Nike Coaches' Clinic
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
At Nike's L.A. Region Offices
 
Photos by Doug Speck
A Nike footwear specialist talks about one of the company's ultra-lightweight racing shoes.
At right, a variety of Nike's racing and training shoes were on display for perusal by coaches.
Wish to view the 18-page handout on Nike shoes? Click Here! (pdf. file)
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By Rich Gonzalez
Editor, DyeStatCal.com
CULVER CITY (August 1, 2007) -- Covering everything from a brief overview in eyewear design to a more encompassed presentation of their footwear line, attendees to Wednesday's second annual Los Angeles-based Nike Coaches Clinic received a head-to-toe primer on "what's hot" for the coming school year!
In addition, featured guest speaker Pascal Dobert, Nike's recently named Youth Running Manager, gave details on the new Nike Team Nationals qualifying format as well as shared about his elite-level running experiences after a modest high school career.
The event, held at the Nike Inc. regional offices on the metropolitan city's west side, drew close to 60 attendees per each of two session 120-minute sessions as the room was filled to capacity. Before the presentations, attendees were treated to catered snacks and refreshments in a relaxed social setting, with the evening's schedule concluding with prize raffles. Coaches were present from Los Angeles, Orange Ventura, San Diego and San Bernardino counties as well as from Northern California.
All registered attendees received a complimentary pair of training shoes (the upgraded version of the classic Nike Air Pegasus+ 2007) as well as a free Nike wristwatch, with the combined retail value of those items at close to $150. Additionally, coaches were extended the invitation to purchase select products at 15% below wholesale prices, which resulted in an actual savings of roughly 55% off the company's retail store prices. |
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Olympian athlete Pascal Dobert, a former elite steeplechaser who was a three-time national champion in the event and Olympic Trials champion in 2000, presented details on the Nike Team Nationals Regional Championship races debuting throughout the nation in 2007. These races will also identify teams that are to partake in the hugely popular NTN Championship race in Portland, Ore. on December 1st.
Due to the very late date of the California state cross-country championships on the seasonal calendar, California's representatives at NTN will be determined by a clear scoring formula derived from the results at the state meet. In addition to the championship race, the 2007 NTN event will once again include the "Open" race, which will feature teams from around the country invited on a lottery basis as well as a special invitation to Kenya's top scholastic team.
Dobert, who prepped at Walt Whitman HS in the Washington DC area before matriculating to the University of Wisconson where he was under the tutelage of acclaimed coach Jerry Schumacher, retraced his running career. As was the case with a large percentage of elite professionals, Dobert was not an elite-level performer in high school. Characterizing himself as a "second-tier" athlete at the high school level (saying he was a 4:19 miler), Dobert often competed in four events to help the team score points. Once he reached college, a slight bump in mileage (where he still only topped out at about 70 miles per week at Wisconsin) and a more selective racing schedule were parlayed into breakthrough success, which paved the way for his eventual professional career.
Dobert touched upon the importance of the high school coach to the development of their athletes and encouraged those coaches to help foster their runners' dreams by believing in them and directing them toward a fruitful training and philosophical plan which would benefit an overall positive experience at the high school level.
In his new capacity, Dobert will oversee Nike's U.S. running interest and sponsorships at the youth and high school levels. |
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The evening's presentation actually kicked off with an explanation and circulation of some of Nike's latest training shoes and spikeless racers, with new ultra-light racing models (including a rare overseas version) eliciting the most chatter among coaches who were inspecting them. The Beaverton, Ore.-based company is the recognized and unrivaled worldwide leader in the production and sale of innovative racing shoes and spikes.
Nike's footwear designers, however, have initiated stepped-up efforts in recent years to improve their training shoe line, which had been surpassed in popularity by some of their rivals. Since then, Nike's improvements have resulted in a modicum of upgrades which have drawn rave reviews from both serious and recreational runners.
As a by-product of their efforts, the Nike Air Pegasus was awarded as the "World's Best Shoe" for 2006 via being named as International Editor's Choice Award by Runner's World magazine. That product competition brought together leading entries from the globe's ten top running shoe companies. |
The new and further improved Nike Air Pegasus Plus 2007. Last year's improved version of the Pegasus was voted as "Best Shoe in the World" by the editors and wear testers of Runner's World magazine. |
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Nike's regional manager from the Vision and Timing division presented samples of various wristwatches, including the sleek and styly Vapor RT, with its "S"-shaped design for user-friendly viewability while running and an arc-shaped wrist plate for a snug fit. With the aforementioned 15% below wholesale discount, this $129 high-end watch was available for purchase at under $56.
All attending coaches received a free Nike Speed-100 RT watch, with a 100-lap chronograph, five interval timers and a target time function. These special prices (no minimums required) will remain available to coaches for team and individual purchases for a limited time. |
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A presentation was made on Nike Plus, the company's running shoe line that is designed to be compatible with the Apple Ipod nano in creating motivational feedback on training pace, calories burned, distance covered etc. in an interactive setting where runners and coaches can either log or monitor workouts online. The Nike Plus (an implantable-in-the-shoe-sole device what relays informative to an Ipod nano) has been a hit in the first year of its existence.
It was also announced that a Nike Plus-compatible wristwatch will be launched for full relase on about November 1st of this year. |
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Nike ID, the highly popular feature which allows runners to customize selected Nike products with personalized colors or identification names, was also covered with a Powerpoint demonstration featuring the powerful design features available online at NikeID.com Nike also announced a local marketing contest in which coaches can encourage their runners to design styles online, with the most product submissions resulting in a free pizza party and running movie screening courtesy of Nike.
Under the contest format, coaches would create a "team locker" account at NikeID.com. Runners (or parents, boosters, etc.) from that team could then each design one NikeID shoe product and place it in their "team locker" using the password for their team locker. The team that submits the most designs (actual purchases are not required) will win the pizza party at either the school location or at Nike's Culver City-based regional offices. (Look for a separate NikeID contest at DyeStatCal coming soon!) |
 
Coaches Clinic photos by Doug Speck
Product displays featuring watches, sunglasses and Nike Plus accessories were made available to
clinic attendees, with several items available for purchase at substantial discounts!
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| Nike plans to host another Coaches Clinic in the Southland during the wintertime, before the start of track and field season. Information will be posted on DyeStatCal.com as it becomes available. Be sure not to miss it! |
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