Nike + iPod owners have run over 1 million miles, equivalent to circling the world more than 40 times, in the 10 weeks since Nike and Apple launched the Nike+iPod Sport Kit.

Almost 8,000 people logged runs yesterday on nikeplus.com — including an almost eight-mile run in New York, two and a half miles in Boston, five miles in Boulder, two miles in Miami, six miles in Nashville, four miles in Phoenix, three miles in Seattle and two miles in Peoria. Top times so far: 27 minutes and 43 seconds for a 10k run, and 13 minutes, 47 seconds for a 5k. The farthest total distance: more than 600 miles.

While sales of the Nike + iPod kit make it a niche product, Nike emphasizes the social networking aspedt of the product.

“Nikeplus.com is fast becoming the world’s biggest online running community,” said Trevor Edwards, Nike’s chief marketing officer. “Nike+ is a new running experience, a new way to train, a new way to connect with other runners, and a new way to bring music and sport together like never before. A million miles in 10 weeks is just the beginning. We’re looking forward to the billionth mile.”

Announced in May by Nike and Apple at a global media event in New York, the Nike+iPod Sport Kit is a wireless system that allows Nike+ enabled footwear to talk with your iPod nano. Data on time, distance, calories burned and pace is stored on your nano and is easily downloaded through iTunes to nikeplus.com, a personal service site where runners can track their own progress and challenge other runners.

Nike is continuing to expand Nike+ product offerings, add functionality on nikeplus.com and create original sport music content in the Nike Sport Music section of the iTunes Store. In October, Nike+ also is launching in more markets in Europe, including France, Spain, Italy, Germany and The Netherlands, as well as Japan and Australia.

Nike currently offers 12 styles of Nike+ enabled footwear, with more to come. New functionality on nikeplus.com will include a route finder so runners can easily map and share their favorite running routes. Nike+ original sport music workout content has proven extremely popular. “Drive: Nike+ Original Run” by The Crystal Method, which was introduced with the launch of Nike+, quickly became one of the top electronic downloads at the iTunes Store.