Everyone seems quite taken with the Nike “RUN” park bench advertising shared earlier today, so here’s another guerrilla marketing-style campaign worth checking out. The Nike Women running lane takes the traditional running lane aesthetic and turns it on its head, swapping out the generic running man for a running woman, complete with a fully detailed pair of Air Max 2011 running shoes. Because women can run too, right? Hit the jump for a full shot.

Nike Women Running Lane Ad

Photos via Annie Chiu.

Known for their creative and often quite innovative advertising, Nike is yet again doing things differently on the new Nike RUN park bench ads. Real benches are set up in parks with the Swoosh logo and “RUN” on the seatback, while the seating panel has been removed because … well, you can’t run if you’re sitting. Hit the jump for a side-by-side with a regular park bench.

Nike RUN Park Bench

Photos via Annie Chiu.

Below the cut, check out a full slate of Nike Running vintage wallpapers, featuring classic shoes and 1970s athletes and styles. Not new, just cool. They’re all either 1280×1024 or 1280×960, so depending on your computer (if you’re using them as backgrounds) you may need to crop them a bit. And now, hit the jump! Oh, and right-click and ‘save image as’ to grab one in full-size. (You may have to open the image in a new tab first, to prevent your computer from automatically downloading a downsized version.)

Spring is on the way, which means Nike’s legion of brand-faithful runners need some lightweight, breathable, yet waterproof options to stay protected from the seasonal showers. Enter the Nike Cyclone Vapor jacket, the answer to those hopes. Hit the jump for a quick video showcasing the product.

To introduce their Holiday 2011 collection, Nike Running is doing something a bit different. Naturally, due to the precipitation this time of year, the Nike Running Holiday 2011 line is populated with weather-resistant pieces like the Shield collection (familiar running shoes treated to be water resistant) and lightweight Nike Vapor Flash Jacket. Rather than simple photos of each pieces however, the photo shoot consists entirely of the shoes and apparel being used on a dreary, rain-soaked day. Further, to encourage and support rain-runners, Nike Running put together a short paper outlining how rain impacts the body, the ways that many worldwide embrace running in the elements, and of course a little more info on the Nike Running equipment we’ll see in the next couple of months. (Download the “RAIN” PDF here.) It’s a rather interesting take on introducing the Holiday collection, and well worth a few minutes of your time, especially if you’re a runner.

For some, running is a necessarily evil, providing the exercise needed and nothing else. For some, like our girl Alice in the video, running is a lifestyle. For those people, as the video urges: never stop running.

We’ve been talking for a while now about the Fall Collection from Gyakusou, a special brand created as a collaborative effort between Nike Sportswear and Undercover founder Jun Takahashi, and it’s finally starting to hit stores. (In Asia; the gear will only hit a handful of US retailers.) With Gyakusous, Takahashi puts an emphasis on both style and performance, so while the pieces are all eye-catching and fashionable, they’re also lightweight but protective; made to weather any elements without weighing down the wearer. Hit the jump to check them all out, including beautiful takes on the Zoom Structure+ 15 and Lunarspider LT+ 2.

The Fall/Holiday 2011 Nike x Undercover Gyakusou line approaches, the third iteration of Jun Takahashi’s special edition collection. Focusing on elite performance for runners, the Gyakusou line is made up of pieces that are lightweight, waterproof and breathable, as well as premium quality. To showcase the functionality and visual appeal of the Fall/Holiday collection, Takahashi and two friends run through the beautiful environment and surroundings that are the historic city of Kyoto in “Running Monks,” a short film by Tetsuya Nagato and Katsuhide Morimoto.

Nike Running’s latest TV spot is spectacular, in a chilling sort of way. Entitled “Addiction,” the ad’s tone and style blend horror with psychological thriller, painting the picture of obsessed addicts. Of course the subjects aren’t on drugs, rather they’re in the throes of a running addiction. And, well … watch the video below the cut. It’s fantastic.

When word got out earlier this month that legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz would be shooting the fall advertising campaign for Nike Women, anticipation built at a frenzy. Now that we can see the final product, Ms. Leibovitz may have exceeded expectations. Taking seven elite female athletes from across the world—Hope Solo (US, soccer), Li Na (China, tennis), Maria Sharapova (Russia, tennis), Allyson Felix (US, track & field), Laura Enever (Australia, surfing), Sofia Boutella (Algeria, dance), Perri Shakes-Drayton (UK, track & field)—Leibovitz showcased their athleticism and superlative physiques, while still managing to capture the beauty of sport, as well as of the individuals. Below the cut, view Nike Women– “Make Yourself,” by Annie Leibovitz in its entirety.

Quick departure from the standard entry of shoes, uniforms and/or Nike advertising to share a rather unique object. Above is the Steve Prefontaine business card from 1973, dug up by CNBC’s Darren Rovell today on his visit to the Nike World Headquarters. Pre is of course the iconic figure in American running, known for setting scads of national records, never losing a collegiate race while running for the University of Oregon and dying tragically young. Perhaps just as famously, he’s credited with the quote, “to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift,” seen on countless t-shirts and Facebook profiles since then.

If this video is any indicator, Nike Running’s Fall 2011 collection is going to be a rather impressive line. Check out the short spot to preview several upcoming items, such as the LunarGlide+ 3, and what technology will be utilized.

The Nike LunarFly+ 1.5 iD is the latest offering from Nike Running and NIKEiD, allowing you to customize the underrated running shoe in any number of ways including no fewer than five special prints available on the upper. On top of that, as a part of the ID-ing process the buyer can pick which type of LunarLon foam they want in the midsole: “cushioned” for softer, more shock-absorbent foam or “responsive” for a denser foam that is more reactive and stable. And if all those ID options alone don’t set this shoe apart from every other Nike LunarFly+ 1.5 on the market, how about this: the LunarFly+ 1.5 iD is manufactured in Beaverton, Oregon, home of Nike. Grab the shoe now on NIKEiD.com for $105, and check out several design options below the cut.

The Nike Free Run+ 2 was unveiled at a big media event a week ago with the promise of an April release. Well even better, how about a March release? The shoe is now available in at least an initial colorway at various retailers such as nikestore.com. The Free Run+ 2 improves the support and stability of the “barefoot” experience by adding bonded synthetic overlays for flexible support; meanwhile the inner-sleeve snugly fits around the foot, stabilizing it without inhibiting natural motion. Look for the Free Run+ 2 at retailers now.

Nike Free Run+ 2 Black/White-Anthracite

Yesterday brought a great preview of the Nike Free Run+ 2, one of the more advanced Nike Free models and a big part of Nike Running’s spring and summer lines. Today, supplementing that information, we get to hear a little more about the shoe from Tony Bignel, Nike Running footwear global director.