Stormproofed with a Slice of....

the Nike+ "Storm-proof" badge finally!!!

I got this way back in August, I've been trying to get this one for the longest time. Must have tagged a dozen or so runs each month since June(both using the Sportband & Nike+ Running App for a couple of months before I got it --- i think the latter earned it for me) . Nothing like running furiously in the rain ---trying not to get soaked too much (yeah, the nice thing about using the Nike+ Running app is you can "pause" it) while skipping from one "shelter" to another (downside: can't get your mobile device soaked) which accounts for the "fast" pace.

Yep...a piece of cake! ;) 

 

 

I took it slow and steady using the Sportband with this one---just my "walking pace". Really no need to tire myself out  since it was my birthday after all (I just wanted to get the badge too ;) . I also took the time to re-calibrate the Sportband's walking pace too since it was the 1st day of the month (hence, the "just walk" pace).

Hmmm...it does look really "irregular"...oh yeah...I had the dog with me!

Next target badges: The "Comfort Zone" badge (GPS-dependent) and a second Halloween Jack O Lantern badge (last day of October?)

Anniversary Run

I just thought I'd do quick post for this one (good thing I remembered running today!).

One year ago! Aug 24th I started Running using Nike+ Sportband

Below is my original Nike+ Sportband: (with my minions from McDonald's! ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My McDonald's Minions with my Nike+ Sportband & My very 1st Nike+ shoe: the AirMax Edge (Note: I have long since sold both)

Uncle Sam

What better way to start, and perhaps, end, my only post for this month than a Nike+ Badge right?!?

Right?!? (just nod your head)

This was "almost" anti-climactic coz we in the Nike+ community (sorry for you if got left out of this) we're kinda "expecting" this one (screw Nike+ Running's claims, more like excuses of "delighting us with surprises"  to paraphrase their catch phrase). Well, I almost didn't get mine....my internets conked out on me before I could synched up my 4th of July run...friggin Murphy's Law almost got me. (>_<)

Well almost, soooo without further ado and without the fireworks...I present:

Well yeah, I got it! Although I dunno about any friggin fireworks...and for some
reason, this didn't "pop out" and "surprised" me...oh well...

And ths is how I "got it":

See? a nice steady run..er..walk...i should have "sped up" a lot faster...
so the "spike" would have looked like the Washington Monument to commemorate
Independence Day ;-)

So that's that....Happy Uncle Sam day! (btw, I may just stay with my Uncle Sam --the real one for awhile so I may not be blogging that much anymore)  but keep on running badgers! (yeah, like you'd stop ;-)

PS: Btw, the next "event" badge would be in late October (30?) o November (01) It's the Jack O Lantern badge for Halloween if I'm not mistaken....so dont say I didnt give you enough info this time.
Now if I could just nail that Stormproof badge...<sigh>

Just Silver

Well, it's now kind of "official" (as I am wrapping this blog, its already early July), the only new "achievement" I get for June is a shiny Silver Mile High trophy [for running 40kms or so but not over 80 in a month(?)] My first actually. And, I don't really know why....since Im pretty sure I always run over 100kms in a month...go figure. Must be a "cut-off" delay thingie. Anyways, the Silver Mile High Trophy comes with this uhmm.. cheer-quote:

"Hi Ho Silver. And Away You Go":

Now for those of you in the know, you might recognize that "Hi Ho Silver" from the American Classic...what?
Clue: It involves a Masked Cowboy, and an Indian...Silver is actually his horse

Who comes up with this? \(>_<)/ Anyways, Nike+ Running...you also owe me a Stormproof Badge!

June Jogs & Jinx(?)

I haven't been jogging the past couple weeks of June. Not more than my usual numbers anyways. I've already fallen behind (and on my behind ;-) in my Nike+ Friends standings (as of last time, I think I'm barely hanging in the top 5 :-( Although, over-all I think I'll catch up and still end up having more than 100 miles before the month ends (coz you know, that's how I roll :-P, er, run )

The reason(s) for this "pace" is quite calculated and uhm...charted. First, its been raining quite lot this month --at least 2-3x a week (quite heavily on some days). I wouldn't be able to use my GPS Phone App without it getting drenched. Also, because of this, the particular routes which I usually take (mostly by riverbanks) are sometimes,  outright un-passable (pics next week!). However, and again, because of these I have set my sights on the following "Achievements and Badges": 1) Stormproof Badge (shown below, thanks to Mr. Jon Fuller for screenshot---see? It does exist!) 2) Comfort Zone badge (i still have to look for an actual one) and 3) a Bronze Trophy (the only trophy I havent got in my collection...coz I always have lotsa runs that exceed 20kms a week)

I wonder who owns this one? I hope to get mine by this month's end
Do you hear me Nike+ Running!??

Well, I hope I don't "jinx" myself setting these badge goals in my blog like this (I think, I may already have :( "Running" my mouth...er, "expectations" like this. Anyways, I'll post some "picture stories" by month's end. Keep running badgers!

Hoorays in May!

Well, I got them early in May....two NikePlus Badges (one of which is really unexpected, the other I kinda worked my ass off running them trails the past couple of months ---but it was a pleasant experience...pics to follow! er, soon). Anyways, to recap: I got the Trail Mix or otherwise known as the Off-the-Beaten Path badge (I've been after it since March) and the El Fiesta or Cinco de Mayo badge (for running...duh...last May 5th...I think its an Mexican-American event...celebrated in the US). Like I said, the latter was really surprising since NikePlus Running has kinda "swore off" of sorts (through their FB Support page) that 2012-badges of these types of "date-specific" badges was "non-recurring" this year (like the New Year (Fireworks), Valentines (Choco-Heart) and Chinese (Dragon) New Year badges)...and that "new"/surprise badges will come out...so we'll just have to keep "running". Yeah...right...whatever! ;-( I think I just got lucky and synched up in time to get that "extra" supposedly "non-recurring" badge...so Hooray for me! But still...Boo for NikePlus for this "mis-information" (I'm saying this for those of you who didn't get your El Fiesta badge coz...you didnt think it'll count last May 5th and missed out). Anyways, here's how my NikePlus Trophy case looks like at this time:

These are all I got as of late May-early June 2013 ;-)

I know, not bad but....I'm still smarting from not getting the other "date-specific" badges ;-( but I'll keep on "badgering" about them in here (yeah, like it'll work). In the meantime, I'm setting my sights on a couple of badges this June: 1) The Storm Proof badge (its the blue one with the cloud and raindrop/snowflake) and 2) The "Comfort Zone" badge (its the one with the green couch/sofa). The Storm Proof badge supposedly could be gotten by "running in the rain or snow" at least 5x. While the Comfort Zone could be nailed down by "running repeatedly the same route...uhmm...at least 10x?". I have to check that, but I do know that they do get awarded (eventually) as I've seen some of my "NikePlus friends" getting them recently (I think). Well, that's it for now fellow badgers! I'll be looking for my "trail pics".

Cinco de Mayo!!!!

I was "hot on the trail" of badges this May (since March actually)....so it doesnt really "surprise" me to get these two in the bag:

Uhmm...I don't really have a sombrero nor a splendid moustache like that.....but I think Im getting both! ;-)

Hmmm... a sombrero and  moustache would really be cool running on them trails.... it'll kinda look weird though :-{

Nahhh...who am I kidding!?....I am pleasantly surprised to get these badges! Thanks Nike+!!!


So, these badges are on again?!?

April Fooled

I just realized that I had not really posted anything "Badgering"-related last April (I'm back-dating this, as I forgot to post it last April 30th)....Not that I did not do anything last month. On the contrary, I thought they'd finally give me my Off-the-Beaten Path badge after making a lot of runs on trails a few weeks back. That obviously didnt happen (I finally earned the "Trail Mix" badge this early May) ---still I waited till the very last week of April to post anything "badge-related" here because of "rumors" that there would be a "Make It Count" Badge (shown below, according to howtonike.blogspot.com thread) to be given for runs done (last) April 28, 2013:

I <3 NY/NY is supposedly the Hurricane Sandy/Make It Count Badge?

 I dunno...hmmmm...it seemed highly "questionable" to me that an "I "heart" NY/NJ" would be a Make It Count badge and/or much less a "Hurricane Sandy" badge...since... well...as far as I can recall Hurricane or Super-storm Sandy happened last year...in October! and I know not of a Sandy living in NY or NJ (especially) that can count! :-P Tee-hee! I'm kidding!

If anything...well...the "Make It Count" badge would be more appropriate probably for the Nike Women's Half-Marathon last April 28th...but that was in DC...uhm, Washington right? So this Hurricane Sandy/I heart NY/NJ or Make It Count..whatever you call it badge doesn't really make sense...and if it wasn't posted on the NikePlus.Nike.com site I/we wouldn't really have made such a big deal out of it....





Hey, maybe this is Nike+ Running's version of April Fools!!! :-P except...April Fools falls on April 01!

My prIdes of March

Well, it looks like March will end without me getting any new Nike+ badges this month (I got my Night Owl badge last January and my Early Bird last February --- although I was really hoping for a Choco Heart and/or a Dragon badge) but as it turns out they were 2012 specific . I was actually aiming for a Off-the-Beaten Path since I've been hitting the trails a lot more, since February and earlier this month. As seen here:

I was still hoping the Off-the-Beaten Path was going to "surprisingly" appear anytime within March but no joy there <sigh>.

But wait! I may not have gotten any badges this month, but I did finally get to "see" a Platinum Trophy (for running >100miles in a month) :

...However, this Achievement/Record can only be seen on the Nike+ Running App and not displayed on Nike+ Trophies <sigh> :(

Anyways, other "noteworthy" achievements (other than badges/trophies) which I got by trying to increase my Average Distance to a more respectable if not consistent and maintainable 3Miles are the following:

Busting out my Badges

In an "effort" to uhmmm...i dunno, reminisce perhaps or probably just "analyze" why the current "shortage" or more accurately "screw-up" with Nike+ "missing" badges (and trophies). I'm posting the last 4 ones I got (in the order of how I got them). Just to "show" they did or do still exist:

This is actually my very 1st Badge! and yeah, it was a surprise. I proceeded to then look for other badges (too bad Nike Running now says these types of Badges are "2012-specific") So, this will probably be my last badge of this kind. Just when it was starting to get "interesting" :-( I guess no more candies for me in November

This is my 2nd badge, and I might say one of my very 1st "intentional" badge (that means I really went after it!...several times actually --I got blisters and two of my toenails blackened from changing shoes) I finally got this sometime in December, I think I used a combination of the Nike+ Sportband and Nike+ Running App (toe) nail the badge (some pun intended)

This "Night Owl" badge is actually another one of those "intentional" badges, but which still came as a "surprise" because I was really gunning for the "Resolution" badge last January --supposedly given during New Year's Eve (which turned out to be the very first "disappointment" for the New year). Good thing since I was staying up late during the "holidays" anyways that the Night Owl badge came sort of us a "consolation" badge. 

Finally came February, I was still "hoping" that somehow my "Resolution" badge was going to somehow "magically" show up....but in the meantime, I knew that a couple of badges were up for grabs this month (The Dragon badge--for Chinese New Year [Feb.10] and The Choco Heart for Valentine's Day [Feb.14])...but recalling the still missing Resolution badge, I knew I had to have a "back-up" plan and go for the Early Bird badge too...just for fun and "kill two, or three birds with one stone" so to speak (again, some pun intended)...How right was I...Nike+ Running later announced their "surprise / 2012-specific spiel" on Badges" (you guys suck! (>_<)"

So now its March, I'm still hoping that I could continue my "streak" of collecting at least one badge a month I'm working on the Off-the-Beaten Path badge nowadays. Given, supposedly for "tagging" 5 trail runs (presumably, either using a Nike+ Sportband or more so, perhaps a Nike+ Running GPS App?) Either way, I have not gotten it yet, and most if not all of my runs now have been on "trails" that are rarely used (I will post a pic soon). Anyways, this Off-the-Beaten Path badge would actually be my first "location"-based badge aside from also being a "tagged" badge (well, not counting the above "Sneaker Head" Badge which is perhaps also a "tagged" badge? based on shoes used). I'm really hoping Nike+ Running could at least work (harder and faster please!) on continuing these badges and not just "string" us along....with excuses and "we are working on it"

Anyone care to "share" or brag about their badges?!? Please post a link in the comments below. I still have to come across an "actual" Beach Bum badge --its for tagging runs on a beach, duh!? (I'm hoping to get one, if it does exist, in April)

My Feebly Feb Run Results

Here's how my February turned out in terms of "running" (and I'm using this term very loosely here):

Well, at least I got my mileage around & even above my average

I know, nothing really "spectacular" about it, but I did accomplish what I had set out to do this "love" month, which incidentally is the shortest month of the year: 

1. Like i said, to average less than my "norm" which is 22+ minutes per mile (Yeah, yeah,...certainly no great shakes there, but my entire month includes a lot of just "walking about" --using my Android Phone's GPS (thru the Nike+ App). 
2. Get an average of 3+ miles for the entire month (or around 5km) and last but not least...
3.  Earn a "new" Nike+ Badge, shown below: (wuhooo \(^_^)/ )

Considering how "screwy" Nike+ has been so...uhmmm..."surprsingly" screwed up in their giving of badges this year (see my previous rant about it here)...I feel pleasantly "lucky" to even get one. Yeah, I know...I'm both silly and "shallow"that way ;-)

Hmmm...i wonder what kind of "bird" that is...

Nike+ "Surprise Spiel" on "Missing" Badges

This is....I guess, the "official running" statement of Nike Running on why Badges & Trophies have not been "showing up" on Nike+ users profiles lately:

"We want Nike+ achievements to be a source of motivation, surprise, and delight to our users."

It's the "standard" reply they've been giving to customers and askers on Facebook who've been asking/wondering about those badges and trophies that have not been credited to them last February when the "Dragon badge" (sposedly given when a Nike+ run/activity is done by a Nike+ user last February 10th - The Chinese New Year --well, probably not everyone knew this in the Nike+ Community) and another, almost immediately after that on February 14th, in which a "Chocolate Heart" badge is supposedly given when again, a "run or activity" is made on that date (this one almost everyone probably knew coz its Valentine's Day). Nike Running has gone on to further say that aside from or along with this "standard surprise spiel", certain badges (they're not saying all, at least --- as they are conveniently also not posting or acknowledging any "official list" of Nike+ badges/trophies earned) are "2012-specific" and hence are not showing and most likely, will not be showing up anymore on as "Achievement" badges. Well, that's just fine and dandy an "excuseplanation" (a combination of excuses & explanation). Too bad for us "newer Nike+ customers" we'll just have to grin and bear it this 2013. This just sucks btw. They should just have been straight-forward with us about that from the very start, at least beginning this year, 2013 when the "Resolution" badges (awarded for those who "ran" last Jan.01, New Year's Day) suddenly didn't get credited too (which probably started Nike+ being "surprised" at themselves more). I dunno about you fellow badgers, but I'm pretty much very disappointed with this "surprising development" in Nike's "stand" on this issue...I mean, c'mon they basically kinda "killed off" hope on getting this "Achievement Badges" bug fixed....Although, I must admit, its kinda "brilliant",  bullshity as it may sound... on their part to answer a "technical issue" (in my opinion) with a "marketing spiel": ...of "we just want to surprise you" or the even worse, "we don't want to ruin the surprise". Heller?!? You already ruined it! Instead of "fixing the problem"....they just decided to stop looking into it altogether (or it seems that they stop even assuring as that they are or will be looking into it).  How can we be "delighted and motivated" to go out and be "active" on certain "special/memorable" days this 2013 if  what was a "norm" last 2012 (and even in years before that) is suddenly "inconsistent"...or worse, and more to the point, non-existent anymore? I'm just not buying into that "surprise spiel" of theirs. In fact, my buying of Nike+ products (was intitally looking into the Fuelband & GPS watch) will also be most likely 2012-specific also.

Not Budging on the Non-Recurring Badges

Holla fellow "Badgers"!

Well, it's kinda "official", based on what was replied by Nike+ Running & posted on Facebook w/c I spotted yesterday:

(I intentionally erased the FB askers/posters' names to protect their privacy...the poor peeps got "robbed" --like the rest of us badgers..if you ask me) I dunno about you guys/gals, but this seems an "easy way out" or a "cop out"  for Nike Running & Nike+ Support to put a stop to all the questions of badges not getting credited to us. It "...was a 2012-specific achievement and is NOT Recurring this year". Whaaaaaat!?!? O_o No "Valentine's Day" achievement for 2013?!? That just "breaks my heart"...aside from elevating my blood pressure :-( How can Valentine's Day NOT be a recurring event?  It always falls on February 14 worldwide Heller!?!?....Dammit!!!! (>_<) I "ran" away from a Valentine's date expecting to get a badge after all....Then you tell us it was "2012-specific"...the same way with the Resolution & Dragon badge? It took you what? Like weeks, even months to "figure" that out, after telling most of us that "you'll look into it"...tsk, tsk, tsk....Do you really believe we're that dumb to just "accept" that reasoning? I mean I can probably accept the "Dragon badge" not getting awarded for the Chinese New Year since it doesn't fall on the same day each year (besides, the animal sign for this year is a "Snake" not a "Dragon"). But its quite different for a New Year's Resolution (Jan.01) or a Valentine's Day (Feb.14) badges...since they always fall on the same date! Also, these "particular" badges are "somewhat extra special" and anyone who gets them must be given "recognition" for their efforts at the very least. Why? Well, we all know how people kinda "abuse" themselves with "drunken revelry and uhmmm...debauchery" when these special dates occur...and yet, some of us find time to put in a run or two and stayed active on the "program"....right? So...enough with your "source of motivation, surprise and delight" spiel Nike Running!!!! (>_<) Most of us need to "visualize" the  goals to get motivated ok? Second, "Life is more manageable when it is treated as a scavenger hunt rather than a Surprise party" --which btw, like everything else in life...most of us "just don't do it"....we gotta "plan for it" first then do it. Lastly what will delight us (well, mostly me) is when you actually fix and improve the way the Nike+ apps and website work instead of giving us these run-arounds and "revolting" reasonings. Comprende? <Sigh>

There, I got my "rant" out. Anyways, for those who are curious enough what The Chocolate Heart (Valentine's Day) badge looked like last year, its this one:

Well, that's supposedly what it looked like (thanks to howtonike.blogspot.com for the picture). For those who actually got a Resolution and/or "Dragon" badge last year (2012 or perhaps the year before?)....may I invite you to send us or post a pic of it? (so us "badgers" can take a look at it also)...

Consider this the first "official" Badgering post! ;-P Thanks for reading, gotta "run" & see you next time!

Badgering for Badges

This "blog" is still being built....so...while waiting you might want to watch this video:

Of course, it doesn't really have anything to do with this blog...except there's a badger it it...and its running around....uhmmm...badgering the sh*t out of anything and everything....which probably what I'll do with this blog.

Come back next time and see you soon Honey Badger! ;-)