Instructions and FAQ's
Creating the file to upload into Nike+ is the beginning of the process of adding your missing run data to Nike+. On this page you can find out how to get the downloaded file into the Nike+ website and answer any other questions you might have along the way.
First, a little explanation about how Nike+ and your iPod interact. When you go running with your iPod Nano and Nike+ Sport Kit, the iPod logs all of your run data into a file on the iPod in a hidden folder. The file is an open file format called XML, and can be opened with any text editor on a Mac or Windows, such as TextEdit or Notepad. As such it’s totally possible to edit your run data without this website, I have just tried to simplify the process a bit.
What this site does
The XML file that contains the data has to be structured in a certain way in order for the Nike+ website to read it and for your run to show on that system. This site simplifies the creation of the file by wrapping the structure expected by the nike+ website around the data you input in the form, and performing some calculations on that data to work out the pace, time elapsed, that kind of thing. I definitely do not save any data that you input into the site. It then gives you the file back for you to save to your hard drive, and then place in the hidden directory on your iPod - which is necessary for iTunes to then upload the file into Nike+.
Getting the file into iTunes and the Nike+ website
After downloading the file and ensuring it is correctly named, it then needs to be placed into a folder which is in a hidden directory on your iPod. Quit iTunes, and plug in your Nano as usual. If iTunes launches automatically when your iPod is plugged in, quit it again.
Where to place the File / How your find your Emped ID
If you are using Windows
Open Windows Explorer, and make sure you can view hidden files by going to the Tools Menu > Folder Options > View > Show hidden files and folders. Next find your iPod Nano in Windows Explorer. It should be displayed as a removable storage device. Then find the folder, “iPod_Control.” Within this folder are sub-folders; follow this path until you can view the ‘latest’ folder: Device > Trainer > Workouts > Empeds > A folder which will be alpha-numeric – this is your Emped ID > latest. Drop your (renamed) file that you downloaded in here.
If you are on a Mac
In the Finder, in the ‘Go’ menu and select ‘Go to Folder’. Enter ‘/Volumes/Your iPod Name/iPod_Control/Device/ Trainer/Workouts/Empeds’
(if you copy/paste this, remove the space between Device/ and Trainer, this has been inserted for legibility) where ‘Your iPod Name’ is the name of your iPod as it appears in iTunes or in the Finder. You’ll probably want to copy and paste that! You may have to have ‘Enable Disk Use’ in your iPod preferences in iTunes checked, but don’t quote me on that, it may work without. The folder with random digits and letters is your EmpedID. Drop the downloaded file into the ‘latest’ folder in the folder named after your EmpedID.
If the 'Go' method above doesn't work for you, try ejecting your iPod, then putting just '/Volumes' in the Go menu and finding your iPod name in the volumes folder. Delete any aliases to your iPod here, and then try again.
A quick tip – make a shortcut or alias to your EmpedID file for future quick access.
Now that the file is in the right place, you can launch iTunes, and all being well it will sync the file to the Nike+ website, just as if you had a new run on your iPod. And… you’re done!
FAQ's
Q: Why can't I input my own guesstimated pace?
A: The one ‘missing’ part of the form is your Pace. I decided to calculate the pace automatically from the distance covered and run duration. At some point in the future I’ll make it so that you get to preview your pace before submitting the form, but for now you can’t.
Q: Do you keep my email address?
No way. It's validated to ensure that the email itself is a valid email address - we check that your domain exists and mail server is active; the email with the attached file is sent and no record of your address remains.
Q: How do you calculate calories burnt during a run?
The idea for this feature was emailed to me some time ago. Instead of guessing the calories you burnt, we now guesstimate these using the formula distance ran x weight x multiplier. The multiplier is currently set at 1 - some sources for this setting use between 0.95 and 1.05, so 1 has been used as an all round estimate.
See the links below for more info: