WWF Reverse Run on July 22

Have you ever tried running backwards? It’s a different experience from regular running since the muscles in your body are made to fire in reverse order. It’s a little bit of brain gym that feels like play but can be used as crosstraining with its own physical benefits.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie6MWA6aPWo?version=3&hl=en_US&w=500&h=281]
the British Backward Running Championships

While I prefer to keep my eyes ahead of me while running (I’m accident-prone, haha), the World Wildlife Fund’s Reverse Run asks you to backpedal for a cause. It’s to “reverse the bad” which we humans are doing by consuming approximately 50% more than what the planet can provide over the long-term, contributing to waste build-up, scarcity of resources, and overall degradation of the environment. Yikes!

Symbolic of the need to take a step back and assess the damage that has been done before moving forward to do what needs to be done to protect the environment, the Reverse Run will have participants running backwards for 200 meters, then run forward for the rest of their chosen distance category. Registration fees are P500 for the 3K and 6K, and P600 for the 12K (these are the signature Without Limits race categories). Registration has started at Chris Sports (SM MOA, SM Manila, Glorietta 3) and Skechers (Trinoma, Market-Market, Festival Mall Alabang).

The WWF’s Reverse the Bad student program aims to encourage high school and college students who become members of the program to commit more to protecting the environment. The program will be launched at the Reverse Run on July 22 at SM Mall of Asia and students who join the run are automatically signed up for membership to the program. Proceeds from the race will go to the Reverse the Bad Student Program and WWF’s other programs on environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation.

So, will you turn your back on abusing the environment and run towards a better world?

Race: WWF Reverse Run
Date: July 22, 2012
Venue: SM Mall of Asia
Reg Fee: P500 (3K/6K), P600 (12K)
Registration Sites: Chris Sports (SM MOA, SM Manila, Glorietta 3); Skechers (Trinoma, Market-Market, Festival Mall)
More Information: visit the WWF Philippines Reverse Run website or email wwfreverserun [at] gmail [dot] com