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All over the world, millions of runners will virtually run together on 08.31.08.  In major cities chosen by Nike, such as L.A., Tokyo and London, there will be Nike+ Human Races where runners can join an official Nike race and run together.  Manila is not one of those cities.

However, Nike Philippines will organize a special race on 08.31.08 to gather all the virtual runners together so they can, in fact, run the full 10k as one.  This will not be an official Nike+ Human Race, therefore one should not expect the same Nike+ Human Race singlets and giveaways given in races across the globe, but it will be a real race, made more exciting and extravagant by Nike Philippines.  

Note: You must have a Nike+ Sportskit or SportsBand to join the race.  You have to log a total of 10km on your Nike+ on 08.31.08.  If it comes out less than 10k, you will not be counted as a finisher.

DATE: August 31, 2008

TIME: Assembly 5:30 A.M., Start 6:00 A.M.

VENUE: McKinley Hill, Bonifacio Global City

DISTANCE:  10km

MAXIMUM PARTICIPANTS: 1,000 runners

WEBSITE:  www.runrio.com, www.nikeplus.com.ph

EMAIL: rio@runrio.com

CONTACT NUMBER: 0906 314 3807 / 0918 985 9211 / (02) 3965170

CONTACT PERSON: Coach Rio de la Cruz

REGISTRATION DETAILS:

1. Log on to www.nikeplus.com.ph
2. Register for the Nike+ Virtual Human Race.  Join TEAM PHILIPPINES.  You may also create your own sub-group under Team Philippines (e.g., Team Ateneo, Team LaSalle, etc.)
3. Register for the physical race by signing up at Nike Park, Bonifacio High Street.  Claim race kit here.  Registration open from Aug. 18  to 30, 4pm to 9pm only.  Free registration.

PRIZES:

TOP FINISHERS:

• 1st Place for Male and Female Category: 15,000 Nike GC
• 2nd Place for Male and Female Category: 10,000 Nike GC
• 3rd Place for Male and Female Category: 7,000 Nike GC

AGE CATEGORY (1 PER CATEGORY)

• 18 yrs old and below (Male and Female): 3,000 Nike GC
• 19 – 29 yrs old: 3,000 Nike GC
• 30 – 39 yrs old: 3,000 Nike GC
• 40 – 49 yrs old: 3,000 Nike GC
• 50 above: 3,000 Nike GC

SPECIAL PRIZE: Biggest school delegation: 5,000 Nike GC

Last night, I met Photographer Ben to run loops around Bonifacio High Street. I planned on roadtesting my Nike+ SportsBand—and possibly calibrate it already—in preparation for the Nike+ Human Race at the end of the month. Garmin on left wrist? Check. SportsBand on right wrist? Check. Sensor enclosed in SwitchEasy attached to the laces? Check. TBR looking like a gadget freak? Check.

Right before I stepped out of the car, it started to drizzle. I decided to abort my roadtest mission as I was afraid of getting the SportsBand wet. Due to sheer laziness, I did not remove the sensor from my shoe.

Off we went running happily through the streets of BHS.  We were going at 6:00 min/km while chatting about anything and everything under the…er…rain.  Around 40 minutes into the run, as we approached Starbucks, the rain started to pour.  In a blink of an eye, we were soaked.  We headed straight for ROX and waited for the rain to stop which, after around 15 mins. of chatting with a stranger about yoga and children, we noticed had no plans of letting up.

It was around this time that I learned that the world is unfair. That bad things happen to good people. That Alanis Morissette was right all along when she wrote the lyrics to her popular “Isn’t It Ironic?” song. Okay, I may be exaggerating but this is still bad news for anyone: I glanced down at my shoe and was horrified to discover that my sensor was gone along with the plastic cover of my switcheasy! Arrrrgh!

So much for good karma eh? On the same week that I started raffling out Nike+ SportsBands, I have the great luck of losing my own sensor and switcheasy cover. To make things even better, the rain was so strong that I couldn’t trace my steps back to search for the items. And, after almost a year of not using my Nike+ kit, I lose my sensor just a couple of weeks ahead of the Nike+ Human Race. Great. Just great.

Do I plan to shell out another P800 for a switcheasy? No way. I’m thinking of sewing my own TBR pouch based on this shoe pouch design. As for my sensor, every cloud has a silver lining, indeed. I still have a new unused sensor waiting to be opened.  Just don’t tell the hubby because it was supposed to be his!

* Should you find a lost sensor and switcheasy cover along Bonifacio High Street, please bring them home safely to me. A big reward awaits…it’s actually just a big Thank You!

…Michael Phelps!

Just kidding.  Phelps is a winner in my book, but no, not in this TBR Race.

To the 60 plus commenters, thank you so much for participating!  I had a good hearty laugh reading your responses.  You know what would be even more entertaining: if you actually did some of the things you said you’d do just to keep on running!  What I would give to see Ricecooker in his wife’s running shorts, Paolo licking his toilet bowl, Ever farting in an elevator full of strangers, Don cheering for La Salle, or Chaia going celibate!  (Click here to view all comments)  

I know it’s cliche but I had a tough time choosing my favorite comment among the Top 20.  (In succeeding races, I’ll change rules and choose the best among ALL comments.  That commenter, whether first or last, will automatically be included in the race raffle and gain 4 additional entries.) But, I ended up choosing Rhea for being a wise, scheming, and merciless wife. (Kidding Rhea, I know this was said in the spirit of fun.  It was, right?)

Marvs, Rhea’s husband I assume, first posted this:

I would rather have my armpit hair plucked out one by one than quit running!!!

Then, Rhea posted this:

I would rather have my husband’s armpit hair plucked out one by one than quit running!!!

High-five to Rhea.  Win-win situation for the woman!  You got 4 additional entries in the raffle.

So, again, top 20 commenters had 1 entry each plus 4 entries for Rhea.  All entries were tossed in a shoe box and hand picked by my pseudo-DTI representative aka little Bull Runner with his eyes closed.

Are you ready?  The winner for the 2nd Nike+ SportsBand is…

EVER!

Congratulations, Ever!  Let’s hope you’ll never have to quit running nor fart in a confined space! 

Hope to see you all in the 3rd race!

Be among the first 20 commenters in this post and get a chance to win the 2nd of 5 Nike+ SportsBands from TBR.  Give me an answer that will make me laugh, cry, or furious and you increase your chances of winning.  

If you’re a newbie, click here for detailed race rules.  

Please refrain from changing or revising your posted answer by sending a new entry.  Once you press submit, that’s it!  

* Note that your comment won’t appear instantly since I moderate comments.  Fret not, I promise not to delete any.

Fill in the blanks in this sentence and post in the comments section below…

I WOULD RATHER ______________________________ THAN QUIT RUNNING.

Good luck to all!

Thank you to all those who participated in the 1st TBR Race!  Phew, that was a fast one.  I hope you were all satisfied with the efficient virtual marshalls and the loads of imaginary sports gel, sports beans, chocolates, and mineral water that filled our water stations.  You know me, when I organize a race, I pull out all the stops!

Now, on to business…

My favorite comment was by LevyAng:

“Running is better than sex because i’m still a virgin, hahahaha”

Levy, I laughed out loud when I read this one.  How many kids do you have already?!

But, levy’s comment didn’t make it to the top 20.  So, I chose Marv’s comment as my 2nd favorite:

“Running is better than work because I can’t fall asleep while doing it.”

Marvs, work must suck for you.  I hope your boss isn’t reading this!

So, out of 24 strips of paper (1st 20 commenters + 4 additional entries for Marvs), my little Bull Runner chose one name from the lot.  

And the winner is: (drumroll please)

LISA!

Lisa said that “Running is better than sex because you can do it by yourself and you can go on for hours.”

Congratulations Lisa!  You just won 1 Nike+ SportsBand!  I’ll email you details on how to claim the prize.

So folks, that’s how the game is played.  If there’s one thing I learned from this race, it’s that a lot of runners think that running is better than sex.  Is that true for the rest of you? 🙂

See you at the next race!

The 1st Nike+ SportBand goes to LISA!