Nike+ App Weirdness
Over the last couple of years I’ve turned into one of those weird people who gets up early on Saturday (and other days) and goes for long runs.
This whole running enterprise is a most precarious thing as it can easily be derailed by bad weather, tiredness, twinges or offers of brunch. Therefore, I have to make sure that I have a range of motivating factors to counterbalance the evil distracting forces; competition is good (guilt is even better) and who doesn’t love lovely stats?
I’ve been relying on the lovely attractive stats that are generated by the Nike+ app to tell me how I’m doing and whether I’m beating Keith and Michael or not. I do like it when that noted athlete Ellie Goulding says nice things to me after certain runs too.
But now, Nike+ is being weird. And unreliable. And therefore attacking some of my main motivational reserves.
Have a look at these.
Here’s a section of my run on Jan 12. Note the zigagging pattern of the green line (i.e. me).
Jan 12: Was I drunk?
I was not drunk and wobbly. Compare this to the same run in December.
Dec: Look at me go (in a straight line)
I used the WalkJogRun site to measure a sample kilometre (the area that is roughly 2km-3km in the first pic).
One kilometre in reality.
It’s rather longer.
So, Nike+ went a bit bonkers on that last run. Being a stats nerd, I don’t want to flick back and forth between apps as I’d like to be able to see my progress and development over time. However, there’s no point having bogus, inaccurate data so, Nike+, I’m watching you…
UPDATE: I ended up breaking two World Records on Monday so it was time to bring this to @NikeSupport on Twitter. They responded pretty quickly and help sort things out. Another reminder that Twitter can be a great source of Customer Support.
Certainly looks your running two steps back and one step forward in that run. Not great. Why not try another app such as iSmoothRun (I know I keep going on about it). That way you can still export your results to Nike. You’d lose the cheering though.
I do find it annoying that a brand that prides itself on running and sport excellence still has such buggy software.
Oh and as for whether you’re beating Michael or I, I’m sure we can take your ass any time we want.
Right, I shall switch to iSmoothRun then (the export facility certainly solves a problem with some of the other apps).
Take my ass? You’ll have to catch up with it first…. #greasedlightnin’
#greasedlightening? Really! Pah!
I gave up with the app with city running when the Nike+ SportWatch came out. My needs have since changed and now Garmin is my preferred choice. If you, like me, are a stats nerd, I’d suggest researching a GPS sports watch. They’re so much more accurate than any mobile device will ever be.
PS: I’m watching you tailing me
Heh! Thanks for the suggestion, David.
And watch your back…
Seems everyone has their eyes on Enda
I’ve got so much in common with Tupac. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Eyez_on_Me
No. Comment.
Haha