It’s been more than a year since my favorite picture was taken…

[Photo courtesy of Ben Chan]

It was taken during the Nike Human Race (31.08.2008). It was the time when I was at my so-called “PEAK”. It was when I had passed some people I had been training with and it was also when I realized I loved hills! This race was held at McKinley hills. I think it was one of the very first events that used this venue for road races.

Can anyone guess who’s standing next to me in the picture below?  (HINT: She’s now a Nike Human Race Ambassador) Yes! It’s Bards Bathan, the Nike Ambassador of Team BananaRunning. She was actually the person who inspired me to put up my first blog after I had visited hers and read her amazing weight loss story.

[L-R: Passion Runner, BananaRunning, DATC, runner, RunningShield. NOTE: I'm sorry, I don't remember the name of Patrick's friend. Photo courtesy of RunningShield]

[L-R: Passion Runner, JunC, RunningShield. Photo courtesy of RunningShield]

This year, with more people engaged in the sport of running, the mechanics of the Nike Human Race has changed a bit. Well, the Philippines is still not one of the key cities for the actual race but we do have our own thing going on. Those who want to join may join in two different ways:

1. Participate in the Nike Human Race 10k side event at the Subic International Marathon or;

2. Run on your own and simply sync your virtual run with millions of other runners worldwide.

This is what I got from the nice guys at Nike:

1. The virtual Nike+ Human Race 2009 will be part of the Subic International Marathon on October 24, 2009, 4:30 PM. Assembly time is 3PM. Starting and finish point at Remy Field in SBMA.

2. If you’ve registered for the 10K, you’ll automatically be part of the virtual Nike+ Human Race. Again, I would like to reiterate that it’s not an official Nike+ Human Race, it’s more of providing those who want to join the Human Race a place to run, especially for those who don’t own a Sportband or Nike+ iPod kit. As long as you join the 10K at Subic International Marathon, your run will be recognized and you get a limited edition Finisher’s Bracelet to certify that you’ve ran with the world.

3. Uploading your run is not mandatory (although highly encouraged for Nike+ users), but you do have to be a registered Nike+ member to get the Finisher’s Bracelet. Meaning, just sign up at nikeplus.com.ph.

[This is what they gave to us last year. I wonder if it's the same. I'm wearing this tomorrow as the whole world runs ]

4. There will be laptops set-up at the finish line for those who haven’t registered yet so they can register on the spot. Members can also sync their runs right after the race.

5. Entry fees of Subic International Marathon shall apply, but late fees shall be waived. For registration details, check out: www.subicinternationalmarathon.com/sim09/

6. There is no Human Race singlet. You’ll still get the Smart SIM singlet when you register, plus a Human Race T-shirt at the end of the 10K. Human Race T-shirt will be given on October 24.

7. Prizes from Nike will be given away.

RUN FOR A CAUSE… just like last year.

Last year, when you register at the Nikeplus website, you had the option of choosing a charity to support. Well, Nike Philippines is doing the same this year. Their letter continues…

Also, I do want to share with you guys that this year’s run has been elevated to a greater cause. For every KM logged in on the Nike+ Human Race Ambassadors Challenge for the month of October, Nike will be donating Php10 to GK’s “Walang Iwanan” program that will provide relief and clean-up work. Currently, we already have around Php42,380 to donate.

What’s more, Nike will be donating Php100 for every 10K finisher on October 24 at the Nike+ Human Race at the Subic International Marathon. So with or without a Nike Sportband or an iPod kit, you still get to run for a cause.

Now, isn’t that nice?! You get to run and you get to help other people at the same time. This run becomes much more meaningful to me since I used to work with Gawad Kalinga a few years back and was one of their youth advocates way back in 2005. I even remember going around to different provinces all over the country to establish GK Youth communities (now converted into the GK1MB movement).

About time I got back…

The other day, I got a message from the good people at Nike and it made my day. The message read, “Hey eric, i have ur sportband na with me Ü u can pick it up sa ofc Ü” Woohoo! I finally get the new Nike+ SportBand 2.0 to replace my original SportBand (R.I.P.). The nice thing about this new version is that it comes in different colors. They sent me the Anthracite/Voltage Yellow

Tomorrow will be the first time I’ll use the SportBand… and I wasn’t able to calibrate it yet.

YIKES! It’s 1:10 am and I have to be up by 4am… good luck! Looks like I’m not sleeping again. I hope everyone enjoys their run