Nike issues new year's challenge

New Year celebrations typically come with inspirational stories of resolutions and the expectation of heartwarming endings and goals achieved. But when was the last time unsuccessful bids at New Year's achievements were documented? Beginning the last week of December, runners were able to issue challenges to themselves and to friends at www.nikeplus.com, which helps track miles, pace, time and calories burned. After January 31, Nike Inc. will begin posting the consequences of those unaccomplished challenges on the site as shared by the runners themselves. The most publicized challenge will come from tennis superstar Maria Sharapova directed at NBA All-Star LeBron James. Sharapova's challenge is simple. She will run more miles than James in January. If she falls short, she will leave the tennis court for the basketball court and serve as James' personal water girl at a game of his choice. If she outruns him in January, then he must downsize from basketballs to tennis balls and act as a ball boy during a match of her choice. Consumers can vote for who they think will win by using their own accumulated Nike+ miles. By contributing their Nike+ miles to either Sharapova or James they can help swing the vote and determine who will be the winner and who must perform the forfeit. The challenge can be tracked at www.nikeplus.com. As an added incentive, NikeGO will donate $1 of retail product (up to $50,000) to support physical activity and sports programs to select Boys and Girls Clubs for every resolution met during the NIKE+ New Year's Resolution Challenge.