Nike+ Virtual Race

First the BAD NEWS: Manila wasn’t chosen as one of the 25 cities where the Nike Human Race would be held. The lucky 25 are: 

1. Austin
2. Bogotá
3. Buenos Aires
4. Caracas
5. Chicago
6. Istanbul
7. London
8. Los Angeles
9. Lima
10. Madrid
11. Melbourne
12. Mexico City
13. Munich
14. New York
15. Paris
16. Quito
17. Rome
18. São Paulo
19. Seoul
20. Shanghai
21. Singapore
22. Taipei
23. Tokyo
24. Warsaw
25. Vancouver

But, the GOOD NEWS for us Pinoys is this: we can still join the Nike Human Race without booking a flight to nos. 1 to 25 above.  One can join the race by joining VIRTUALLY.

All you have to do is track your run with a Nike+ Sport Kit or Nike+ Sport Band (yes, you can only join the Nike+ Virtual Race if you have the Nike+ kit or band) then sync your run to nikeplus.com.ph. You can run anywhere at any time of the day starting 12:00am until 11:59pm on August 31.  Just run a total of 10k throughout the day to contribute to the global mileage on August 31, 2008.

Now even BETTER NEWS for Nike+ members: A little birdie told me (okay, it’s Coach Rio) that Nike Philippines is organizing a local Nike+ Virtual Race to be held on the same day, 08.31.08, to gather all Nike+ members to run together instead of having to run alone. Coach Rio emphasizes it will NOT be an official race, hence registration is free. However, it will definitely feel like one with prizes for top placers, race bibs, water stations, raffle prizes (drool drool), and more. They’re still deciding on the course: Bonifacio High Street or U.P.  Details to follow.  

– Pining for a new Nike+ Sport Band?  TBR is giving out 5 Nike+ Sport Bands to lucky readers. –

And, more GOOD NEWS…or perhaps the BEST NEWS for you guys: I will be giving away 5 new Nike+ Sport Bands (retail price of P3,295) in the days leading up to the race on August 31.  I’m still brainstorming how to give these out to deserving runners but let me warn you: it will not be easy.  More on this in future posts.

Nike celebrates runners and their sport while uniting athletes all over the globe through the world’s largest running event. On 08.31.08, join a million runners worldwide for a 10k event like no other at the Nike+ Human Race. By combining Nike’s digital running world with the physical, the Nike+ Human Race is open to anyone, anywhere.

Besides running the Nike+ Human Race physically in any of the 25 host cities, participants can choose to take part in the virtual race. This means you can run anywhere at any time of the day starting 12:00am until 11:59pm on August 31, track your run with a Nike+ Sport Kit or Nike+ Sport Band, then sync your run to nikeplus.com.ph. Just run a total of 10k throughout the day to contribute to the global mileage on August 31, 2008.

Furthermore, Vote With Your Feet (VWYF) allows all virtual runners to log their miles from the day they register themselves on the website. Once the participant signs up for the virtual race, he can choose one of the three global charities to donate to. The cumulative miles run for the individual charities will result in what the allocation of Nike’s contribution will be among the three charities September 1, 2008.

VIRTUAL RACE FAQs

Why did Nike decide to organize this event?
Simply put, Nike is celebrating runners and their sport. This is going to be the World’s Largest Running Event and provide a global connection point for every athlete. By using tools that Nike created like Nike+ and the Nike+ SportBand, people can now participate from anywhere: a country road, an urban sidewalk or at one of the 25 designated Nike+ Human Race cities.

If I’m not running in a Nike+ Human Race city, can I still join the Human Race?
Anyone that registers for the Nike+ Human Race can participate. If you’re not running at the host city, you can participate through the virtual race. By registering for the race at nikeplus.com.ph, runners can simply run from their home, track their run with Nike+ iPod or Nike+ SportBand, then log their miles and contribute to the global mileage occurring simultaneously on 08.31.08.

How can I sign up for the virtual race?

Participants merely have to register for it here to join the virtual race with Nike+

Step 1: Ensure that you have a Nike+ SportKit or Nike+ SportBand to track your miles. Both can be purchased from any Nike retail outlets.

Step 2: Select to join the race with Nike+

Step 3: Train for race day with Nike+

Step 4: Race and sync your 10k run on 31.8.2008

What is the difference between the physical and virtual race?

Difference 1: The physical race requires you to be present at any of the 25 cities worldwide on 31^st August 2008, closest to the Philippines is in Singapore. The virtual race on the other hand requires you to run anywhere, anytime, before 11:59pm on August 31, 2008.

Difference 2: The physical race requires a registration fee, depending on your respective category and city. The virtual race requires no entry fee.

Difference 3: The physical race participants will run with a ChampionChip device whereas all virtual runners simply need to log their miles with a Nike+ SportKit or Nike+ SportBand.

If I signed up for the virtual race, do I have to complete the 10KM?

Yes. You have to run a 10K or more on August 31 for you to be count in the Human Race. You can run in blocks, like 5KM/5KM or 2KM/3KM/5KM, as long as your total is at least 10K.

What benefits do I stand to enjoy as a virtual race participant?

Virtual race participants get to enjoy:

– A Nike+ Finisher Bracelet for the first 250 Filipino participants to log their 10km on to www.nikeplus.com.ph by 11:59pm at August 31, 2008.

– 15% off* on purchase of a Nike+ SportBand or Nike+ Kit. (I may be giving out 10 discount coupons I’ll confirm this later.)

*At selected Nike retail stores only. Offer is valid until August 30, 2008.

How do I contribute to charity by running the virtual race?

Once you join the race as a Nike+ participant, all the distance loaded via Nike+ prior to and on the race day will be tracked. Vote With Your Feet (VWYF) allows all virtual runners to log their miles from the day they register themselves on the website. Once the participant signs up for the virtual race, he can choose one of the three global charities to donate to. The cumulative miles run for the individual charities will result in what the apportionment of Nike’s contribution will be amongst the three charities.

What if I would like to donate to charity?

Virtual racers can also make direct money donations to charities using the Nike+ Pledge Tool.