While the marriage of iPods and shoes might seem strange to some, die-hard runners and fans of “Get Smart” will be happy to know that their iPod Nano music player can now do more than just pump out the tunes: it can also talk to your Nikes.

The Nike+iPod, a partnership between Nike and Apple, consists of an attachment for the Nano and a sensor that fits into specially designed Nike shoes, sold separately.

The sensor wirelessly transmits speed and stride length to the Nano attachment, which plugs into the bottom of the player. Using special software, the Nano then becomes a training partner, providing time, distance and speed information on its color screen or via voice prompts piped through the headphones.

Once you reach home, the Nike+iPod can connect to your PC or Mac and upload data about your run.

The kit, available online for $30, works best with the Nike+ line of shoes, which cost about $100. The shoes have a small hole in the instep that cushions the sensor. The sensor itself weighs less than an ounce, so you won’t notice it during your wind sprints.