The New Year is as good of a time as any to explore some of the new running gadgets that have come into the market in the last few years. Do they really make you faster? Probably not. But it’s always fun to see what running companies are pushing as the next “big thing.” The Grand Rapids Press has a great article about all kinds of cutting edge running gear. Here are some of my favorites:

Nike+iPod Sport Kit ($30): It’s a two-piece unit — one part is a chip the size of a dinner mint that acts as an accelerometer, which runners slip into their shoe. The other part is a receiver that fits into an iPod Nano and stores information beamed from the athlete’s foot. After workouts, high-tech runners can upload the data and use a Nike software program to track their distance, speed and calories burned.

Garmin GPS-enabled watch ($199 and up): A personal training device with GPS that measures speed, distance, pace and calories burned, and runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. You can go online to store and analyze your workout. It’s essentially a virtual trainer with workout-enhancing features such as alarms that sound when you reach a certain distance or time or when you exceed a certain pace.

FitBit ($100): A motion sensor that clips to a pocket or bra strap that contains an accelerometer. This instrument tallies how much it’s jostled during the day. Press the button to find out how many steps you’ve taken, how many miles, how many calories burned and how active you’ve been.

Bodybugg ($199): A calorie management system that uses sensors to monitor calories burned and says it does it with 90 percent accuracy. It tracks steps with a built-in pedometer. Its Web-based program is free for six months.