Nike+ Human Race - Melbourne
Just this week we reported that Kanye West would be headlining LA's contingent of the Nike+ Human Race . Now Nike Australia have just announced that Melbourne will help stage the world’s biggest one day running event on August 31, 2008. Aussie runners will enjoy a live concert from hip-hop artists, The Hilltop Hoods, and rock band Faker after crossing the finish line. The world-first 10km running event will feature an estimated 1 million runners across the globe running for charity and will be held in 25 cities including Melbourne, LA, New York, London, Madrid, Paris, Istanbul, Shanghai, São Paulo and Vancouver.
The Melbourne course winds past local landmarks including Federation Square, the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Yarra River, with runners afterwards treated to an exclusive music concert in the Myer Music Bowl. Each city’s race will start on the same day, with the first race kicking off in Taipei, and Melbourne third off the start line. The last race is in LA. “Australians can participate in this one-off global event by running an iconic course through Melbourne’s streets and then kicking back afterwards to enjoy the live sounds of The Hilltop Hoods and Faker,” Paul Zadoff (Nike Australia Managing Director) said.
Each city will stage an exclusive concert at the end of their local Nike+Human Race, with top music acts confirmed to perform overseas including nine-time Grammy Award winning hip-hop artist Kanye West in LA, singer Moby in London, Fall Out Boy in Chicago, All-American Rejects in New York, R&B songstress Kelly Rowland in Paris, and The Hilltop Hoods and Faker in Melbourne.
Runners can support one of three official charities: the WWF - the global conservation organisation addressing the causes and impacts of climate change; the UN refugee agency's campaign – bringing sport and education to refugee youth; and the Lance Armstrong Foundation – uniting people in the fight against cancer. Nike Australia will donate 20 per cent of the $60 online race registration fee to a runner’s chosen charity, and runners will be able to donate additional amounts online. Globally, Nike will donate USD $1 million to the three charities.
Runners outside the 25 cities will still be able to participate ‘virtually’ by using Nike+ technology. This innovative technology allows runners to track their distances and log their kilometres online to participate in the global event.
To find out more about the Melbourne Nike+Human Race or to register please visit