yeah, i'm with buzsaw on this one

creative > ipod

People use iPods because they have a clean interface and come with software that walks relatively inexperienced computer users through the arduous process of learning to use an MP3 player. Once they had a certain share of the market, iPods became fashionable, which allowed their success to snowball. I've never owned one, as I prefer players with more features, but I acknowledge that the average iPod user doesn't need a custom 5-band equalizer, whereas I love having one, among numerous other things on my Philips. The same was true of my old iRiver.

Because society has a consumption problems.

I bought my daughter the 30 gigabyte iPod Nano for Christmas and she absolutely loves it.

lol I still have a shuffle that I found on the bus.. I usually don't bring it along but I use it for running.

This is the one. 

Drop a nano, and it's broken.  For the price of a Nano you could get a Samsung, Iriver or Creative Labs player with the same storage space, or more.  You want a player which is small and lightweight. Where are you going to carry it?  Armband?

Consider getting a running belt with the option of small water bottle holders.  Amphipod makes a belt which has room for three of them, and some pouches for phones or mp3 players.  I suggest this because if you are just starting up running, you'll want to suck down water.  Your need for fluids will diminish as you get in better shape.  Your body will adapt to carrying away waste products better.

As for software, my player came with some, but all my CDs were loaded in Windows Media Player.  So I just dumped them in from MP. 

My gizmo uses AA batteries.  I looked for that feature thinking I would just get another battery if it died on a run.  Plus, built-in battery to worry about eventually crapping out.

Your headphones will get wet.  Sony makes some sport earbuds.  I just use the ones that came with the player.  When accumulation of salt impedes the sound, I just tap them on the ground to clear them.  And you want to play your tunes low so you can hear cars or stupid people on bicycles who don't announce themselves when they pass.

You don't want a player which has a hard drive.  You want flash memory because no moving parts means no damage from bouncing around.  The Ipod shuffle doesn't have a view screen to show you which songs are playing.  My Samsung has one, but I just set it to play alphabetically so I don't get repeats as I do on random play.

I would go with the smallest, cheapest rig.  In a year the price will have dropped on cooler models.  But if you just want it for running, why risk losing, or breaking an expensive player?

Let me know if you want info on gear or other advice on the running part.