From NikeFuel "Missions" to "Mall-rathons"

When I first started this blog, it was all about "chroNikeling" (chronicling) my use (or misuse) of Nike+ devices to monitor my "runs", I currently have 3: the iPod Nano, Sportband w/Sensor and Nike+ Running Android App (installed on a Samsung Galaxy phone and on a Cyberpad tablet). In any case I haven't been that active in using them as much as I have until just after October (when I got a Nike+ Jack O Lantern badge which I blog/brag about here) and when I started doing the Nike+ Fuel Missions just before the holidays last year and I got a bit more "hooked" into it when I got my very 1st Android phone for Christmas (I know, I'm pretty far behind in mostly everything) and started using the Nike+ Running App. Anyways, to make a long story...uhmm...longer...I've gotten a bit "serious" with this running around business...especially with my "stats" and the "achievements/gamification" side of things (so you can just imagine my frustration with Nike's Missing Badges spiel here). Well, anyways, I've resolved to improve my average "statistics" this year in terms of distance and pace, especially the latter one because I was pretty much really just "walking about" using the Sportband and iPod Nano as a pedometer/calorie counter (not that I need to count them) & music player respectively (i've long since retired it in favor of the Nike+ App) Hence, which explains my general "slowness" pace-wise on NikePlus.com. Although, I do make up for it in frequency of runs (ok, brisk walks now & then) and in distance (pretty much catching up to averages of the Nike+ Community). So to remedy this "pace-setting" uhmm..problem, I've stepped up to replay most of my Nike+Fuel Missions @Medium to Hard Levels (which can be a bit daunting for a "slowpoke" like me) especially this merry month of March. I've been failing Mission no.5 since January though...so I thought of skipping ahead to certain missions that I can do....

Well, I did need a win at some point especially after "failing" No.5 several times already. I also got over Mission nos.4 & 7 btw with scores of 2038 and 1098 respectively. All at just "Medium" Levels of course, I'm gearing up for the Hard ones later this month. In the meantime....

The last Nike+Fuel Mission above, brought my attention to my "pathetic" Nike+ numbers which although, "improving a bit" (at least from what I've seen) in terms of pace, was still below my target general (displayed) average of 3miles and I was also already nearing my "landmark" 300th run...So, this week, as a "drastic measure" I've resolved to switch from improving pace by doing NikeFuel Missions to 3 "Mall-rathons" (hoping from mall to mall) to concentrating on getting >60miles in in just 3 runs (before this week ends--hopefully). The first of these, just finished today,  is shown below:

Well, it aint pretty and I was really hoping for a 20/20 (20miles in under 20minutes/mile) but I got distracted along the way and my phone's battery "died" out in the last half-mile <sigh> bummer :( In any case, I got a "new" Longest Workout record from it! ;-) Wuhoo!