- Convert Garmin to Nike+
Here is a quick, but extremely useful, tip for all you “gadget” runners out there.
As many of you know, I have two GPS watches in my rotation: the Garmin Forerunner 610 and the Nike+ SportWatch GPS. Both watches have their pros and cons…
The Garmin 610 is my “go to” watch and is with me on every run. I even have the foot pod so I can use it on the treadmill. It is fast to acquire satellites and is extremely accurate with distance.
The Nike+ SportWatch GPS is “cool” and “slick”, but it just hasn’t proved to be as reliable as my Garmins. So recently I haven’t been wearing this watch much. That being said, the Nike+ website / online community is awesome! Nike does cool things like Nike+ Active, Challenges, Trophies, Goals, Coaching, etc…
I was wearing both watches for a while, but I felt silly and didn’t want to look like The Modern Marathoner. So lately I’ve been running with only my Garmin, but I felt bad that all those miles weren’t being counted towards my Nike+ Account. After all… I’m a Nike+ Black Level user with 4,982 miles at the moment! 
Basically, I love the Garmin watch and also love the Nike+ online community. Well now I can have the best of both worlds. While wearing only one watch!
I give you Tcx2NikePlus! This cool little tool lets you convert your Garmin runs and uploads them right to your Nike+ account! Technically… you can use the entire Nike+ website without owning any Nike+ gear. Awesome!
Thanks to Lorn from Lorn Pearson Trains… for the tip!
Very nice site and lots of useful information. Well done.
Love the app to download Garmin stats to Nike+
I just came across this! Thanks for the mention.
It’s a great tool isn’t it! 
Yes it is! Thanks again for the heads up!
Do you know with the changes to the new nike plus will this site work?
I actually was not able to convert this morning’s run.
I keep getting “Invalid byte 1 of 1-byte UTF-8 sequence.” error. Hopefully the creator of that site will update his code shortly.
Garmin connect was down for maintenance yesterday do its more than likely garmin that was the issue, not the converter. Maybe try it today (check garmin isn’t down) x
Still not working. However, there is a new error message, “Nike+ have changed their site and the converter doesn’t work right now. I’m looking into the problem and it will be fixed, please be patient!”
So hopefully it will be resolved soon!
Hiya, love using the Garmin -> Nike+ ..but since Nike+ updated their site a week or so ago it fails now – it says “Invalid Byte 1 of 1-byte UTF-8 sequence” – any ideas how we can get this fab tool working again? Thanks everso
The author of the tool is aware of the issue and sent me a nice email! Here it is:
“The converter is broken due to a change by the team at nike+. It will be fixed, hopefully this weekend – but I’d think more likely late next week. I’ll email you when it’s working again.”
So it should be working again soon!
Ah that is fantastic – thankyou so much for the update…and the behind-the-scenes work also
Is the tool working yet?
Yes it is
I am not the author of the conversion tool, but I’d like to suggest that everyone who uses it make a donation to him (and/or his charity). The latest change on the Nike site is one of many he has had to adapt the converter to, and I would hate for him to quit working on fixing it in the future because it is such an awesome tool. Thanks!
I agree!!
Is it wotking already??
Thanks!!
Holy crap!!! I love you man!
what if i login with my facebook account in nikeplus that wont work
?
Did you ever get a response to the facebook log in problem?
I have just tried for the first time and have the same problem.
Should this also upload map data? It has uploaded everything else, such as distance, time, heart rate etc but it doesn’t show the route.
Yes it should be uploading GPS data as well. It is working fine for me, it isnt working for you?
Is it just me or is the converter currently not working? It seems to have been down for days now. I keep getting the same error message which is:
Error message: 1 is smaller than the minimum (3): number of points (1)
Can anyone help?
Its working fine for me. I just uploaded this mornings run… Maybe its something about the particular run you are uploading? Was it a treadmill run? Maybe try emailing the author of the converter tool…
It usually says that when you’re trying to upload an activity that has no distance on it (ir a treadmill run)
This must be the problem as I ran without my footpod.
What if I manually add the distance as I know exactly how far I ran?
Thanks!
I have not been able to successfully import “Manual” runs from Garmin, sorry
I am having some issues with this tool. Although i was able to upload via tcx2nikeplus (simple authentication), all my runs with complete info (map, distance, pace etc) until September 2011, my later runs don’t seem to work. All I get is the following message:
“Nike+ are making ongoing changes to their site which may affect the converter. Please try again later – I am modifying the converter to keep up with the changes
Error message: Unknown error, please contact me and include details of tcx-file/garmin-activity-id.”
I tried contacting the author, but I got no reply
Any ideas?
Isn’t it amazing that Garmin has such a terrible website? Haven’t they seen the competition? When I go to share my run on Facebook, from Garmin Connect, all people see in my timeline is that stupid blue triangle, instead of a nice map as runkeeper does. Mapmyrun.com also generates a nice map to share on Facebook. Does Nike+ do that?
The problem with runkeeper.com is that it takes forever (like over 10 minutes) for it to recognize my Garmin 110 when I plug it in.
I’d rather not buy another GPS watch. But I keep hearing how good the Nike website is. And I’d rather not go on 2 websites after each run, doing an export and conversion every time.
Guess I should at least try your tool first though…
I agree that Garmin’s site is lacking, but in my opinion they have the best watches. While it is a hassle to go to two websites after each run, its worth it. The Nike+ site is VERY cool
Its worth a try.
Been having lots of problems with uploading Nike+ GPS sportswatch to Nike+ site (as have many), and while the watch works, the upload is not. Seriously considering switching to Garmin and this was the one thing holding me back. May now go ahead and switch thanks to this! Thanks.
The converter is not working for me, I already try to upload my runs two days, but without success. Please when will the site work? thanks
What exactly isnt working? Are you trying to convert manual runs? Are you using a foot pod?
I use the converter everyday and its been working fine for a while now…
I have Garmin Forerunner 210HR and tried to upload it to my nike account, it gives an error message “Nike+ have changed …etc.” they all are GPS runs – outside. I also tried right now, and it is not working, please can you help me with this. thanks
Exact same situation with same watch and all. I tried less that 5 minutes ago to upload today’s run and no luck.
Petra,
Try logging out of your Nike+ account. After several failed attempts I just logged out of my account, did the conversion and it worked.
TB
Hopefully TB’s suggestion will work
I logged off the nike account, shut the garmin connect page, changed the privacy settings of garmin and nike, but still to no avail…any other tips?
The error message I get is:
Nike+ are making ongoing changes to their site which may affect the converter. Please try again later – I am modifying the converter to keep up with the changes
Error message: Invalid Garmin Activity ID. Please ensure your garmin workout is not marked as private.
The only way to change the garmin workout to public – is to change privacy settings?
Yeah, if your garmin profile isnt set to public, then the converter wont work. Would you mind posting the complete link to workout you are trying to convert? I can see if I can see it…
Hey man,the nike+ converter has not been working this week.I am failing to upload my runs as it tells me that my garmin runs profile is set to private.Under my settings all my runs are set to public.How can I overcome this?I tried writing to the program author but got no response.Please help?
Hello, finally it works…all I needed to do was unlock the little “lock” on the screen of activity, I thought having set privacy settings to “Everyone” can see your profile, and setting profile to “public” is enough. As I am new to the Garmin page, it took me a while to find where else is it possible to make the run public..many thanks for suggestions
Awesome! Glad we could help and you finally got it!
I’m glad you’ve done this. I was looking into it for exactly the same reasons. Been using the Nano with HR), switch to the Nike GPS, but now I’ve moved to a Garmin GPS + HR. I’ve even been considering to make a simple iOS app to do this.
I was wondering if your conversion will also work with the Heart Rate – or have you looked into it?
Thanks!
I’m gald this saved you some time writing an app. Im a coder too and was thinking about coding one as well, but then found this. I haven’t tried with heart rate yet, so please post back your results if you do try.
No ideas what my problem could be? I would really appreciate some help
What exactly is going on?
As I mentioned above, for all my runs after September I get the following error message: “Nike+ are making ongoing changes to their site which may affect the converter. Please try again later – I am modifying the converter to keep up with the changes
Error message: Unknown error, please contact me and include details of tcx-file/garmin-activity-id.”
As I experimented to find out what the problem is, I found out that with the runs that I can’t upload to nike+ I have a problem to export them from Garmin Connect. Although my previous runs (that I don’t have a problem with) are easily to export by using the “Export” button and selecting “TCX file”. In the runs problematic (post-September 2011) runs I always get the message “Sorry, our site is temporarily down for maintenance. Please check back soon.”
So I started to believe that the problem is Garmin’s and not the tcx2nikeplus’ tools’.
Quick question….
Does anyone know if you run multiple times how the data converts to nike+?
Does it add the mileage/time or show up as another run?
I haven’t tried this and am curious if anyone has.
Thanks!
Todd
Excuse me….. run multiple times in one day.
Sorry for the additional post.
I’ve done this before. It basically depends on how you log it on your garmin. If you make it 2 seperate runs (two activity id’s), then Nike+ will do the same thing.
Anyone having problem exporting the map from garmin to nike. after 5 exports all the stats export ok but i can’t see the map.
Thanks
Joao
Anyone having issues today? When I click the bookmark I have saved the normal conversion screen isn’t there.
Anyone else experiencing this?
For a while this handy util has been working for me, but it never tells me the upload has completed, even though it has. But today it looking like the upload never makes it to Nike+ now.
Anyone else having this issue?
Anyone else having problems? I can’t connect to the page.
yep, same problem.
I am having the same problem.
I’ve been having issues yesterday and today also, anyone know if there is a fix coming? Fingers crossed!
In the last days I keep getting the message: “Error message: Content is not allowed in prolog.”
Can’t understand where this came from
I too have been getting the same message for three days now.
Any suggestions for a fix?
I get the same message
Same here
I can’t convert my runs this week. Anyone having the same problems?
I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure the converter has been inoperable for over a week. .
It seems to me that several people continue to post that it isn’t working so I’m wondering if in fact it is working for anyone? If someone has had success converting recently please advise.
I haven’t been able to upload either. Love the converter when it works. “Error message: Content is not allowed in prolog.”
It works again!!! Thx Runningdummy
I’m having this:
Error message: Invalid byte 1 of 1-byte UTF-8 sequence.
Anyone??
I got the same error message last when when trying to convert my run.
I got this error message:
“Error message: Invalid byte 1 of 1-byte UTF-8 sequence”
please help.
tks!!
I also got today the same error message: Invalid byte 1 of 1-byte UTF-8 sequence
Any clue why is this caused and when could it be resolved? Thanks a lot!
Same problem in the Netherlands: Invalid byte 1 of 1-byte UTF-8 sequence.
Does anyone knows how to solve it?
Same issue here. Since Nov 29, I’ve been getting the “Invalid byte 1 of 1-byte UTF-8 sequence” error. That same day, Nike+ website requested I change my password to include numbers & capital letters. Haven’t been able to convert Garmin data since.
I did not change the password but still couldn’t convert activities. Nike must have updated the structure of their nikeplus platform, and our awesome coder needs to fix this tool! Have you tried emailing/informing him with your request? tcx2nikeplus at awsmithson dot com
I’ve emailed him, and he’s usually pretty good at addressing these issues within a week or so. That being said, if you use the tool often, consider donating a couple bucks to him to say thanks. He does all this week for free
Same problem in the Brazil: Invalid byte 1 of 1-byte UTF-8 sequence.
I hope he solves this problem soon.
Dec 5 getting the Error message: Invalid byte 1 of 1-byte UTF-8 sequence.
Converter still down i take it?
Same here in the UK: Invalid byte 1 of 1-byte UTF-8 sequence.
I`ll wait!
8th Dec ’12; Same error message here in Singapore: Invalid byte 1 of 1-byte UTF-8 sequence.
It’s been a couple of weeks since the converter has been operational and I’m just curious if anyone has had contact with moderator?
I sent him a message back in November and have not had a reply. I realize he provides this service for free and I’m not complaining….I simply hope the guy is ok?!?
If anyone has heard from him please let us know. Thanks!
The converter shows the same error, but with a different message. He’s acknowledged that the converter was broken by recent changes to Nike+. He intends to work on it as soon as he returns from holiday (Dec.10), as he is without a computer.
I’m now getting a different error this morning, so maybe he is working on it (fingers crossed)!
Use JsonReader.setLenient(true) to accept malformed JSON at line 1 column 6
It’s the message I receive when I put the wrong password, You might want to check again
For me no evolution, I still get “Error message: Invalid byte 1 of 1-byte UTF-8 sequence.”
Yup, you’re right Tom, it was the wrong password, same old invalid byte error!
Tried uploading runs via http://www.awsmithson.com/tcx2nikeplus/ today. Instead of an error message, he’s nice enough to inform us that he’s on vacation and won’t have access to a computer till the 10th. I know he will fix it, just like in the past.
Nike plus updates more frequently now, I’m seriously considering buying their sport watch instead of gamin to keep my training log which I kept for years. But it does not have virtual partner which I keep pace during races. This is a major drawback.
The converter site now returns a message stating it’ll be until Dec 16th, due to significant changes he has to make in order to get it back up again. Freaking Nike.
I just wish Garmin had even 10% of the social features that Nike+ has, and I’d ditch Nike+ entirely. What a pain in the behind!
The converter is up and running again!! Thanks to the webmaster.
Thanks to Angus!!! ^^
Server is down, anyone have a clue what’s going on??
Is this the end for this site, I hope not!
This converter is why I went with garmin, I really hope its not the end! I see that people have gotten different errors in the past but has the server ever been down for maintenance?
Thanks for this information really good! I have garmin 210. I have been able to convert as once i press convert and upload button it says it was succesful. However when i go into my nike + app i have no added km/miles to my listing. I am confused with what i need to do!
The tool is not working since yesterday. Anyone else experiencing this as well?
I faced the same problem on Saturday, but it is working fine now….cheers!
Hi,
The converter uploaded everything (such as distance, time, heart rate etc) but it doesn’t show the route. i used the option ‘garmin activity” and the converter says ” conversion and upload successfull”. The settings are public and logging out and then back into my nike+ account doesn’t helps… Anyone else experiencing this as well?
The converter seems to be broken as for the whole week I have been unable to upload my runs.It tells me that my runs are set to private.However on Garmin my runs are set to public.How can I overcome this issue?Anyone has got the same issue?
Yes – I’m getting the same. I’ve only just tried using this, so it may be me rather than the site. Is it working for anyone ?
Not working for me too… the last date I could upload a run was May 3rd. Does it work for anybody? Any workaround?
Yeah i have the same problem… now i can stop trying with different settings and so on
My last uploaded run was on friday 16/5-14 then i run a 10K mig PR in Riga (Nordea Riga Marathon) and now when I’m back i was trying to get that run uploaded to Nike+ after lots of tries i successfully got it but, something is wrong.
I hade a problem to get my fuelpoints of my Nike Fuelband SE just before my trip to Riga and it got fixt by it self on the Nike page so maybe they are doing same maintenance….
Keep me posted please
OK, i think it works now. Did two runs this morning and i could sync them to Nike
Yes it works again for me too. I could sync an activity yesterday.
I have had the same issue for the last week. Even today I just finished my run and am unable to upload from the site. Error message says
Error message: Unable to authenticate with nike+.
Please check email and password
Definately not working for me.My last successful upload was in April.Now every time I try i get Error message: Invalid Garmin Activity. Please ensure your garmin workout is not marked as private.
Please check the FAQ, if you can’t find an answer there and your problem persists please contact me.
I have tried getting in touch but have not got any response so far.How is it working out for you guys?
I got the following error the last time I tried.Nike+ have made changes to their website and the converter no longer works. I am on vacation just now but please check back in early June (2014), hopefully I’ll have had a chance to fix it by then. Check the ‘news’ tab for updates.
Error message: Invalid Garmin Activity. Please ensure your garmin workout is not marked as private.
This shows he knows about the problem we have been having.I hope all our questions have been answered.
The same happens to me! I hope it gets sorted soon!
Angus has indicated on his website that the convertor is now working.However when I try to load the garmin activity it still gives me the same error as before that the garmin workout is locked.Any of you guys managing to load their workouts?If so how are you managing to do so?
Error message: Invalid Garmin Activity. Please ensure your garmin workout is not marked as private.
Please check the FAQ, if you can’t find an answer there and your problem persists please contact me.
Once again it stopped to work. Now i can’t authenticate with Nike+