On the evening of 9 May, 8,692 women ran the streets of Filinvest City, Alabang at the inaugural Nike Women's 10k Manila (#WeRunMNL). For more than 40 percent of the participants, this was their first ever 10k race, a testament to how sport and fitness are fueling a new women’s lifestyle. The Nike Women’s 10k Manila is the culmination of a series of initiatives by Nike since January, connecting, inspiring and enabling women to reach their fitness goals, and achieve their personal best. It is both the first all-women race Nike has organized in the Philippines, and also the biggest all-women race in the country so far.Every aspect of the race encouraged the women to be #betterforit, pushing thousands of Filipinas to take on challenges and commit to become better versions of themselves. The route went through the residential areas of Filinvest and featured hills which the women conquered together. The race village, located within a multi-level carpark, had Nike Training Club (NTC) stations challenging women to be #betterforit through workouts such as squats, lunges, planks and push-ups to earn rewards. DJ Jess Milner, a fast-rising female DJ in the music scene in Manila, was on the deck to add to the high energy level. Women made their #betterforit commitments which were brought to life within an interactive #betterforit dome installation.
“Women across the globe are embracing the fitness and sport lifestyle, and this is even more evident in the Philippines. We are here to empower them through services, product innovation, athlete inspiration and motivating them to be the better version of themselves,” says Patrick Reyes, Country Marketing Manager for Nike Philippines. “Whether it was her first 10k race, or a moment to achieve her personal best, Nike is here to inspire, connect and enable women to be #betterforit.”
Nike enabled women to train for the race through Nike+ Run Club sessions every Saturday, weekly N+TC classes, and free sessions with partner gyms which included Onelife Studio Makati, High Intensity Interval Training Philippines, 360o Fitness Club, Striking MNL, Plana Forma, and Elorde Boxing Gym. As part of the training journey, participants took part in N+TC Live on 25 April in Valkyrie, Manila’s largest nightclub. Led by NTC Trainer Sheena Vera Cruz, N+TC Live took over 200 participants through a high-energy NTC workout.
Apart from the activities, the women trained with the global community on Nike+, through the Nike+ Running app and Nike+ Training Club app which provided customized training programs designed by coaches.
“This is definitely something that I will remember for a long time. This is my first time joining an all-women race, and my whole race experience has been so beautiful and positive. I’m sure all runners who joined the Nike Women’s 10k Manila will say the same,” shares Monica Torres, number one female triathlete in the Philippines. “All women who crossed the finish line are better for it and have every reason to be proud of achieving their 10k goal.”
Nike Women’s 10k Manila is part of the global Nike Women's Event Series, connecting more than 200,000 women across 25 cities. Designed to power women to be better through sport, the series includes the Nike Women’s Race Series, with runs ranging from 5k to half marathon, and the N+TC Tour, a five-hour training challenge hosted by elite athletes and master trainers.
