Let’s start with the parts that keep me coming back for more.

I can use it without having to be plugged in to music. I love running to tunes just as much as the next gal. But, I also appreciate my unplugged jaunts to myself. It’s nice to be able to use the Nike+ technology without having to use an iPod.

It’s sleek and not heavy. I have wrists the size of pipe cleaners, and even though I have to clip it in at nearly the tightest notch, it doesn’t feel like I’m carrying around a grapefruit taped to my wrist.

It tells me what I want to know. I don’t (yet) need to know the exact coordinates of where I was 11 minutes and fifty-five seconds into my run last Sunday. The Nike+ Sportband offers me the usual time, distance, and pace parameters that keep me satisfied.

At $59, it’s cheaper than a Garmin. But, maybe that’s not a fair comparison because Garmins and Polars are designed to give you more information than the Nike+ Sportband. It really depends on what information you want to collect from your runs and what your personal needs are.

But then there are the aspects that make me wonder if I’m wasting my time.

The connectivity is not always great. Six out of ten times, I plugged the unit into my USB port and it linked just as any gadget-happy technophile could ask for: it was quick and brought me right to the Nike+ site, without disrupting any of the other tabs open in my browser. But, those other times? They weren’t so good. “No internet connection was found or no server connection was possible.” Yeah, the Web’s not perfect, I know, and maybe I’m expecting too much. But it’s frustrating all the same when you start to see a pattern.

It wasn’t the easiest to get cookin’. I tend to think of myself as pretty tech-savvy. And yet, I had to install, uninstall, and then install the software again before I could get it working right. And while it’s true, many pictures do say a thousand words, the ones that pass as instructions in the Nike+ Sportband package do not. I think there are many out there that might find it more confusing than it has to be.

If you don’t wear Nike shoes, you have to get creative. When it comes to running wear, we can’t be too brand-selective. If it doesn’t fit right, it doesn’t fit right. So, I’m not going to change my shoes just because I want to stick a sensor in it to link to my Sportband. I was hoping there’d be a way to tie it to my shoes. But, I suppose Nike doesn’t want to make it too easy for non-Nike shoe wearers to use it. The sensor’s solid. So, I stuck it into my shoe pocket with my personal information. I wonder what other people have come up with.

I don’t feel it’s completely fair to end on a bad note though. I’m still considering the Sportband. It is sleek and comfortable and I’m sure having one will make me feel included when I go out to London for the Nike+ Human Race on the August 31st. The real test will be if my mileage comes out right on a measured race course. So far, I think it’s about right, but I don’t have the best ways to judge. This could be the deciding factor on whether I pursue this relationship. Or, if instead, I introduce it to my husband to see how they get on.

It wasn’t long ago when, if we wanted to figure out how far we were running, we’d have to do things like:

1. count city blocks (which meant we’d have to run in mostly straight lines!)
2. drag around a mechanical distance measuring device like the ones engineers and surveyors use and measure out a route
3. drive our intended route and measure it with our vehicle’s odometer

All of these options were cumbersome and limiting in various ways. Most notably, if we wanted to accurately know how far we were running (what runner doesn’t?) they required us to measure out and stick to those routes. For better or worse, we were hopelessly tied to our chosen paths. In spite of these problems we made do and, not only that, we were even able to figure out how fast we were running using a lost art/science I think we used to call “mathematics”.

And then some pretty revolutionary products started to come out. I remember the first time running alongside a friend with his brand-new Timex BodyLink system (a GPS equipped speed+distance monitor). Wow. That was terrific! We could go pretty much anywhere (look Ma, no more set route!) and know how far and fast we were going – all in real time. Several other companies got into the game with their own products: Garmin with it’s now famous Forerunner products, Polar (my system of choice) with it’s ultra-durable line of speed+distance+heart rate monitors, and many other companies.

Flash forward only a few years and many of these products have integrated with now taken for granted services like Google Maps that not only tell you how far you ran, but exactly where you ran. Could it get any better?

Yup.

In the last year or so, Apple and Nike teamed up to integrate the too cute iPod Nano with a footpod and a tremendous Web service. The outcome: Music + voice prompts + speed + distance monitoring and a kick-butt Web site where you can upload your data and compete with other runners and even teams of runners. Wow.

But, are we done evolving?

Nope.

Bones in Motion (BiM)—today’s featured website—takes things in another direction. It merges yet another kind of technology into the world of tracking your runs—it merges the technology included in your GPS phone. I think this kind of system might just be a no-brainer for a lot of runners—especially runners who like the security of carrying a cell phone and who would rather not carry other devices when they run.

So, exactly what does BiM do? Well, a lot:

1. because it is GPS enabled, it records where you run and the elevation of your runs
2. using your phone, you can upload your run data where it can be analyzed for speed, distance, elevation and more
3. integrates with Google Maps
4. you can make/answer calls while your run data is being recorded
5. if your phone is equipped to play mp3′s, you can listen to them while it is tracking your run
6. integration of BiM tracking stats into your blog!

BiM does a lot more than that and it looks like they’re working on adding even more. Please take a look at their video demo and read their FAQ for more information.

So, is Bones in Motion the Final Frontier for tracking your runs? I’m not sure but it sure seems to be a great step toward it – and it’s a nice alternative for runners who might be looking for something a little different.
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Note: BiM may not be available in your area. Check their Web site for details.

This is no longer a problem. A few enterprising folks have come up solutions to allow you to use your Nike + iPod combination with ANY shoe. Take a look at some of these solutions:

• Switcheasy.com: This is a neat little idea and looks like it would work very well. The hard case keeps your transmitter safe and the clip on the back makes it easy to move from shoe to shoe. $7.99
• Shoepouch.com: This is a little more basic, but should do the trick. Nothing fancy, just what you need to attach your transmitter to your shoe. $5.99

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• Podophile.com: Podophile has a homemade solution that uses Velcro and a little ingenuity to attach your transmitter to any of your shoes. This has the benefit of being free and fairly secure.
• Sportsuit Sensor+: This is a nice little neoprene pouch that attaches to the laces of your shoe. Designed specifically for the iPod transmitter, it looks like it should work well. $9.95
• Nike Shoe Wallet: This is a product direct from Nike, that may work to hold your transmitter. It’s not designed specifically for doing this (obviously Nike would rather sell the shoes) but it would most likely do the trick. $8.00 (Out of stock)

Bottom-line, you no longer have to wear Nike shoes to enjoy the benefits of the Nike + iPod transmitter system. Any of the solutions noted above should work to manage the transmitter securely and get you out running in your New Balance, Puma, or any other brand shoe you choose.

In contrast to those who love to analyze, a fairly large group of CRN runners (18 percent), use no form of tracking. And while I have absolutely no mental capacity to understand such nonsense, I envy the free-spirited group who step out the door and run just to run. Although, I suspect this is the same group of runners who secretly measure the distance with their car.

But whether you are in a car or using an online pedometer, there are many tracking tools out there. Dianna, the Running Chick, uses the Nike Triax and claims it is as accurate as any other running gadget. Jessica, from SoCal Trail Girl, swears by the Nike + iPod Sports Kit. Mark, the Running Blogfather, uses a Polar with its top-end running computer. He says that once it’s calibrated it is unbelievably accurate—and does the laundry.

The Forerunner may not do the laundry, but it does provide many beneficial push-button functions to aid runners in getting the most out of training. The main features include distance tracking, wireless heart-rate monitoring, lap recording, and calories burned. A new feature on the 305 models even allows you to download courses to compare and compete against previous workouts. Bob, from A Running Destination, says “I know for a fact I train smarter and set more realistic goals having this feedback.”

The Forerunner also comes with a feature called the Virtual Partner. I have to admit, I am intrigued by this function. The Virtual Partner lets your train against a digital person at any specified time or goal. Set it to race against your personal best or a virtual Michael Johnson. Personally, I’d use mine to boost my ego and set it so I’d always win. Yes, technology can be a wonderful thing. It can also be not so wonderful. Katy in Australia, says “I often run where satellites can’t find me. I get really annoyed that my pixel-self stops to pant while my virtual trainer passes me. I resent that.”

With all the built-in features, the masses are right, you can’t beat the Garmin Forerunner as a training tool. But a tool it is. Whether it’s running for fun or to qualify for that big race let your body decide what works best for you.

Now, if we can just get the Forerunner to vibrate …

1. Measure out a route to use for calibration.
2. Find a route that is a minimum of 400 meters in distance. If you have access to a high school or other public track, this is a great place to calibrate since the track is exactly 400 meters around (on the inside lane). If you have no access to a track, you can map out a route at gmap pedometer.

The following 8 steps have accompanying screen shots at the bottom of this article.

1. On your iPod menu select “Nike+iPod.”
2. Then select “Settings” on the workout menu.
3. Next select “Calibrate” from the sensor menu.
4. On the next calibration screen push the center button to continue.
5. Select either “Walk” or “Run” depending on what you want to calibrate.
6. If you have previously calibrated either your run or walk, your iPod will show the date of your last calibration.
7. Choose either a “Custom” distance or the default “400 meters.”
8. If you chose the custom distance select your mileage using the iPod dial.

You will be told to begin your workout and you will receive spoken feedback when your calibration distance is completed. Repeat this process if you also want to calibrate your walking or running pace.

Calibration does not need to be repeated unless there is a significant change in your running speed. For a list of frequently asked technical question relating to your Sport Kit, please visit Apple’s Web site.

Step One

Step Two

Step Three

Step Four

Step Five

Step Six

Step Seven

Step Eight

Before you start using the device, you need to calibrate the sensor. There is a menu option for this and it allows you to pick your distance. Either map out a very accurate distance or run on a track, and when finished with the distance you end the calibration. According to Nike, the sensor is only about 90 percent accurate if you do not calibrate and that can make a big difference over the miles. Once calibrated, that figure becomes 98 percent and you are ready to go.

In my calibration run I chose one mile for the distance. Upon finishing my mile I stopped the calibration and the system had recorded that I had run 1.1 miles so it was off by exactly the estimated 10 percent. However, when I ran my second mile (just back to where I started), the system reported my distance as 1.01 miles so was quite a bit more accurate from my pre-calibration run. I have used my Nike+ on five to six runs since calibrating it, and from my estimates it is very close to the 98 percent accuracy range.

Essentially, the system tells you your overall distance covered, current pace, time, and calories burned. Once you plug your nano (the system only works with an iPod nano) into your computer you can upload your data to www.nike.com/nikeplus/. This site has additional features that allows you to review workouts, check your records, set goals, and even create challenges with other Nike+ users anywhere in the world.

The device is currently missing a heart rate monitor and split times along with other things you’d expect to find in a basic running watch. In order to later check your stats for a particular point in your run, you need to push the center iPod button, which does two things—creates a data point for future reference, and gives you a verbal announcement in your earbuds as to your current pace, time, and distance.

The Web site is fun and has some great little charts of your runs. However, it lacks the capability for you to name your runs, list what shoes you were wearing, and some other workout facts. Nike has a great free running log over at www.nikerunning.com where you can track things such as shoes worn, surface you ran on, how you were feeling, etc. It would be great if those things could be incorporated into the Nike+ site.

In summary, it’s a great little product if you already have the Nano and are in the market for a new pair of Nike shoes (or want to try it without them). The Nike + iPod Sport Kit itself at $29 is a super cheap way to track the distance and time of your workouts, especially if you already run with an iPod nano. It’s a brilliant idea pairing up these technologies and it’s another way to make training more fun and more efficient though the use of new technologies. However, this system is lacking some features that more serious runners want to track in regards to their workouts. In its current form it’s probably best suited if you just want to track your distance, or if you are new to running and looking for something to keep you motivated.

(Disclaimer: Jessica works as a part-time sales associate at Nike Women.)