Nike + iPod Review

on February 15, 2009

Hello! I managed to do my long run, but I ran 10.35 miles instead of 11.0. And I was terribly slow! But I kind of felt like "at least I’m getting the distance done." Basically, I was tired, hot, cranky, and bored. Not my best run!

However… there was 1 bright spot. I tried out my new Nike + iPod, which the Husband gave me for Valentine’s Day.

He gave me a shoe pouch to put the sensor on since I don’t have the special shoes!

Now, I usually use Google Earth to map my runs, and I generally have "mile markers" on my normal route. For example, I know where 2.0 miles is located, as well as 2.5 miles, 4.25 miles, and 5.5 miles.

So, I knew the Nike + iPod was overestimating my distance as I ran — it said I ran 11.75 miles and I really ran 10.35. The manual says there’s a way to calibrate my runs to make it more accurate, but I can’t figure it out! Anyone know how to do this on an Nike + iPod?

I liked the Nike + iPod overall! It’s pretty neat how a lady briefly interrupts the music to tell you how far you’ve run. Plus, at the end, she says, "You only have 400 meters to your goal of 11.0 miles….. 300 meters…. 200 meters…. and you’re there!"

Here are my statistics from the Nike + iPod:

Duration: 2 hours, 1 minute (told you I was slow!); 10.35 miles
Calories Burned: 1,035

The calories burned is probably pretty accurate because I entered my weight into the iPod.

Oh, before I left on my run, I ate 1 serving of Clif Shot Bloks (orange flavor). Each serving has 100 calories.

I also ate another 3 bloks around mile 7.0 on my run. But by that point, I was tired and cranky, and I thought there were yucky.

Post-Run Eats

I came home from my run and discovered Meghann had stopped by to get Abbie… and she left me one of Jenna’s pretzels! Oh, I was SO happy!

This pretzel was as large as my head, seriously… and I ate 3/4!! 🙂 With roasted red pepper hummus. It was sooo good. It was a runner’s DREAM to come home to this! Thank you, Meghann and Jenna!

I also drank a glass of milk and heated up some of my favorite Wolfy stew ever! Mmmmm Puck Puck!

The Organic Spicy Bean was SOOO delish! It was filling and wholesome and I LOVED it. Honestly, all of the Wolfgang Puck soups are great.

Two slices of chocolate orange for dessert:

Alright, time to go eat more. I need to make up this 1,000 calorie deficit!

Have you tried the Nike + iPod? Do you like it?

{ 28 comments }

skinnyrunner February 15, 2009, 4:54 pm
i had the nike + and used it for about 1 year and loved it. until i started running races and realizing the distances were way off. mine were always underestimated, sometimes by 2 miles in a half mary. i calibrated it and everything and it still way always at least half a mile off. so i recently bought a garmin gps watch. hard to figure out how to use but super accuate.
VeggieGirl February 15, 2009, 4:59 pm
No worries!! You’ll run better next time, for sure.

Hooray for Jenna’s fabulous pretzels!!
Erica February 15, 2009, 5:07 pm
Good for you for making it through that distance despite it all! YUM! A fresh pretzel with hummus? I’m totally jealous 🙂 Have a great night
jane February 15, 2009, 5:17 pm
i love that you ran more than 10 miles the day after partying. you are truly a runner, girl! 🙂
Amy February 15, 2009, 5:29 pm
I have the Nike + ipod and really like it. I’ve found that mine works pretty well (though not as good as GPS). Basically when you go into the Nike + section on your nano there’s a calibrate option. It will tell you some of what to do, but what I did was map out a 1 mile run using Google. You tell the Nike + how far you’ll run and then hit a button once you’ve reached it to let the system know. From then on it will approximate your distance based on your strides and distance in the calibration run. Not a perfect science, but certainly a fun and useful tool to have!
Chris February 15, 2009, 5:31 pm
Quick note about the Nike+ calibration – you “should” calibrate it on a quarter mile track. If you go online to the Apple website, there’s a manual for it on there of how to calibrate it.

That said, my ex got me one and I stopped using it after about 4 months because it annoyed me with it’s great inconsistencies – I now use mapmyrun.com to figure out a route and mile markers, and I carry a simple timing watch. I note my time at every mile marker and it’s much easier.

Way to go on the run- you got it done and that’s wonderful!
just me February 15, 2009, 5:36 pm
ohhh…that looks like a great pretzel!!

now go eat!!!!!!
Erin February 15, 2009, 5:40 pm
You still ran over 10 miles, so definitely not bad!
That pretzel looks incredible.
I go the Nike+ for Christmas and was disappointed with the distance problem, but if you calibrate it, it works much better. Just go to Settings, Sensor, and Calibrate! It’s definitely not the most accurate thing out there but for being so cheap and convenient, I think its pretty cool! I also really like that it uploads your data to nike.com so you can keep track of all your stats and workouts.
Rachel D February 15, 2009, 5:40 pm
I freakin’ love the Nike + iPod! My BIL gave me one last year because he wound up with an extra at Christmastime and it took me several months to realize I could use it in the pouch I wear on my shoe for my key and ID (I have Asics, not Nikes). I calibrated it on a treadmill at the time, but I don’t recommend that- I think it’s a little off (my stride must differ with the treadmill) so I keep meaning to re-calibrate on a track. I use Mapmyrun.com to find my routes and hope it’s more accurate with the distance. You’ll love it even more after you play around and discover all the features. Have you set up your Power song yet?
That’s a great V-day present from your man!
Amy February 15, 2009, 5:48 pm
Hi! I had to try the Nike+iPod for work (I write for a weekly newspaper), and I liked it for the first few weeks, and then my distance and pace would be WAY WAY off, like I would run 5 miles and it would say .5. Weird! But to calibrate it, you scroll down to “Calibrate” and head to a track and run in lane 1. You can pick between 400 meters or put in your own distance (I did a mile). But definitely do on a track where the distance is accurate. I did mine on a treadmill and that messed it up.
Mrs. LC February 15, 2009, 5:48 pm
Girl, I don’t think I’ll ever be running 10.35 miles (not sure if I’d really want to!), so in my book you still deserve crazy props for today!! 🙂
Victoria February 15, 2009, 5:58 pm
ick. I had a run like that yesterday, but I always like to tell myself slow is better than nothing. Wow! That pretzel looks amazing. I’d love to come home to that too!
Sarah W. February 15, 2009, 6:40 pm
yum on that pretzel!!!
Justine February 15, 2009, 6:40 pm
Great job on the 10+ miles…even if it was a little slower than usual. At least you’re gettin’ them in! My left leg’s been bothering me (AGAIN) so I haven’t run since Wednesday 🙁 Hopefully it’ll be healed soon so I can continue training for my half!

I got the Nike+ for Christmas and it was pretty inaccurate at first, but once I calibrated it it’s been much better! I think some others on here said how to calibrate it…it’s pretty easy. I’m sure it’s not 100% accurate, but it works for me!
Erin February 15, 2009, 6:49 pm
The best part of those long runs is making up the calorie deficit after! May I suggest some Haagen Dazs? It always does the trick for me 🙂
Mica February 15, 2009, 6:54 pm
I think in your iPod, once everything is loaded, there is a “calibrate” setting where you run on a quarter-mile track to get everything in order.

I didn’t calibrate mine, and it told me I was running 7:30 pace. I got really angry at it for lying to me, so I didn’t use it for two years. Then when I tried it again, it was so wonky that it told me I was running 55 minutes/mile pace.

Haha. I hope you get yours calibrated correctly!
ksgoodeats February 15, 2009, 6:57 pm
Holy cow – that pretzel! Looks great! Ooooh Wolfgang…whenever I see his soups I think of you now haha!
Brandi February 15, 2009, 6:58 pm
That pretzel looks amazing!
Matt February 15, 2009, 7:02 pm
My nike + was always off, that’s why I got a Garmin. It wasn’t as bad once I calibrated it though!
talesofexpansion February 15, 2009, 7:06 pm
awesome run!! (the best part of which, of course, is remedying your calorie deficit). enjoy!
Beth February 15, 2009, 7:17 pm
Go to a track and run on the innermost lane to calibrate it – at least a half mile. It won’t be perfect but it will get better.
Jill Will Run February 15, 2009, 7:19 pm
Calibration is easy when you set a specific distance and run it through the calibration program. It will walk you through it, it’s simple!

I’ve found the Nike+ to be pretty accurate on shorter distances, but on longer distances it tends to get off. So anything over about 6 or 7 miles it starts to stray. I know this because I got a Garmin Forerunner for Christmas, so I run with the GPS and Nike+ and compare. But on most runs of 3 or 4 miles they are pretty similar.
Elina February 15, 2009, 9:23 pm
I used to use the nike ipod device until my ipod was stolen (boo!) and you’re right, it definitely overestimated my distance. I never got a chance to recalibrate it. Let us know if you figure it out! 🙂
Lora February 15, 2009, 9:33 pm
i have the same issue! i ran 8.15 miles today and nike always says around 10 miles. ugh. I can’t figure out calibration either..I hope I can figure it out.
Thinspired February 16, 2009, 2:10 am
My husband bought me one a couple years ago and I got really frustrated with it! I know people who LOVE them but I didn’t like that it didn’t match what I knew to be my distance 🙁 I don’t know how to calibrate them more accurately but if you find out, please let us know 😀
Angie Eats Peace February 16, 2009, 8:21 am
That actually sounds like a great time!
Meredith (Pursuing Balance) February 16, 2009, 9:12 am
Maybe there’s a customer service number in the directions or on the website? Then you can call them and have them walk you through the setup.
MyRunningJourney February 16, 2009, 2:27 pm
I got the Nike+Ipod in Sept. ’08 and I loved it until Dec. ’08. I calibrated mine on day 1 and it was fine for a while, then it started messing up my Ipod big time (it would freeze ALL the time). My shoe sensor died in Nov. ’08 and I got a new one.. it was completely off on the distance (and I did calibrate mine). I don’t know what was wrong with it, but it made me so mad, in addition to the Ipod glitches the Nike+ causes, so I upgraded to the Garmin Forerunner 50 and I LOVE it!

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