Just a short update here (that doesn't exactly fit into a twitter post). With the weather turning better (and our trip quickly approaching), I've begun to run once again. As silly as it is, one of the reasons I'd been hesitant was because I couldn't find my iPod nano, so I couldn't record my runs on Nike+ (and thus, what was the point of running, I guess is the logic). Anyway, I never did find my iPod, but I did research a few alternatives.
The first program/site I looked into was Trailguru, which I'd actually used before. It has it's own iPhone app (links to iTunes), which was appealing, and like Nike, it stored all your run data online. It uses the iPhone's GPS to measure your pace, as well as capture your routes, which would theoretically upload to the site (never got this to work properly). While it did keep track of a lot more data than Nike (the routes, as well as elevation), it felt much clunkier than the slick, Flash-based interface Nike has created. It felt like it was something created by a Microsoft technician or a database expert, rather than someone concerned with the user experience.
So I decided to switch to another alternative, called MapMyRun. Like Trailguru, it has its own iPhone app (iTunes link). There's a free version with ads, as well as a premium ($5) version without. I've been poking around it for a few weeks, but just today created an account. So far, I've been more than impressed. The interface feels much more refined than Trailguru, and the data syncs with a lot more sources (including Nike+). It can push messages to Facebook or Twitter, updating your friends on your latest workouts. It uses GPS to capture pace and route data, utilizing Google Earth to display routes online. You can also manually set up your own routes, if you're curious to see how long a run is and lack an iPhone (or pedometer).
If anyone's interested in running (and I know you), look me up on MapMyRun (or any of its sister sites). I'm kenjisan. Or leave a comment here and I can shoot you an invite.
