Nike Arranges 10K Race in 25 International Cities on a Single Day

This weekend will mark—in addition to the unofficial end of summer—a huge logistical feat known as the Nike Human Race, choreographed races in 25 cities on multiple continents on a single day. The first 10K run will kick off in Taipei, and the last will take place Los Angeles. The event will benefit various charities dealing with global issues, such as the World Wildlife Fund, Lance Armstrong Foundation, and UN refugee campaign Ninemillion.

“This is going to be the world's largest running event and [will] provide a global connection point for every athlete,” said Nike media relations manager Jacie Prieto. “We have planned the cities based on the best geographical locations to showcase some of the most famous landmarks and unique race courses in the world. Runners in Istanbul will cross the bridge connecting Europe to Asia. Taipei's course will wind past the Taipei 101—one of the world's tallest buildings.”

Diverse performers will entertain at the finish lines. “We asked our consumers for feedback on who they wanted to listen to while running the largest global race ever," Prieto said. "We have top artists performing at each of the 25 designated race cities, such as All American Rejects in New York, Fan Fan in Shanghai, and Kanye West in L.A.”

As part of a partnership with Air New Zealand, five contest winners will run races in Melbourne and L.A., giving them a chance to run races in two world cities on the same day.