The FINANCIAL — Montevideo´s Saturday night broke with the typical tranquil atmosphere of the city, when close to 10,000 runners flocked in the Rambla to participate in the Nike We Run 10K, the most iconic sports event in the country´s calendar.
Montevideo is one of 32 cities with similar Nike races. As Nike Inc. reported, the series connects almost 400,000 runners around the world, taking full advantage of the Nike+ technology.
Over the days leading up the race, runners could visit an Expo set up in the terrace of Montevideo Shopping. They could test their feet through a Footscan test, try Nike+, participate of trials of the new Pegasus+29, experience the new Nike+ Kinect Training, and enjoy of other perks designed to serve runners.
On the evening of race day, runners approached the starting line as the sun was setting, and participated in a warm-up exercise before a live performance by Luciano Supervielle, a well-known local DJ and member of the Bajofondo band. For those coming to the race by bike, the organization offered a special and secure place to park. Massages and hydration were offered to all runners, and members of the Nike Run Clubs had access to a special VIP sector. Nike, along with the local Municipality, organized a special recycling program to manage wastes generated by the race.
The field departed from Kibón, along the coast, heading out on a circuit that passed by the Pocitos area and the popular Parque Rodó, offering a perfect balance between the Río de la Plata in the Rambla and the urban sites.
During the race, cheerleaders and music helped runners stay motivated.
This year edition winners´ were Eduardo Gregorio, in the men´s general category, with 30 min and 57 sec. María Peralta won in the women´s general category after completing the race in 36 min. and 35 sec.
“Once more we see the amazing support of runners for the Nike We Run 10K: the most popular sports event in the country. This is already a classic race that runners expect and is the most recognized sports event in Uruguay,” said Mario Guimaraes, Manager of the brand in Uruguay.
This year’s Nike We Run Montevideo was part of the Nike We Run race series that takes place in 32 cities worldwide involving a total of 395,500 runners. The Nike We Run race series seeks to inspire, support and connect runners all around the world through the innovative Nike+ technology.
The We Run 10K series began three years ago as an evolution of Nike’s Human Race, a global 10K held in dozens of cities around the world on a single day in 2008. That blockbuster race evolved into the We Run 10K series in 2009, and has since expanded its reach and impact. It is now Nike’s single largest race series.
The 2012 We Run series kicked off in Riga, Latvia on Aug. 26, and will conclude in Santiago, Chile on Dec. 15.
Discussion about this post