Alchemy: Nike We Run Manila 2013

The long wait for the Nike We Run Manila is finally over. The run which was participated by 15,000 people happened last December 1 at Marikina Sports Complex. An early SMS at 4AM was sent by Runrio team advising all runners to come early on the event because of expected high influx of people coming to Marikina. They have also send and SMS about their shuttle service for runners.

The Nike Run Manila 2013 is still part of the Nike We Run Series. The run series started last August at Prague, Czech Republic and will have its last leg on Jakarta, Indonesia on December 15. Philippines is the 24th country for the race.

We arrived at the Marikina Sports Complex at 2:30PM. The drizzles of rain does not stopped the runners at coming to place. The Oval in the Marikina Sports Complex serves as the activity center and the Basketball Court is turned into a baggage area. The baggage area was systematically arranged by the runners number.

The Baggage Area

Even though it rained, it was still a humid afternoon. You will already be dehydrated just waiting for the gun start because humid atmosphere combined with the huge number of runners all compressed on the starting line. It feels like any moment there might be a stampede.

Camera hovering over the runners

Residents cheering the runners

The route of the marathon covers public streets and some residential areas. It was heart warming and encouraging when the residents were applauding and cheering the runners. You will hear them shouting "just keep running" or "it's almost there". It somehow helps the runners to keep moving. However, since its a residential areas, there are streets that are narrow which makes running very hard and bumping with other runners cannot be avoided. There are also lots of turns. If there are cheering residents, there are also the irate motorists that are stuck on the traffic because of the run.