Nike Lets Runners Race Against Themselves

Nike has created a pop-up running stadium shaped as the sole of a running shoe that lets people race themselves via LED screens.

The Unlimited Stadium is a 200m running track in Manila’s business district and features LED screens that runners can sprint against avatars of themselves. Runners set their pace in the first lap and then a full size avatar appears on the screen, with runners encouraged to beat their avatar, which in turn responds to their performance.

Part of the Nike Unlimited campaign, it was created by BBH and can hold as many as 30 runners at one time and Nike will also be tracking the total distance and data across the 17 days the track will be open.

“We wanted to create an experience that had been never done before and something that people would talk about,” said BBH business director Sid Tuli.

“The spirit of Nike as a brand is all about pushing yourself and with this you are literally racing against yourself and trying to better yourself and you get tangible live input while you are doing it.”