Race progress apparatus

Abstract

A portable unit usable by a person when carrying out an exercise is described. The unit is programmable with details of a virtual athlete and their performance in a specific race, to enable the user to race against the virtual athlete. The unit informs the user through headphones of the progress of the virtual athlete during a race being carried out by a user. The unit may also be programmable with periodic encouragement messages for a user.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A portable device comprising:
 a set of earphones wearable by a person when carrying out exercise, wherein the set of earphones comprises;   a casing;   a programmable unit incorporated into the casing, the programmable unit being programmable to provide messages of time elapsed at any point during a workout;   a connection port for a wired connection, or a component to provide a wireless connection, to connect to a separate sound unit to the earphones, wherein the separate sound unit provides music to the earphones which is played to the user during the workout;   wherein the programmable unit is configured to interrupt the playing of music from the separate sound unit when the programmable unit provides a message of time elapsed.   
     
     
         28 . The portable device of  claim 27 , wherein the separate sound player comprises an MP3 player. 
     
     
         29 . The portable device of  claim 27 , wherein the casing and the earphones are waterproof so that the apparatus is usable by a person swimming. 
     
     
         30 . The portable device of  claim 27 , wherein the connection port receives a wire from the separate sound player, wherein the music is transferred from the separate sound player to the earphones via the wire. 
     
     
         31 . The portable device of  claim 27 , wherein the connection port creates a wireless connection between the earphones and the separate sound player, wherein the music is transferred from the separate sound player to the earphones through the wireless connection.