Nike+ Human Race
Overview
The Nike+ Human Race was designed to be the World’s largest one day running event offering runners from across the globe the chance to compete together on 31st August 2008. The 10k race took place in multiple continents and covered 25 cities including Paris, Madrid, New York, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Sao Paolo and Vancouver.
The focus of the European events was the London Nike+ Human Race which took place at Wembley Stadium. The event began with a music concert featuring Pendulum and Moby, followed by a 10k run starting on the pitch inside the stadium and finishing on Olympic Way underneath the iconic Wembley Arch.
Limelight Sports was contracted to manage and deliver the London Nike+ Human Race following the success of the RunLondon Nike 10k’s which started in 2001 and continued as an annual feature in London’s running calendar culminating in North V South (Hyde Park) 2006 and Nike Supersonic (2007).
Approach
The Nike+ Human Race provided London with a unique mass participation running event. Wembley Stadium was used for the event as it is a globally iconic sporting and entertainment venue so offered a memorable experience to both participants and spectators whilst fulfilling the Nike brief of being able to host a concert and be part of a 10k course that could accommodate up to 30,000 participants.
Limelight Sports was responsible for the day to day management of the Nike+ Human Race London event as well as delivering race pack collection prior to the event which took place at NikeTown London. Utilising the effective methodologies which are employed across all projects, Limelight Sports managed multiple stakeholders and venues, course design, branding and signage, production, logistics, staffing and race management.
Outcome
Over 20,000 runners took part in the 10k race with approximately 4,000 supporters inside the stadium to watch the concert and be a part of the experience. The London event had the highest participation numbers amongst all of the Nike+ Human Race events in Europe. The race was started by the Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee Board Lord Sebastian Coe and Paula Radcliffe - her first race since the Beijing Olympics. Limelight Sports successfully delivered a unique high profile running event. Limelight Sports has also been contracted by Nike as consultants to their new running club NikeTown Runners.
