A RECORD 209,000 registered running enthusiasts participated Sunday’s 2012 Kahit Isang Araw Lang : Unity Run which started and ended at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City.

The second edition of the race surpassed the Guinness World record of 116,086 participants posted in the Run for Pasig River on Oct. 10, 2010.

Event organizer Ryan Ramos of Avant-Garde, said that several schools and running clubs all over Metro Manila as well as members of the Philippine National Police and Philippine Navy likewise made up the bulk of the participants.

“As far as our record is concern there were 209,000 who registered for the event. But many more came, who participated just for the love of running,” said Ramos.

However, broadcaster Daniel Razon, the brainchild of the project, said that they are not interested in the Guinnes World Record recognition, but mainly to develop awareness on doing good with every opportune moment by urging all to participate and realize their advocacy of providing computer facilities for public schools students.

Ramos said that with the simultaneous stagings of the event in the cities of Cebu, Bacolod, Tacloban, Davao, Butuan and Puerto Princesa in Palawan, the overall nationwide turnouts exceeded the targeted 300,000 runners.

As expected runners from Kenya led by Alex Melly reasserted their superiority over their Filipino counterparts by dominating the 10-km category. Melly pocketed the P35,000 top purse, while compatriots Tuwei Samson and Jon Kirob earned P25,000 and P15,000 for finishing second and third respectively.

Another Kenyans Roda Chipkerui topped the distaff side with Joan Jerutu placing second and Filipina Luisa Raterta settling for third.