Nike We Run lures big field in Marikina

MANILA, Philippines - The Nike We Run MNL (Manila) returns for its third edition on Dec. 1, with at least 15,000 runners expected to take to the streets of the historic Marikina City and compete in a 10K race celebrating the spirit of unity the Filipino way.

“For this year’s race, we have incorporated the personality of the people of the Philippines to motivate and inspire them to lead a more active lifestyle. Filipinos are kindred spirits who, without hesitation, unite for a good cause and help each other. Taking this, we hope that every Filipino runner can inspire and motivate one another and run the race together,” said Courtney Cole-Faso, country marketing manager of Nike Philippines.

Competing runners must sign up with a “buddy” to constantly motivate each other and achieve their goals as they prepare for the race.

Nike will organize training sessions next month to help runners prepare for the event that will hold counterpart races in Sao Paulo, Seoul, and Singapore, among other cities.

The training sessions will be conducted in various locations around the city, and runners will participate in various Nike Training Clubs, get tips from athletes and enjoy an experience only Nike can bring.

Runners can also prepare for the race through the more than 18 million strong Nike Community and the new Nike Challenges, a feature that allows runners to set a distance goal, invite Nike friends to join, and race to the virtual finish line.

Users can determine the name of the Challenge, mileage goal, time period and participants. Additionally, a new chat feature allows friends to encourage each other and share tips throughout the Challenge. Runners can stay motivated by checking the live leader board to track their progress and see where they rank amongst their friends.

The event is part of Nike’s global We Run series aimed to celebrate, motivate and inspire athletes from around the world. Manila is one of 26 cities hosting the race, with 350,000 runners taking over 3 billion strides during the course of the We Run race series.

Nike’s We Run races range from 5K to a full marathon and reflect the unique enthusiasm of each city. From Sao Paulo, to Seoul, to Singapore, runners will be moved to action through a series of unique experiences. Runners can follow the Nike We Run journey through an interactive map online as it passes through each city.

Online and in-store registration is going on. Interested parties can log on to www.nike.com/events/register/werunmanila for registration details.