Nike I Run, I Walk Manila 10K

That is how my race turned out tonight at the Nike We Run Manila 10K.  There was a huge turnout of runners that literally painted the roads red.  I have been waiting for an event from Nike since the Nike Human Race in 2008.  Philippines has never been one of the key cities for their running events until this year.

No Train, No Gain

I did not have a decent training for this race.  My last run was last September.  But I know I can finish a 10K without proper training as long at my pace is slow.  Very slow.

As long as I will finish the race without injury, I would be contented.

I Run, I Walk

I arrived late.  By the time, I reached the starting line, it was 5 minutes since the gun start.  Runners were everywhere and it was hard to find a decent space to run fast.  We were elbow to elbow for the first 2 kilometers of the race.

Nike We Run Manila

It was a big race.  The road was filled with red shirts.  Amazing sight.

Nike We Run Manila Photos

And with this number of runners, I don’t expect to really run all the way to the finish.  The human traffic is just too tight that I have to walk once in a while to avoid bumping with other runners.

But my run and walk is not just because of the number of runners.  By the time I reach KM 3, I felt tired already that I would stop and walk often.

Along the way, I met Rod of Team Boring.  We ran together for about a kilometer.  I stopped at a water station to get a drink.  By the time I looked back, I could no longer find Rod.  Since almost everyone was wearing the red singlet, it was like everyone was Rod.  I was running alone for the rest of the race.

Finished

At KM 8, I was starting to feel pain on my right knee.  That’s the price for not training for a race.  I decided to walk until the finish line to avoid further injury.  While the race is still 2 kilometers away, I was already finished.

I find it safer to walk too.  There were parts of the road that have low light conditions between 8 KM until the finish line.  I almost bumped into a bike who was also in the sidewalk.

At the finish line, I had some energy reserved to sprint towards the finish.  This is my slowest 10K.  I promise never to go slower than this in a 10K ever.  I finished at 1:26 in my watch.  But the gun start time is at 1:31.

The Aftermath

I got to see fellow bloggers at the tents.  We had a little chat about the race.  But we had more dancing because of the lively music.  I even asked them to join me dance in front of the stage.  Nobody accepted the challenge.

Nike We Run Manila

I didn’t stay for the concert.  I left just as Chicosci was being introduced.  I must have missed a lot.

Nike We Run Manila Concert

Who’s in the Poster?

Runners got a poster at the finish line.  The finisher’s kit will follow after the event.  We think that one of the faces in the poster is familiar.  Do you see some resemblance?

Nike We Run Manila Poster

Here’s my race data for the Nike We Run Manila 10K.

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