Apps Nike Run Club (NRC+) piss & moan thread

[jon08]

So it’s really frustrating that after all this time this app is still riddled with bugs, esp. since it’s partnered with Apple.

Although they’ve improved it slighly in the last couple of months, it still lacks.

1. If you start Basic run from iPhone it won’t always mirror it on your AW. I found that the best solution is to force quit the watch ap before you start the workout ob your iPhone. Then it will pretty much always mirror it on your AW.

2. SPEED runs. As soon as you hit the “Rest” button after the interval the Rest timer will start counting seconds but when the watch’s screen goes dim/black the timer will stop instead of running in the background. Which makes this thing basically useless. Anyone else experiencing this issue?

 

[scriptkitten]

i dunno.. after like 6 years, i finally gave up on NRC a few weeks ago. I got the new S4 (had an S2) but haven't tried it with the new watch yet because I still have lingering feelings about all the frustration its caused over the past couple of months.

 

[japanime]

My guess is it's never going to work right because Apple considers it a third-party app, and Nike doesn't care enough to fix it.

I enjoyed eight smooth years with Nike+. Then, after buying my Series 2 Nike watch, a year of frustration. Now I use Apple's native, trouble-free workout app. I'd rather enjoy my workouts than futz around with Nike's garbage app.

 

[Akrapovic]

I gave up years ago when they lied about what the app could and couldn't do. I had an S0 which had no GPS, so you had to carry your phone with you during a run (which is fine). That worked fine - drew the map and everything. When the S3 was released, Nike removed support for the S0 to use the phone for GPS, so you could no longer get a map - but they kept it in the feature list. When questioned on it, they lied and said it's impossible for a Watch app to use the phone GPS...despite the app doing this before.

The latest version has locked down importing and exporting fitness files. I used to like that I could get my results in different apps, but Nike has locked it down and now you can't. So now I use the Workout app and HealthFit to sync to Strava. I'd like to use the Nike app, but frankly, it's crap, and the developers are hell-bent on removing features and lying to you like you're an idiot.

Workout, Strava, HealthFit all the way.

 

[japanime]

I gave up years ago when they lied about what the app could and couldn't do.

Excellent point. And the lying went beyond what Nike listed in the app description. On the splashy product page on its own website, Apple claimed that you could send and receive "virtual fist bumps" on the Nike+ version of the Series 2 watch. Apple even had a picture of the "fist bump" (see below). In fact, that feature was NEVER implemented by Nike into the app. Via both email and a phone call, I pointed it out this misleading aspect of the advertisement to Apple's Executive Relations division in Cupertino. They just blew me off — and the advertisement remain unchanged until the Series 3 was released.

Nike also obviously lied when they told us that the Nike+ website, which we could log in to and see our stats, had gone offline for maintenance several months ago. It soon became clear that the site wasn't coming back.

I didn't actually care about the "virtual fist bump" or any of the other silly social-media aspects of the NRC app. I just wanted it to smoothly record workouts on my $400 watch. But it never, ever did.

 

[rbart]

I have tested, once again, NRC on my S2 ...
I wanted to know if they have improved this app and ... no : NO IMPROVEMENT
It's slow, slow. When you raise your wrist while running, you frequently have a spinning wheel and have to wait for seconds to display the data.
It's unbelievable to have a so badly designed app for a so big company, an app that is advertised by Apple ...
Apple standard workout app is smooth and fast, with more customization. It only misses the fun of NRC ...

 

[jon08]

I have tested, once again, NRC on my S2 ...
I wanted to know if they have improved this app and ... no : NO IMPROVEMENT
It's slow, slow. When you raise your wrist while running, you frequently have a spinning wheel and have to wait for seconds to display the data.
It's unbelievable to have a so badly designed app for a so big company, an app that is advertised by Apple ...
Apple standard workout app is smooth and fast, with more customization. It only misses the fun of NRC ...

Have you tried deleting the app, rebooting both iPhone & Watch and reinstalling the app? If not, maybe you could give it a try. On AW3 for example it's at least not too bad regarding the speed.

 

[rbart]

Yes of course...
I have tried many times

 

[jon08]

Btw, have they optimized the app for S4 screen?

 

[perezr10]

Btw, have they optimized the app for S4 screen?

Yes, it’s been updated for the Series 4.

 

[menace3]

Finally have joined the club. I did my first run last night with Apple Workouts instead of Nike. I will give props to Nike for inspiring me to run again since the first nike watch. I was someone that also used the Nike band previously. THe app never has the correct number of miles I ran for the month in the complication, well not until I go into the app and force sync details about the run. The spinning circles, the setup of the apple watch after EVERY SINGLE NIKE APP UPDATE, and more. I just removed it from my infograph face.

I was even excited for thr NTC app, but I have to have my phone with me to start a workout? That just does not make much sense.

So I'm done. Bye Nike... bye bye

 

[MedRed]

Yes of course...
I have tried many times

Nike Run club on the series 2 is slow and painful. I would often have to wait for it to load, or get the green dot of death, or the app would be unresponsive when needing to start a run or switch between indoor/outdoor. I'd sometimes have runs that finally started hours later after an unresponsive session.

I had an opportunity to back up to a series 3 watch and try it and it had NONE of the issues I had on two series 2 watches. When the 4 came out, I upgraded from a 2 to a 4 and it's smooth sailing. The app works quickly and I have yet to have it hang or be unresponsive. Now that it works on the infograph face, I have no complaints.

 

[japanime]

Nike Run club on the series 2 is slow and painful. I would often have to wait for it to load, or get the green dot of death, or the app would be unresponsive when needing to start a run or switch between indoor/outdoor. I'd sometimes have runs that finally started hours later after an unresponsive session.

I had an opportunity to back up to a series 3 watch and try it and it had NONE of the issues I had on two series 2 watches. When the 4 came out, I upgraded from a 2 to a 4 and it's smooth sailing. The app works quickly and I have yet to have it hang or be unresponsive. Now that it works on the infograph face, I have no complaints.

So what you're saying is that those of us who bought the $400 series 2 Nike+ Apple Watch and expected the NRC app to work as advertised only need to spend another $400 and it will indeed work as advertised? Count me out.

 

[ftaok]

I've been keeping track of this thread but I wanted to stay out of it. I think I complain about Nike too much as it is, but I just have to laugh at this point.

Nike has been breaking our hearts (an apps too) for years now. The S4 might run NRC just fine, but wait until the next AW comes out. NRC will run like garbage. I'd say that the website would be gimped, but I don't think they can strip that any further.

And when your, previously smooth running AW goes bad (I'm guessing October 2019), you'll think back to this post and think, "wow, that ftaok dude was right".

 

[Falkon71]

I thought it was just me having problems with my AW2. Runs NEVER end well, and I always play the waiting game to see if it records on the phone.

I got one of the "how's NRC working for you" on my phone and I lit in to them via email. Surprisingly, they responded back and asked for specifics. I gave them screen shots, daily data, did what they suggested (uninstall, unpair, reboot, repair, run) and had not change in the reliability.

The ONLY way I've been able to consistently get it to work is to put the phone in airplane mode, reboot the watch, and turn off Wi-Fi to the watch off, then run.

Too bad there isn't some "false advertising" suit that those of us that bought these "Nike branded" watches to use their app (thinking they were integrated) only to find that it doesn't deliver. Frankly, with the exception of the first couple of months, it's NEVER delivered, as promised, and I find myself missing mileage, or entering it manually because it's just completely lost.

 

[japanime]

I thought it was just me having problems with my AW2. Runs NEVER end well, and I always play the waiting game to see if it records on the phone.

Sadly, no, you're definitely not alone.

 

[FunkyMagicUK]

I don’t get why people continue using it if the experience they have is so bad and there’s good stable alternatives out there?

 

[ftaok]

I don’t get why people continue using it if the experience they have is so bad and there’s good stable alternatives out there?

The premise of this particular thread is the NRC works pretty well on new AWs. Users are happy until the next wOS update and NRC begins to get buggy for everyone without the newest AW.

By then, you're invested in Nike and will continue to use it because you have a whole year (or more) worth of data and you don't want to abandon it. By the 3rd year, NRC runs so poorly, that you've finally switched to something better. You wonder "why the hell didn't I switch sooner?"

Meanwhile, you've been so active in MacRumors on every NRC complaint thread (there are many of them) that you feel obligated to reply. Every. Damned. Time.

You think to yourself, "if I can just save one person from starting up with NRC, then I'll have done my job."

If you don't have any problems with NRC, then it probably means that you have lots of money and get a new AW every year. Or that you're super lucky. But probably the former.

This post is mostly in jest. But there's more than a kernel of truth to it.

 

[FunkyMagicUK]

The premise of this particular thread is the NRC works pretty well on new AWs. Users are happy until the next wOS update and NRC begins to get buggy for everyone without the newest AW.

By then, you're invested in Nike and will continue to use it because you have a whole year (or more) worth of data and you don't want to abandon it. By the 3rd year, NRC runs so poorly, that you've finally switched to something better. You wonder "why the hell didn't I switch sooner?"

Meanwhile, you've been so active in MacRumors on every NRC complaint thread (there are many of them) that you feel obligated to reply. Every. Damned. Time.

You think to yourself, "if I can just save one person from starting up with NRC, then I'll have done my job."

If you don't have any problems with NRC, then it probably means that you have lots of money and get a new AW every year. Or that you're super lucky. But probably the former.

This post is mostly in jest. But there's more than a kernel of truth to it.

ha...I get that!!

I’m just glad that I went to a different app straight away!!

 

[mk313]

I thought it was just me having problems with my AW2. Runs NEVER end well, and I always play the waiting game to see if it records on the phone.

I got one of the "how's NRC working for you" on my phone and I lit in to them via email. Surprisingly, they responded back and asked for specifics. I gave them screen shots, daily data, did what they suggested (uninstall, unpair, reboot, repair, run) and had not change in the reliability.

The ONLY way I've been able to consistently get it to work is to put the phone in airplane mode, reboot the watch, and turn off Wi-Fi to the watch off, then run.

Too bad there isn't some "false advertising" suit that those of us that bought these "Nike branded" watches to use their app (thinking they were integrated) only to find that it doesn't deliver. Frankly, with the exception of the first couple of months, it's NEVER delivered, as promised, and I find myself missing mileage, or entering it manually because it's just completely lost.

Glad to heat they responded to you. I've filled out those comments several times, but have never heard back. FWIW, if you want to keep your runs stored in the NRC app, you can use RunGap (it costs $8/year) to export them out of other apps (you do need to sync with the (free) Garmin app in order for this to work. I have 14 years of runs in NRC, and am somewhat attached to the platform, but I switched over to the apple workouts app when my Apple Watch Series 2 stopped work correctly with the NRC app, and I can still see all of my runs in the NRC.

 

[trinec]

4 yrs ltr, still not bugged over Series 0; using a real sport watch (eben purchased within 2015) and still on the goal with more options. Still feeling lik the AW is sth. for people who needs to get our of couch potatoe and do some excersis... 5k? funny... do half or full marathon (or more!) and find the missing information for you to solve it. Just gave this I try and failed.... My opinion - just a marker to let other know that you've done something - effective or not. I know about people that get circles closed in half a time of me, shaking hands to get it closed per day... but still can't run a single 5k under 30minutes. It doesn't matter, the score is taking in the finish!

 

[japanime]

I second everything that @ftaok and @mk313 have said.

I've been with Nike+ since it's brilliant beginning in 2006, when the kit consisted of a shoe sensor and iPod nano receiver, then graduated a few years later to the sensor-less iPhone app (which was also great).

The promise of Nike+ on the Apple Watch was too great to resist, so I pre-ordered one the moment it was announced. And while I'm still very satisfied with everything else my Nike-branded Series 2 watch can do, NRC has never worked. Never ever.

Within a week of buying the watch, I opened a case with AppleCare. I figured I just got a defective watch. For several months, Apple had me doing tests, keeping logs, sending data, etc. They refused, however, to send me a new watch, saying it was a "third-party issue" since the app was made by Nike. I pointed out repeated times that the watch was Nike-branded, and so as far as I was concerned, it was an Apple problem. But still they refused to replace my watch. And, of course, nothing they suggested that I try would fix the issue. Because as we all know now, I didn't have a defective watch. The problem was that Apple and Nike failed to build an app that works properly.

As @mk313, it's possible to store workout data from other apps using export apps like RunGap. I use another app called HealthFit (a one-time fee of $2.99) to move data from the built-in Apple Workouts app to NRC (via Garmin Connect). It's not always perfect or pretty, but it gets the job done.

Lately, though, I've been thinking about abandoning my 13 years of Nike+ data and starting anew with Garmin Connect, which seems damn stable, has a robust website (something Nike+ once had but then was taken away from us without any warning whatsoever). Most important, Garmin allows the owners of the data — you and me — to do what we want with it. Nike, on the other hand, takes our data and locks it into their system, giving its users very little additional control over it.

 

[mk313]

I second everything that @ftaok and @mk313 have said.

I've been with Nike+ since it's brilliant beginning in 2006, when the kit consisted of a shoe sensor and iPod nano receiver, then graduated a few years later to the sensor-less iPhone app (which was also great).

The good old days. Nike + and then the Nike iPhone app were fantastic. They got me back into running & I loved using them.

The promise of Nike+ on the Apple Watch was too great to resist, so I pre-ordered one the moment it was announced. And while I'm still very satisfied with everything else my Nike-branded Series 2 watch can do, NRC has never worked. Never ever.

Mine worked great when I had the original software on there, but iOS 4 (I think-whatever the first major update was after the Series 2 came out) killed it. Nike updated the app & it never worked right after that for me. It's a shame because, at least for me, the version that shipped with the Series 2 worked great & I'd still be using NRC today if that version was still available.

After the Series 2 debacle, Nike also did some crappy moves (like turning off their website) that really limited the appeal of NRC for me.

Lately, though, I've been thinking about abandoning my 13 years of Nike+ data and starting anew with Garmin Connect, which seems damn stable, has a robust website (something Nike+ once had but then was taken away from us without any warning whatsoever). Most important, Garmin allows the owners of the data — you and me — to do what we want with it. Nike, on the other hand, takes our data and locks it into their system, giving its users very little additional control over it.

If you do that, please post here to let us know how the transition goes. Will you try to export all of your old data out of NRC, or just kiss it goodbye & start fresh? I was surprised (maybe I shouldn't have been since it is a super popular fitness watch) at how good the Garmin app/ website is. I don't really use it for anything other than a passthrough to NRC, but I am glad that my more recent data is all getting stored in the Apple Workouts app, Garmin & Nike, so I won't be in that same situation ever again.

 

[ftaok]

I completely jumped ship from Nike about a year and half ago. Prior to that, I was lucky enough to export all of my data off of Nike's servers when they still had public APIs, using Smashrun.com.

So I didn't lose any of the data that I had originally recorded back in the Nike + iPod days.

Now, I use iSR to record my runs, which I have set to export the data to both SmashRun and GarminConnect. I have my Nike and Garmin accounts linked so that any run that shows up in Garmin will transfer over to Nike (don't want to lose my Purple Status at Nike). But with the Nike website neutered, there's very little need to keep sending my data over to Nike. Just a habit, I guess. Maybe I'm hoping that they come to their senses and return to the old app design and I'll jump back ... but I doubt that'll ever happen.

 

[TheBlackLabEdge]

So it’s really frustrating that after all this time this app is still riddled with bugs, esp. since it’s partnered with Apple.

Although they’ve improved it slighly in the last couple of months, it still lacks.

1. If you start Basic run from iPhone it won’t always mirror it on your AW. I found that the best solution is to force quit the watch ap before you start the workout ob your iPhone. Then it will pretty much always mirror it on your AW.

2. SPEED runs. As soon as you hit the “Rest” button after the interval the Rest timer will start counting seconds but when the watch’s screen goes dim/black the timer will stop instead of running in the background. Which makes this thing basically useless. Anyone else experiencing this issue?