How Accurate is Distance in Nike Run Club?

Many fitness fanatics are so used to Nike Run Club, they can’t imagine running without it. It’s no surprise, as the app allows you to measure your time, distance, and pace.

If you’ve ever been wondering how accurate the app is when it comes to distance, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll explain its distance-measuring mechanism and offer some tips on how to make it even more precise.

Nike Run Club Distance Indoors

There’s a big difference depending on whether you’re working out indoors or outdoors. If you’re running on a treadmill in your gym, the app will be tracking your steps. Nowadays, most apps do a great job when it comes to counting steps, but Nike Run Club is still one of the most precise apps out there.

Therefore, it’s safe to assume that Nike Run Club is almost 100% accurate when you run in the gym or your home.

Nike Run Club Distance Outdoors

Running outdoors can be more challenging than working out indoors for various reasons. You have to take into consideration the weather, traffic, as well as many other factors. Moreover, tracking apps have more challenges when they track running distance outdoors.

Nike Run Club, as well as most other apps, rely on GPS when tracking outdoors. Granted, we’ve witnessed a significant improvement in GPS accuracy. However, it’s still not perfect.

Therefore, if your NRC distance doesn’t seem totally accurate, the app isn’t to blame. It would probably be the same with any other app you tried. The reason for inaccuracy might be your phone, your GPS, or the terrain.

In the next section, we’ll go into more detail and see how these factors influence the app and what you can do to prevent it.

Sources of Interference

If you live in New York City, your GPS could be significantly less accurate than for someone who lives in the countryside. Why is that? Tall buildings can cause interference, and could even completely block your signal.

Your GPS is sometimes unable to pick up satellite information, due to skyscrapers. It misses pieces of information, and therefore your running distance may seem shorter than it actually was.

However, moving to the countryside isn’t a perfect solution either. You may be able to avoid skyscrapers, but you can’t avoid tall trees that create a similar effect.

Research has shown that running apps are the least accurate when you’re running in the woods. If the forest is dense it could block the signal, resulting in unreliable data.

However, you shouldn’t be that worried about inaccuracy. In most cases, the difference in distance is somewhere between 10-50m. The app adds a couple of meters here, and it takes a couple of meters there. At the end of the day, it evens itself out.

How to Improve NRC Distance Accuracy?

You don’t have to give up on running in nature or outdoors. There are a couple of simple things you can do to help your app work smoothly.

First of all, try to run in open spaces whenever you can. If possible, avoid forests and streets packed with skyscrapers. Make sure that you can always see the sky if you look up. By doing so, you’ll ensure that your GPS runs smoothly without any interference. Moreover, don’t forget to enable Location Services on your phone.

Another useful tip is to charge your phone before running and avoid using Low Power mode. In order to save battery, your device sometimes doesn’t let GPS work to its full potential, Many people found this useful, and their apps’ accuracy significantly improved after turning off Low Power mode.

Don’t forget to switch from Indoor to Outdoor mode, every time you change your environment. Otherwise, the app might be confused and make some errors.

If you still don’t see any improvement when it comes to accuracy, you can try updating your NRC app. However, as mentioned above, the problem usually isn’t with the app itself.

Are There Any Alternatives?

If you open your App Store, you’ll find more than 100 running apps. Of course, some of them aren’t worth your time or effort. Nike Run Club is one of the highest-ranked apps with many satisfied users. However, there are some others worth trying out.

If you’re looking for new routes, you may like MapMyRun. The app has all the features of a standard running app. It measures your time and distance accurately. However, the best thing about this app is that it creates tailored-made running routes, just for you.

On the other hand, if you want to track everything fitness-related with only one app, we’ve got you covered. You should opt for MyFitnessPal. This app not only allows you to track your workouts and your calorie intake, but it’s also a great source of inspiration. You can find tons of meal ideas and guided workouts there.

Last but not least, if your friends share your passion for running, we suggest you try out Strava. It’s a running community app, a mix of fitness tracker and social network. You can compete with your friends, compare your running distances, and motivate each other.

Don’t Worry About the Distance

If you’re a dedicated runner, it’s natural to want the most precise app. We know that tracking is essential, as it can help you reach your goals. However, no app is perfect, and you shouldn’t stress out if your distance doesn’t always seem accurate. Differences are usually minor, and they shouldn’t impact your progress.

Are you satisfied with Nike Run Club? Have you tried any other running app so far? Let us know in the comments section below.