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The Nike+ SystemBack in 2007, I was just beginning my life as a runner, and I was looking for tools to help me progress. The Garmin Forerunner and Nike+ systems both had instant appeal to my techie side, however I was initially hesitant to invest the several hundred dollars (at the time) needed to buy a Forerunner. I was also swept up in the excitement surrounding the introduction of the Nike+ system, and my first pair of "real" running shoes were the Nike Air Structure Triax 10. Since I owned an Ipod Nano and had shoes that could accomodate the little Nike+ footpod accelerometer internally, I decided to give Nike + a try. In the interest of full disclosure, I'll say at the outset that I no longer use the Nike+. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that I wouldn't recommend it to anyone since it does have its benefits and uses. The Nike+ certainly helped my running in those early days, and the motivation provided by the on-line Nike+ challenges was great. I liked being able to gauge my pace, track distance, and record my runs on-line. But for a perfectionist like myself, the Nike+ has some serious drawbacks.
The most serious problem I have with the Nike+ is that it's only really accurate if you run at the same steady pace on every run, and stick to more-or-less flat ground. Any deviation from the pace you calibrate it at messes up both the pacing data as well as the distance recording for your run, and at times I found these measurements to be wildly off. Now, for many runners this is not a big deal, but if you like to mix up your training and include things like intervals, tempo runs, and long, slow runs, the Nike+ comes up way short. Furthermore, for me as a road racer, tenths of a mile and accurate pacing data matter a lot, so these shortcomings presented some major problems. That being said, I'm glad that I used it, and it did help a lot when I first started out. Even after I upgraded to the Garmin Forerunner 205, I did still continue to use Nike+ for treadmill runs (this probably goes without saying, but GPS doesn't work on a treadmill). The Nike+ recordings on a treadmill are accurate enough, and in my case are more accurate than the readout of my treadmill's own data console (it has never worked quite right for some reason).
I do believe that the Nike+ can be a valuable tool for a new or recreational runner. It's cheap (<$30.00 on Amazon; see also the link at the bottom of this post), so it won't dent your wallet too much if you decide you don't like it, and the on-line community is active and interesting. If you're a new runner just starting out, or an experienced runner who tends to run most of your runs at the same pace, than the Nike+ would be a great addition to your running toolbox and is sure to provide some motivation for you to get out for a run. For a quick overview of Nike+, check out the following video:
To summarize again, Nike+ is a neat and fun little tool, but it has some major drawbacks for a serious runner who cares about missing tenths of a mile or needs really accurate pacing information. However, with the low price tag, I'd recommend giving this system a try if you're just getting into running and need a little motivational jumpstart.
If you enjoyed the content of this post, consider reading Pete's book - Tread Lightly: Form, Footwear, and the Quest for Injury Free Running (see ad below).
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