Author: devonpass

Here’s a sad little run run/walk/die/walk/run/die situation for ya.

I did this on the treadmill while wearing my Sportband so I could compare the numbers on the watch to the numbers on the treadmill and calibrate the watch correctly (assuming the treadmill is correct… which I’m not sure it is).

I didn’t count on DYING a mile and a half into the run and then struggling for the entire rest of it.

I ran the first mile at a 10:00 pace (so said the treadmill). That felt great, so I decided I was cool enough to try to run the second mile at a 9:30 pace (so said the treadmill). Half a mile in, I got a sharp pain in the middle of my body above my stomach. Not sure which organ/muscle/whatever that is, but it was exploding.

So I walked, tried to run again, pain exploded, walked again and then ran some more at a slower pace. I tried to bump it up at the end to finish strong, but then the pain exploded again and I finished the workout walking. Bummer.

Here are head-to-head numbers from the treadmill and the Sportband for the same workout (the timing is a little off; my simultaneous-button-pressing isn’t all that great):

Treadmill
Distance: 3.18 miles
Time: 35:00

Sportband
Distance: 3.36 miles
Time: 34:21

The Sportband is obviously a bit over on the mileage, so I’ll be able to use these numbers to make it more accurate. After this, I wonder how the Sportband will do when I run a known distance outside? I’ll need to hit a track to do a mile and see if it’s really accurate then.

Lesson from tonight: Slow and steady is better than too fast and hard. I’d rather have a longer, pain-free run than try to push too hard and have it ruin my whole run.

Sunday’s post-run lunch.

Tomato-basil soup courtesy of Safeway. Gruyere grilled cheese courtesy of heaven.

(Please excuse my looking like an alien.)

Sunday run to Green Lake, around and back (same route as last Thursday).

The watch said 5.07 miles; Map My Run says the route was 4.38 miles. I’m inclined to believe Map My Run, since I was NOT running at a 9:03 pace!

4.38 miles in 45:53 means a 10:28 average pace. Much more plausible.

Must. Calibrate. Watch.

A sunny run to and around Green Lake. Four miles down, one more to go as I head back.

Hell yes! This is awesome. On my day off, my super-awesome Nike+ Sportband-giving friend and I did a 5 mile run from my friend’s house to Green Lake, all the way around the lake and back to the house.

The graph shows pace vs. distance, so you can see that we walked for a bit when the graph dips down (click it for a larger view). I don’t know how accurate these numbers are, since I haven’t calibrated the watch yet, but the instructions say it’s 90% accurate straight out of the box.

I’m just a bit surprised by the 9:27 average pace and the overall unprecedented-ness (just go with it) of 5 miles in 47:23 for me. If that’s actually right… sweet.

I love how simple this watch is — it has all the functions I wanted in a watch (time, distance, pace and calories) and nothing more to confuse me. It’s so easy to use and doesn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable on my wrist. Plus, it gives me this great info to keep track of my runs and what will hopefully be visible progress as I try to run faster (for the 5K) and longer distances (for the 15K and half marathon).

PLUS, it actually makes me want to run more so I can see all the pretty graphs!