thirtydegree

Finally, and not a minute too soon!

Firmware Update 1.0.11

This update is required for all users of the Nike+ SportWatch GPS and includes the following:

• Adds average pace metric

• Improves instantaneous pace calculation when running with GPS and the Nike+ shoe sensor

• Improves auto-calibration of the Nike+ shoe sensor

• Fixes reset issue when charging with certain USB chargers

• Exits the lap summary screen when a button is pressed

• Fixes issue with calorie display during long workouts

• Additional minor bug fixes

My post birthday runs now come with the added benefit of heart rate monitoring.

I have been attempting to run the Hyde Park Figure 8 Top Route which is a new take on getting people to claim running routes.  It uses the GPS data to ensure that you’ve run the (exact) route and qualify to be entered on the leaderboard.  I was struggling with this as I thought I had been running the route, however it requires a high level of accuracy and running a ‘close and similar’ run will find you not being rewarded.  Yesterday’s run resulted in me becoming the “The Local Legend”.

As for the HRM data, Monday looked good with an average of 153BPM, whilst yesterday was a less impressive 159BPM.  The difference in HR definitely bears a direct relation to how I felt during my run.

The knee injury seems to have cleared up, although at the moment I’m suffering from shin splints at the beginning of my run, easing off during the run. Something to keep an eye on and possibly choose a shorter route temporarily.

Keep Running

I Popped over to Niketown early lunchtime to try the Nike+ SportWatch GPS out. I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit recently, as the weather has been improving and I’ve had a few runs in shorts again with my iPhone in my running shorts crackpocket. Worried that the phone will eventually fall out and I’ll end up with a shattered screen, alternatives have been the (now released) SportWatch or iPod Nano with Nike+ SportKit.

The overriding factor for getting the Nike+ SportWatch ended up being the fact that it has GPS technology, as well as being compatable with the Polar WearLink+, as I want to be able to track my pace, location and heart rate. The iPhone isn’t currently WearLink+ compatable.

After work I took it out for its first run around Hyde Park. I haven’t bought the Polar WearLink+ yet, so this run was only to check its functionality and ease of use.

As the instructions said, all you need to do is press and hold the Select button for three seconds to link the sensors. My run was solely using the GPS signal as my shoes aren’t designed for Nike+ and I don’t have a sensor pouch to attach to my shoes yet.

I took my normal 6km run route, as I’ve run it many times using my iPhone, so know the 1km markers and end to end is 6km with reasonable accuracy.

It was my first experience seeing my pace realtime as my phone has always been kept tucked away in my running shorts/tights bum pocket. What was unusually nice was to have the freedom to “just run”. Not having the Nike+ GPS iPhone app technology telling you your stats at certain milestones leaves you to get on with running. It’s a positive experience!

The run itself went well, with the SportWatch clocking 6.03km with a pace of 5’10″/km and 450cal burned.

Synching the watch is as easy as setting off to run. All you need to do, once the Nike+ Connect software has been installed, is plug in the SportWatch to your computers USB port and it syncs automatically and updates your run to nikerunning.com automatically. My run data is pretty spot on, however the elevation data is not as accurate as I’d like. This said, it is still more accurate than my phone’s. I like the split information posted below the visual run detail.

My only reservation at this point is tapping the screen to activate the backlight or mark laps. It requires quick, strong taps, as it isn’t a touch screen, so needs to be treated different to an iOS screen.

To sum up the experience, running without an iPhone in your crackpocket is a positive experience!

So I’ve been having a stint of physiotherapy since my knee injury at the beginning of the year. There were days I felt I’d never be able to run again and times when a simple walk (let’s not even mention stairs!) would bring me to tears.

A month of visits to an NHS doctors later, I decided to opt for private physio. Steve Sharp of Virgin Active Mayfair recommended I try Krina Panchal, who operates from the club. If you ever in need of physio, Krina comes with my recommendation too. Without her help, I would probably still be stuck in the same weekly pain/no pain/pain cycle.

This morning I completed my first run of spring without incident. 5km at a time of 25:56 and pace of 5″15′/km is pretty impressive considering it’s my first run since 11 January. I never thought Hyde Park would be such a hive of activity first thing in the morning, paths filled with runners and cyclists getting their morning dose of cardio interspersed with people making their way to work.

My next steps? Well, I have a follow up physio session tomorrow afternoon to see how my knee handled todays run. There’s one further session planned after that which will check how I’m progressing after a few weeks of running, gradually increasing my distance/time.

My Nike+ GPS iPhone app has made a reappearance and when the Nike+ SportWatch GPS arrives on 1 April, I may have a look at getting it too, as it has the added benefit of being easier to run with and the Polar WearLink+ can be used in conjunction with it, which scores extra points in my view!

In addition to all the gear, I’ll be running in the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon and Run to the Beat later this year, and plan to run the Virgin London Marathon next year and some organised runs inbetween.

Feel like challenging me along the way? Challenge me to a game of Nike+ Tag! My username is thirtydegree.