Since 2006, I had been handling my cardio activity on a sporadic basis until August 2010. At that point, I took on the habit of running seven days a week until I could reach my fitness goal. In addition to strict dietary standards and weights, the cardio had helped me surpass my goal and I was pleased about the accomplishment. Throughout every single run, I was diligent in tracking my progress via multiple apps: Nike+, RunKeeper, SportsTracker, and Garmin Connect.
Nike+ was the first application I adopted when I first fell in love with the iPod nano/iTunes setup on a brand new iBook laptop. I can remember being in awe of the shoe sensor/transmitter concept as I reluctantly took to the streets in hopes of making fitness a top priority. Nothing pleased me more than seeing the result of my 3 to 6 mile runs (yes, I had to start somewhere long before my daily 10 milers) being uploaded to the Nike website from my nano via a USB connection to my Mac, and I thought I hit the jackpot. With time, I had no idea that my opinion of the Nike+ sensor would change.
Upon rededicating myself to daily running in August 2010 after years of sporadic cardio activity, I considered GPS tracking with a Garmin fitness watch. I had already adopted RunKeeper and SportsTracker via pocketed Android and Symbian devices, but two factors eventually turned me off to running with my primary phone: increased likelihood of accidental drops and interruptions from incoming calls and messages. With my Garmin Forerunner 305, I was able to freely run without being disturbed and still keep dependable and accurate tracking of my route. I continued to use my Nike+ shoe sensor since I still relied on an iPod nano for cardio music.
The more I used my Garmin and exported its Garmin Connect GPX data to RunKeeper and SportsTracker, the glaring discrepancy between GPS and sensor tracking became clear. For every run, there was always a mileage difference of at least .30 to even .50 miles! This didn't seem like a huge issue until I found myself having to compensate by running farther than I wanted to. For example, once my Garmin reached 10 miles, the Nike+ sensor would have tracked up to 9.75 miles. My inner perfectionist would push to at least have the Nike+ reflect 10 miles even if I already accomplished it with the Garmin, but I eventually questioned the accuracy of the shoe sensor for my outside runs.
As I looked into the tracking accuracy matter via online running forums, I replaced the Garmin 305 with the Nike+ SportsWatch GPS and mistakenly thought I had found the Holy Grail. Even though I could keep ties with my Nike Running account with GPS routes tracked from such a stylish watch, I was still left without music on my runs...meaning that I had to remain tethered to an iPod nano. To make matters worse, syncing run results via Nike software on my Mac was sometimes an utter nightmare. After the first three successful run data uploads via a direct USB to my Mac, random shut downs became commonplace. There were even two instances when my 10 mile run had been completely erased and NOT uploaded at all to the Nike website! Instead of driving my fist through the MacBook screen and throwing the SportsWatch GPS against the wall, I returned to Garmin with the Forerunner 310XT and never looked back. However, I was still spellbound by Nike+ after reaching the highest level of black with thousands of logged miles. Even though ditching Nike+ would have made sense at the time, I didn't want to throw away all that running history since 2006. Believe it or not, I went back to using the shoe sensor while using my new 310XT for GPS tracking.
As luck would have it, my nano began exhibiting playback issues after months of being subjected to sweaty outside runs. After giving it away to a good friend, I turned to an old iPhone 3GS from a family member who had upgraded to the iPhone 4. While that move had helped me to avoid spending money, it posed a new portability issue in having to carry a bulkier gadget while running. On the other hand, it was only being used as a glorified iPod Touch instead of a phone, the Nike+ transmitter was built-in, sensor tracked runs could be uploaded via home wifi, and it introduced me to a new concept: bluetooth music streaming. Lugging around the 3GS through 10 miles every day was surely a downgrade from the smaller nano, but having wireless capabilities made up for it in more ways than one: I no longer had to depend on iTunes for uploading runs and I was able to do away with headphone wires with included bluetooth! This was made even sweeter when I purchased the Jaybird JF3 Freedom headset from Best Buy...which I STILL use to this day!
With time, the mileage discrepancy between sensor/GPS tracking and carrying the 3GS bulk began to bother me once again. While my Garmin Forerunner 310XT continued flawlessly doing what it was meant to do, I was in want of a smaller bluetooth music device that I didn't have to carry while running. The new touch nano with a wrist strap seemed to be a perfect choice, but there was NO way in hell I was giving up my bluetooth headphones! I even looked into the new generation iPod Touch, but I never had good experiences with armbands in the past...even with nanos. That was when I considered the MOTOACTV upon seeing ads again that piqued my interest at the time with the concept of fusing fitness with music. True, I had previously scoffed at the Motorola creation, but I was desperate.
I shall save details on my MOTOACTV experience for a future blog post, but I will say that it is a primary factor in my deciding to cut ties with Nike Running altogether. Once I felt the freedom of no longer having to carry or pocket the iPhone 3GS, I was sold! Yes, buying an armband or wrist strap for the 3GS would have been a cost-effective option...but the MOTOACTV was simply too good to pass up! In lieu of this afterglow, I no longer felt compelled to remain tethered to the history I built with Nike+ since 2006. After achieving the highest accomplishment of level black and knowing there was no way to manually upload future runs, Nike Running began to feel stagnant. With the steadfast support of my reliable Garmin in the midst of a renewed excitement with MOTOACTV, it was time to say goodbye.
That is not to say that Nike Running does not have any relevance in the running world, for it most certainly does! I am sure there are many runners out there who shall keep turning to its site for daily motivation in reaching fitness goals. For me, there's nothing better than ending the season on a high note when my body is in its best shape with my continued effort...thanks to Nike for its support from day one! Even if level black was not on the site and I wished to use the SportsWatch, lack of manual run uploading in addition to syncing issues with Nike+ software on the Mac would have taken its toll.
With my new MOTOACTV and trustworthy Garmin Forerunner 310XT with my Jaybird JF3 headset, I am eager to keep putting my best foot forward...literally.
Trent Smith
TRENT SENSE blogger/YouTube host
http://about.me/trentsense/bio
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note
