It was a lovely Evening, cool weather, no rain, the drums are Beating, and the red sea of runners packed at the start line, waiting for the countdown to start the NIKE HUMAN RACE 2009, in Beirut, Lebanon, are cheering for the NIKE+ Drum Line Band charging the atmosphere with energy and excitement. The countdown starts…Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, ONE !!! and there goes the Lebanese stampede along with a significant number of European and American Runners who came to share the Lebanese  Joy of Sports and Humanity, showing the world that Lebanon is a country of peace, and anti-terrorism… A country of Education and Athleticism.

From what I could see, more than 2000 people were present at the start line, and i was sure that more will follow as it is known in Lebanon that everybody comes “Fashionably LATE” to show off the Lebanese Prestige !!

Anyway, back to our Topic, the race starts, with a stream of people, wearing Red Nike Shirts Distributed free on the start line, ran in a straight line From Downtown Beirut city, More specifically Near Starco Buildings Complex and headed towards Bliss Street in Hamra for about 3 Km, where we were greeted with a trumpet and drums band stationed at THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY of BEIRUT ’s MAIN GATE.  Then we took a right turn and reached the sea front where we ran another 3 Km back into Downtown, but this time we circled around the start line passing through Jimmayze Neighborhood, Known For its wild night life and clubbing till the break of Dawn !!

After passing into and out of Jimmayze in another 3 km run, we headed back to Nike’s Clothes Shop 1 Km away in Downtown where the finish line was set. Once we reached there, we were Handed Medals with the Nike+ Human Race 10K Tagged on it and a 15% discount coupon in all Nike Shops. At the shop entrance hundreds of people gathered celebrating and taking memorial photographs on the sounds of Trance music and cheering of Nike+ runners !!