Review of the Nike+ SportWatch GPS

Having been a loyal follower of the Nike+ system, I was anticipating the introduction of Nike's own GPS watch.

I've followed Nike+ not too long after it was introduced in 2006 and started using the system in 2007 (somewhat of a New Year's Resolution to get in shape). I started with a 2nd generation iPod Nano and the Nike+iPod Sports Kit, which consisted of a sensor that plugs into the bottom of the Nano, and a footpod transmitter that goes into a special pocket in Nike+ model shoes or into a footpod pouch that can be secured to the shoe across the laces.

I loved the feedback and encouragement of the instant feedback of the entire system, from the congratulatory message at end of a personal best workout, to the statistical feedback and trending from the Nikeplus website. In fact, my experience with system was documented in a Wired article back in June 2009. I even invested in a Nike+ wrist remote to control to control the iPod

I loved the system, but wanted something that was less "bulky", not that the iPod on an armband was bulky, but I wanted more of a minimalist experience.

That's when I bought the Nike+ SportBand. It's a simple, water-resistant wristband with a detachable display module that can plug into a USB port for syncing runs to the Nike+ website. It still requires the footpod transmitter but that's all you need. No iPod, but that also means no voice prompts during your run to notify you of intervals (which I use), and the SportBand display didn't have a backlight which is not useful during early morning runs or evening runs.

But because both the iPod Sports Kit and the SportBand both relied on the footpod, the accuracy of the runs have varied by up to 10%. The transmitter and sensor would track 10% more mileage than I had actually run. The big advantage that the SportBand had was that it also allowed integration with the Nike-branded, Polar heart rate monitor.

Nike then released an app that utilized the iPhone GPS chip to track run mileage. That was the close to the Holy Grail for me. Here was a package that had both accuracy, allowed me to listen to music, and still get the encouraging voice prompts. It also allowed me to upload the runs to the Nike+ website without needed to sync the runs via a computer. It also leveraged social media by posting run when I was about to go for a run and allowed Facebook friends to send virtual cheers to my iPhone. The big downside was having to carry the iPhone with me on my runs. While that's a convenience in some respect, it's added bulk and there's no visual feedback that I had gotten used to with the SportBand even though I got back my audio feedback that I had with my iPod Nano. I also had to keep the iPhone in a separate pouch with my fuel belt mainly because I didn't want to use an armband that could allow perspiration to reach the iPhone.

What I really wanted was a GPS watch like the Garmin Forerunner 405. The Forerunner 405 is a stylish GPS watch that looks like a normal watch and much more sleek than the blocky Garmin Forerunner 205. But at over $200 at some retailers, the Garmin was out of my reach and there was no similar feedback system like the Nike+ website.

In early April, Nike made the Nike+ SportWatch GPS available for sale on their website. It was a GPS watch, designed in conjunction with Tom Tom, intended to work with the Nike+ system. The primary distance tracking is performed by GPS with backup tracking provided by the venerable Nike+ footpod sensor in case a GPS signal is not available.

I took the SportWatch out for a 2-mile run for the first time last week. The distance tracking during the run was accurate and the watch provided the basic statistical information, such as time duration, distance, pace, calories burned, and heart rate (only with the Nike+ Polar HRM). The immediate feature I noticed and huge benefit, even though I didn't get a chance to use it during the run, was the backlight. It was a feature that was not available on the SportBand. The backlight is activated via a tap to the watch face display. The display itself is not a touchscreen, as it requires a decent tap for the backlight to activate.

The SportWatch has 2 run modes: distance by "laps", or intervals. The Laps mode will notify via a sound alert that you've reached a specific distance, i.e. every 1, 2, or 3 miles, which would replace my need for audio feedback every mile per my preference. The Interval mode allows you to set run-walk intervals with the watch letting you know when to walk and run. Strangely though, the number of minutes for either interval can only be set as a customization when the watch is plugged into a computer with the Nike+ Connect software installed, which is both Windows and Mac-compatible.

When initiating a run, it needs at minimum the Nike+ footpod transmitter. A run can be initiated without a GPS signal, but not without the footpod. Like most GPS watches, it requires the watch to be used outdoors where a GPS signal can be detected. I found that it took about a full minute before the SportWatch picked up the GPS signal.

The watch plugs into a computer via USB via a USB plug made through the watch band. On one of the ends of the band, the end cap flips down to reveal the USB tip that resembles the same USB plug on the SportBand. To sync your runs with the Nike+ website, you have to plug the watch into your computer with the previously-mentioned Nike+ Connect software installed. The software also allows you to set user preferences such as time settings, weight (for calorie tracking), preferred stats on the watch, setting of intervals, and preferred stat that shows up the largest on the watch's display.

At the end of the run, the SportWatch will let you know how well you did, if you surpassed any personal records, your pace, your total time and total duration.

All in all, it's a very capable device that gives the Garmin Forerunner 405 a run for its money. It doesn't feel as solid as the Forerunner 405, but the SportWatch is actually a tad heavier (at 2.33 ounces) than the Garmin 405 (2.11 ounces). The SportWatch is much sleeker and a tad more stylish than the Garmin (my opinion of course). Yes, the SportWatch does require a footpod as a backup to the GPS, which some see as a bit of lame fallback position, but Garmin does not have a backup if your GPS sensor loses its signal, which all GPS watches suffer from.

The biggest benefit that Nike has going for it within the deep field of GPS running watches is the Nike+ website and it's large community of users and its plethora of challenges to keep things interesting.

Nike+ Human Race 10K

Even though this event wasn't really a "race" per se, it was my first opportunity since April to run in an event with other runners. That being the case, I was really looking forward to getting out there with other runners rather than my usual running regimen of solo training runs.

The venue was about 50 miles away and was about an hour drive from the house, and with the run starting at 7:00 am, we left the house at 5:30 am. Ick.

The event was sponsored by Luke's Locker Room so they had their folks out there with the Luke's signage promptly displayed and with their tent and the event timer. A lot of the people were regulars to Luke's or attended their organized runs. The route itself was an out and back along a newly built trail. Unfortunately, it wasn't a running trail like the Katy Trail as it was concrete and some rain water and dew made the surface kinda slippery in some places.

There were about 50 people who participated. Not a huge turnout, but it was a good-sized crowd. I was actually expecting more since it was a free event and you got free swag (sack and technical t-shirt), and heaps of food afterwards.

It had gotten down to about 8 Celsius so it was running tights weather, the first day this running season that this was necessary! Personally, I love running in the cold. It must be the Canadian in me. Also I tend to generate a lot of body heat in the first mile of a run, but I knew that it would still feel cold enough for my legs to feel cold. When it gets down to about 5 Celsius I break out the gloves, the hat, and the extra long-sleeve layer.

All in all it was a nice run. I finished the 10K in under an hour (official time of 58'51") and as usual I forgot to turn off my SportBand so it kept going for a couple of minutes before I found out and stopped it....and as usual my SportBand was about 10% off again. Geeesh.

Fortunately or unfortunately, today was my normal training run day so I got my marathon training in and participated in an event as well. I was only supposed to do 4 miles today but I may cut myself some slack and run 12 instead of my regularly-scheduled 14 miles.

At the time of this post, I am in 4,487th place. As for how many total participants, I'm extrapolating that based on 549,323 miles run for this event (according to the Nike Running website) and dividing that by 6.2, there were roughly 88,000 participants. I somehow find it hard to believe that I ended up in the top 5%...but I'd be happy if I ended up in the top 50%.

South Arlington Half Marathon

It's amazing what your mind and body can do when given enough time to be trained and adjusted.

Last December I entered my first half marathon. It was an awesome experience but I felt completely exhausted afterwards. I had followed a 14-week training plan that, at most, had me run 11 miles for my longest run.

During my HM, about two-thirds through, I had injured my foot. It was sore and a bit swollen afterwards. I had to take about a month off to let it heal and by then, the thought of running was the furthest thing from my mind. I enjoyed not running for awhile, not having to follow a strict regimen of specific mileage on specific days and running routes that were just brutal (mainly because of the horrible scenery). It was hard to get motivated into running when I wasn't training for anything.

Months and months later, I'm running again, but it's different. Everything feels different now. First, I'm following a full marathon training schedule and it may be a marathon that I may not actually get to run. That uncertainty isn't really a factor. I'm not even looking forward to running the event. I mean, if I do get the opportunity to run it, I will, but it's not my main motivation for running right now.

Last week as part of marathon training schedule, I was to run 13 miles. Basically a half marathon distance. Leading up to that day of training the number itself seemed daunting. A half marathon distance? I recalled how awful I felt running that HM. I was afraid what was going to happen. Was I going to injure myself again?

So the day came. Leading up to that day I had run some miles in progressively faster times. I was really amazing myself with the pace I was running and I was afraid of starting out too quick on my long run day and petering out too fast. It was 6 am on a damp Sunday morning. The temperature was 12 Celsius - nice running weather. I had planned my route and it was pretty straightforward for me to remember.

And off I went. The first 5 miles were difficult. I wasn't sure why, but they just were. I had planned to take walking breaks at miles 5, 9, and 12...basically breaks at 5 miles, 4 miles and 3 miles. I wasn't sure what to expect from the weather and how my body was going to react to the cool weather and the higher mileage. During the first 5 miles I had caught myself trying to go too fast and purposely kept slowing myself down. I think that was what made it so difficult because my legs wanted to go faster but my brain kept telling me to slow down. Also for the first time, as I hit mile 5 for my first break, I found myself actually hungry. I had never been hungry before while running and it was odd. Good think I packed those gels because I scarfed it down and I've never been a fan of strawberry-banana flavoured gels!

After the break, I got back on pace. I have the hardest time getting back on pace after a break. It's like my body doesn't want to go back to running or wants to take another break soon after. But everything was feeling really good. So good that when mile 9 came I had plenty left in the tank and decided to delay my break until mile 10. When mile 10 hit, I got hungry AGAIN! I scarfed down another gel but I was still hungry! I had also brought some sport beans along and I downed the entire pack without breaking pace!

I pretty much cruised the next 3.1 miles (hey if you're going to run 13 miles, you might as well run the extra 0.1 miles and make it a true HM distance, right?), and just missed finishing 13.1 under a 10:00 min/mile pace by 5 seconds per mile.

The odd thing was that I felt better after this training run than I did after my HM event. Obviously the build-up of miles had a lot to do with it, but not being pressured or feeling pressure and having a different mindset during my training run also had something to do with it. Yeah, the leg muscles feel sore, but this run was more enjoyable afterwards than my HM. As much as I had a sense of accomplishment running my HM, I felt more accomplished being able to run the same distance as a training run...I definitely got more enjoyment out of it, which is odd for someone who dreads the long runs.

In the past month I actually felt like a runner, rather than someone who is trying to be a runner. My pace has been getting faster, my distance have been getting longer. Something in my body has flipped a switch. I know that the weather has been getting cooler which definitely has helped in my endurance and speed, but I'm amazed at how my body has reacted to the mileage. I was expecting it to revolt and remind me that I'm not a runner...but right now it's telling me, I'm with you all the way.

So...what's going on....

So I've been really negligent about maintaining my regimen of running. I suck.

Quite a bit has happened since I last blogged.

First, I had intended to run the Chicago Marathon in October, but life happened and I won't be going. There's always next year, right?

Second, I was included in an article in Wired Magazine that featured the Nike+ technology. No, not just an article on the website, but the actual printed publication. The article can be found here.

Third, I *may* be doing the Dallas White Rock Marathon, *IF* we can find a sitter for the kids and *IF* there are any spots left. If not, I'm going to try a different event in early 2010...maybe the Cowtown or maybe the Austin Marathon.

So right now, I'm training with the assumption that I'll be running the Dallas White Rock marathon. I'm doing all the miles that are part of the training plan. I'll be logging some heavy miles in October, but in September I logged more miles than I had in any month before, even when I was training for the half marathon.

We'll see where life takes us now.

EA Sports Active - Review

So it's been awhile since I posted, but I *have* been running...just not lately.

I had a medical procedure recently that has forced me to take it easy on my feet, including running. So while I've been just letting myself heal and get back to where it needs to be, I still can do some low impact workouts.

So lately, I've been getting back to using the Wii. Yeah, Wii Sports is a bit on the weak side if you're already in better shape than a couch potato, but EA Sports, those fine makers of the Madden Football franchise, Sims, and a whole slew of other sports-related games, have come out with a game called EA Sports Active.

It's a program (I wouldn't really call it a "game"), that gives you a good CV workout and some minor resistance training. The EA Sports Active package comes with the game disc, a resistance band, and a leg strap that allows you to holster your Wii Remote Nunchuck.

I'm only Day 2 of the 30-day Challenge program but so far the workouts have had me do various lunges, kick-ups, running (in place), simple kickboxing, among other exercises in a 30-minute window. After the first day, I was impressed that it gave me a pretty decent workout.

So how does it compare to the Wii Fit? Well, for some of the exercises, you can take advantage of the Wii Fit Board, but it's not a necessary accessory. I would say that the Wii Fit game is good for fine-tuning your balance and the games that come with the Wii Fit Board emphasize that. EA Sports Active definitely takes it a level above Wii Fit but also in a different direction.

I think EA Sports Active addresses some of the criticisms of the Wii Fit game in that you can't really get a decent workout by training your balance. EA Sports Active does give you a better comprehensive workout by working your cardio, strength (to a limited degree with the resistance band), and your balance.

BUT...I don't think EA Sports Active can totally replace going to the gym, or actually going out and run. I would say it's a good compliment to working out and running...it may act as a substitute for going to the gym when you don't have the time or it may not be convenient. For anybody who can't afford to regularly go to the gym, or is just starting to get into shape and want to do so in the privacy of their own home, EA Sports Active is a good choice compared to the some of the other workout games for the Wii and reviews of those games.

Fort Worth Zoo Run - 5K

Okay, I *have* been running, just not that much. It's been reduced to a couple of times a week and 3 miles at most, but at least it's something.

So today was the first race of my season. It was a 5K event at Fort Worth Zoo. It was also about a year ago this time that I entered this very same event for my first 5K ever so this event has some meaning for me.

Today was a pretty overcast day. A good day for running but that was offset with the moisture in the air which made it a tad humid.

I recall the same time last year I was pretty nervous, not knowing what to expect. This year's course layout was the same as last year's so I had some familiarity with it and knew what to expect.

I thought I did pretty good this year. I actually felt better this year than last year but what bit me this year were all the 5K walkers and people walking with strollers that had started near the front of the corral. This caused all the other timed 5K runners to waste energy slowing down, speeding up, dodging side to side, weaving in and out. It totally screwed up my pace at the beginning. Another thing that made it difficult to get a decent pace going at the beginning is the route for the first kilometer of the 5K. The first section actually takes you through the zoo itself, which doesn't have wide laneways. This made it a bit difficult with so many people bunched up at the beginning and getting squeezed together didn't make it easy to get a steady pace going.

Once we left the zoo, we made an ascent up a small, but somewhat steep hill into a residential area that someone separated people out a bit. The residential area was pretty flat and straight which made it easier to maintain a steady pace. It was here that I felt that I was actually going at a pace that faster than normal and felt like I improved over last year.

The last third of the 5K is a downhill descent that takes you back into the zoo parking lot and to the finish line.

I finished in 29:47 (officially) which is under 30 minutes, but significantly slower than I want to be. So, there's room for improvement.

My Nikeplus sensor is AFU and only said I ran 2.4 miles so it's time to recalibrate that.

Oh yeah, I pretty much abandoned the Pose Method/midfoot running for this race. My legs just don't have the strength to maintain that consistently over a long distance. I think I may employ that during training more and "regular" running cadence during events.

Signs signs everywhere a sign...

Monday was my first run since the last days of 2008. It was a simple 2-miler. I had many opportunities to go for runs, but never really did take advantage of them. Sleep sounded like a better idea. The late-night and early morning baby feedings had taken an initial toll on me.

I started getting signs it was time to start rundning again. I started getting additional magazine subscriptions to Running Times and Runner's World. I got an e-mail that the registration for the Chicago Marathon was open. I got something in the mail for a local running event. Someone was telling me something.

I completed the 2 miles without problem. It felt good to be running again. I took my usual gear with me but my Nike+ sensor had died so I wasn't able to track my pace. I consider that a sign too. Someone telling me not to worry about pace and just go out and get moving. So I did just that. It was free and easy, not thinking about pace, heart rate, or some other metric.

So, it starts today. Running is back.