On Your Mark, Get Set, Register For World's Largest 10K Race For Charity

With just under 40 training days remaining, it's still not too late to join the largest one-day running event. Nike+ is hosting the mega 10K in hopes that the world will put their feet together for charity. One million runners across the globe unite.

On August 31, 2008, runners will be taking their mark in a world-wide event that will benefit three needed causes and Nike+ is allowing registered runners across the globe to determine how $3 Million US dollars will be distributed to specified organizations supporting those causes. With 25 cities hosting actual events in the United States and across the globe, both seasoned and novice runners can don their best pair of running shoes and get ready to race for a good cause. From Austin, Texas to Vancouver, Canada each race is part of the same event: Nike+ Human Race. Don't live near a hosting city? That's OK because you can run on your own and let Nike keep track of your training and race day miles. All you have to do is purchase the appropriate gear:

A Nike+ SportBand or Nike+ iPod and sportkit

and then go on the website and register for Nike+ Human Race. Once registered, use Nike+ to train for the race and then after you run your 10K anywhere you choose, sync your device on race day and receive comparison rankings as far as how you did. A runner in the remote area of East Harling, England will know how they compared to, say, a runner in the host city of Istanbul. But that's not all: free music is also available to those iPod Nano 1.2 and later users and iTunes 6.0.5 and later users. Just go on the website and listen to the music for a half hour or so. The selection is so motivating, I found myself bobbing my head and craving tarmac within a few minutes. Again, the race is geared with a human concern in mind. Three million dollars will be distributed based upon registrants wishes among three charities:

The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) which empowers cancer survivors to live life to the fullest and raises awareness

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) which provides refugee children with educational opportunities

The WWF whose primary focus is on reducing the problems associate with the changes in climate and nature

So get ready to run, or walk, and register to join Nike+ in its global effort to help others. It will be good for the mind, body and spirit.