadmill

“While both the Windows and iPad app versions of Virtual Runner work independent of the treadmill, we are also currently working with some treadmill manufacturers to integrate the iPad app to communicate with their brand of treadmill, whereby the treadmill controls the video speed of a Virtual Runner video and Virtual Runner would control the elevation of the treadmill belt,” McNamee said. “This would eliminate the need for the accessories such as the footpod and wireless receiver. The treadmill running world is going virtual and we hope to help pave the way.”

Virtual Runner Video File Sharing

Outside Interactive also has developed Virtual Runner to work with user created videos. With the advent of portable action cameras such as the Go-Pro® people can film their own favorite routes and view them when they are stuck inside due to inclement weather, travelling or otherwise. A plan is in the works to offer a video sharing platform on the Outside Interactive  website in 2013. In the meantime, the company plans to continue to grow its library of professionally shot videos of popular running routes and scenic destinations.

To see a sample of the videos, visit the following links:

• Hopkinton to Boston 26.2 Miles (http://vimeo.com/23344036)
• A 10K Run Through Central Park (http://vimeo.com/26263001)
• A 7 Mile Run Around Boston’s Charles River (http://vimeo.com/26188030)
• A Run with Bill Rodgers (http://vimeo.com/27548172)
• A Run Through the Hills and Rice Fields of Bali (http://vimeo.com/37962211)
• A Sunrise Run in the Australian Outback (http://vimeo.com/37966610)

For additional information, visit www.outsideinteractive.com. A video demonstration can be viewed at http://vimeo.com/26057578.

About Outside Interactive

Outside Interactive is a Boston-based startup and the developer of Virtual Runner for Windows and Virtual Runner for the iPad, revolutionary patent pending forward motion technology solutions featuring famous race courses, popular running routes and scenic destinations, all shot in HD from a runner’s point of view. Founded by Gary McNamee, a lifelong Boston resident, avid runner and serial entrepreneur, Gary developed Virtual Runner after becoming bored on the treadmill and frustrated with not being able to train properly for the B.A.A. Boston Marathon in New England’s unpredictable and often harsh weather. The firm’s products are available at www.outsideinteractive.com.

** All trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective holders.

At noon on Saturday, Michael Wardian, a three-time Olympic trials qualifier and three-time US 50K champion, will be trying to get the men’s record back. Wardian’s time of 2:23:58, set in 2004, was surpassed by Eric Blake, who ran 2:21:40 in 2006 at Malibu Fitness in Farmington, Conn.

Then on Sunday at noon, Kim Duclos, a 2:38 marathoner on the roads, will be looking to set an official record for women. Duclos holds the women’s record at the Hyannis Marathon. She’s also qualified for the Olympic Trials and she’s been the top American finisher at the L.A. Marathon. There’s no current official woman’s record, though NASA astronaut Sunita Williams ran a 4:24 in orbit strapped to a treadmill with a bungee cord as an official entrant of the 2007 Boston Marathon.

Outside Interactive sells Virtual Runner, an interactive video/software package that uses high quality videos shot from a runner’s vantage point to allow people to run famous or scenic courses on their treadmill at their own pace. Company founder Gary McNamee was out for a run, trying to think of something Outside Interactive could use “to try and rise above the din of the powers of Nike and Adidas” at their Boston Marathon expo booth. He decided to bring in elite runners to try and break the treadmill marathon records.

Wardian has his work cut out for him. In a 2008 bid to regain the record, he was on pace through mile 24, but that attempt ended early, with a trip to the hospital for an IV. This time he’s curtailed his usual busy racing schedule to prepare, though cutting back is relative for Wardian. Limiting himself to the Two Oceans Marathon in South Africa (a 56K) the week before the marathon qualifies as “a little lighter schedule than normal”.

Duclos registered for the Martian Marathon in Michigan before McNamee asked her to run the treadmill marathon. She decided to compete in both events, even though Martian is the day before her run at the expo. “Martian will be a “comeback” marathon and I’d like to see what I can do. The treadmill will be a first of its kind. So, I’m not sure what to expect there either. I know I can handle that many miles in 2 days easily and I’m actually really curious what I can accomplish despite some people thinking it’s nuts.”

The challenges of a race on a treadmill are different from those in a road race. A runner trying for a record can set the treadmill to a specific pace and let it carry them along, but a treadmill is relentless. If the pace is too fast, runners can easily be carried along past the point of exhaustion. “Just because someone’s a very good runner, that doesn’t mean that translates well over to the treadmill,” says McNamee.

Wardian needs to run at a 5:22/5:25 minute per mile pace for the record. He says, “I will probably adjust the pace a little during the course of the run but I hope to have it at a single pace for much of the event and then pick it up when and if I can.”

According to “The Book of Alternative Records”, the organization that certifies treadmill marathon records, Duclos has to run a sub-three hour marathon for her run to qualify. She says, “I’d like to be somewhere in the 2:50s. I’ll probably start of slower for a few miles and ease in to a faster pace as I get going and warm up more. Then, in the last 5K or so see if I can drop the pace down some more. I’m sure I’ll go up and down in the middle too as I need to eat, drink and take miles at whatever pace is feeling right at the time. I’m not going to go out like a maniac on some PR pace and try to hang on.”

Both runners are looking forward to running in front of the crowds at the expo. “I don’t mind being on display and it will be nice for my wife, Jennifer and our boy, Pierce and Grant as they can see me whenever they want,” says Wardian. Duclos, “can’t stand crowds typically but I also get bored easily and lonely on some runs lately. I learned what it’s like to really have a running buddy that can get me through anything. So, I’m hoping the crowd will be my running buddy for a while.”

McNamee has been working hard to get ready for the event. In addition to finding runners, he’s had to recruit two officials to monitor the record attempt, arrange to have the whole thing videotaped, ship in a specially-configured, calibrated treadmill, and fill out all the appropriate forms. “The guidelines for this are very, very stringent. I didn’t realize this going in. It’s become quite a chore.”

The runners are taking the event seriously, but they both see the lighter side too. Duclos says, “To keep training fun, I don’t take anything really seriously.” Wardian, who’s also the world record holder for fastest marathon while wearing a super-hero costume, says events like this show people, “it doesn’t all have to be super serious all the time and it’s fun to be able to go out and do these things and to have a little fun with it.”

Both runners will be using Outside Interactive’s “Hopkinton to Boston 26.2 Mile Run” package during their race. Spectators who drop by booth #210 at the expo will be able to follow their progress along the virtual Boston course as Duclos and Wardian try for the records. By the time the rest of the runners toe the line in Hopkinton, we’ll know whether they were successful.

Ray Charbonneau, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Apr 4, 2012

Sources:
Treadmill Marathon, The Book of Alternative Records
Kelly Young, “Astronaut completes Marathon in Space”, New Scientist
Dan Steinberg, “Local Man Fails to Set World Treadmill Record”, D.C. Sports Bog
Ray Charbonneau, “Michael Wardian interview”, Y42K?

And therein lies the rub for anyone who wants to run the Boston Marathon: You have to train for it during the dead of winter. In Boston.

Ask anyone who’s tried to run, say, 15 miles on a treadmill (don’t ask me, my personal record is four—four!) while training for a marathon and they’ll tell you they’re bored out of their mind after the first hour—the lack of scenery being the biggest downfall.

A Boston-area company called “Outside Interactive” is looking to provide some relief for runners training for long races with a series of DVDs that provide a runner’s-eye-view of a handful of courses, including the Boston Marathon’s infamous route. You can adjust the speed of the DVDs to match your running ability, and the company used a steadi-cam to capture smooth footage so as to prevent the look of fast forwarding and rewinding at higher and lower speeds. The Boston Marathon DVD costs $40, with shorter courses priced at $20 each.

And for an extra shot of realism, the company is getting set to release its “Virtual Runner” software next month, which consists of a $250 sneaker sensor and computer software that can match the pace of the video to the pace that you’re running on the treadmill. The videos will instruct you to adjust the incline on your treadmill to match hilly parts of the courses, too.

http://techland.time.com/2011/08/08/got-a-treadmill-got-a-tv-you-can-run-the-boston-marathon/#ixzz1WBB6TCVM

By Doug Aamoth on August 8, 2011

A TV
This is a basic tip, many gyms do this already, but we were hesitant to put a TV in front of a space where we normally like to focus. The key to the TV for us is content. You want to be able to maintain form, check yourself and run properly despite being on a treadmill and this can be hard to do if you’re entirely engrossed in your soaps. That’s why our next addition to the running room is…

Race Course DVDs
These videos from Outside Interactive are of famous runs like the Boston Marathon, famous locations like Central Park and the Charles River, and soon through parks. They include four different paces, mile markers that you can keep track of or start at, and directions for changing the incline on your treadmill to match the real world run. For us these make all the difference. Outside of the physical feeling of running on a treadmill, the most disheartening thing about being indoors is that you don’t get anywhere (the gerbil wheel effect we call it). These solve that, and may even help you train for events you’re running in.

Treadmill Upgrade
We were using an old treadmill that had a belt that slowly was coming apart. Sure it had incline and a nice bounce not unlike a freshly mulched trail, but after trying a new model with better settings and way less noise we were hooked. The sound was key because we wanted to hear our TV/music. Tons of people are selling nice ones used, so check Craigslist for a good deal before you go to the store.

Better sound
We used to use a little old boom box on full volume (see noisy treadmill we got rid of above) to jam out while running. We decided to get rid of it and put a cheap set of surround speakers around the room. In this way the treadmill might be, and it’s odd to say this, better than running outdoors. You can put the music on without jamming something in your ear or worrying about your headphones coming out or getting snagged on something.

How do you make your treadmill experience better?

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/avoid-the-tedium-of-the-treadm-156278

by Jeff Heaton, September 19th, 2011

Do you have a treadmill that’s gathering more dust than mileage? Or is basement boredom getting the best of you as you run down the road to nowhere this winter?

Outside Interactive is a Boston-based company founded by Gary McNamee that offers treadmill runners a way to virtually run well-known race courses, popular running routes and in exotic international destinations from the comfort of their own machine.

With two innovative products–a Pre-Paced DVD series, as well as the more intuitive Virtual Runner Software–runners can break up the boredom that forces many to give up on indoor running altogether.

Think Outside The Mill: How To Make The Most Of Treadmill Running

The Pre-Paced DVDs work with any DVD player and treadmill. They’re menu driven and give runners the ability to pre-select the desired “pace” they wish the video speed to run. There is also an audio/mute option which allows you to either hear the natural sound that was recorded when the video was made, or simply listen to your own music. There’s also the option to start your run anywhere along a course (at a given mile marker), which gives you the opportunity to perform a number of different workouts on the same part of a course, or spread a number of workouts out along a particular course–say, Boston–over the course of a week. It’s pretty wild!

With the aid of a footpod (included), the Virtual Runner Software package dynamically adjusts the speed of the video based on the pace you’re running. As you speed up or slow down, the video automatically adjusts the pace so you can take in the scenery in real time.

All videos are shot from a runner’s point of view, giving you the opportunity to see popular race courses as if you were actually there. With landmarks, mile markers and even elevation prompts to let you know when to adjust the incline on your treadmill, you can simulate running up Heartbreak Hill from the comfort of your own home. Other popular virtual running options include New York’s Central Park, the Australian Outback at sunrise, rice fields in Bali, or a scenic sunset stroll along the shores of Maui.

“This is very cool,” said Eric Blake, the world -record holder for the marathon on a treadmill by way of his 2:21:40 clocking in 2006. “I actually feel like I’m on the course. With all the twists and turns, it’s like chapters in a book. You feel like you’re making progress. Without realizing it, you’re an hour in. That’s cool.”

“This is truly a game changer,” said Sharon Gayter, who sat a world record this past December for the most miles covered on a treadmill in 7 days when she ran 517.33 miles. “Running over 18 hours a day for 7 days while chasing the records, my biggest challenge was boredom. Outside Interactive has made great strides in making treadmill running more engaging and fun.”

For more information on both of these products, and to check out a video demonstration of a few of the virtual courses Outside Interactive has to offer, visit www.outsideinteractive.com.

Mario Fraioli – Mario Fraioli is the senior producer at Competitor.com. He was a cross country All-American at Stonehill College, has run 2:28 in the marathon, and coaches the Prado Women’s Racing Team in San Diego.

What does Outside Interactive do?
My startup offers video related products including our Virtual Runner software designed to be used when a runner is confined to a treadmill. It is basically an interactive race course similator that allows a runner on a treadmill, any treadmill, to experience a course such as the Boston Marathon when weather or location prohibit them from running outside. The runner’s pace dynamically adjusts the speed of each video to further simulate the feel of the course.

How are you selling the product?
We are selling it direct online but are also establishing channels with specialty retail running shops. I’m starting in New England, New York and Canada. We’ve already signed up a handful. We are also establishing relationships with watch manufacturers such as Garmin because our software works with and needs their accessories to work.

Who is the product aimed at?
Anyone who has to do their running on the treadmill and is bored is a candidate. That’s a lot of candidates.