Nike Supersonic feat Dizzee

Nike staged the final event of the Supersonic speed initiative, a unique running and music combination aimed at encouraging sport and music to cross over in a new cool and ultimately healthy way. The fastest 1000 runners over 100 metres, from time trials held at Finsbury Park, The O2 Arena and Crystal Palace, were invited, along with two friends each, to the finals in Battersea. Each competitor was given a pair of limited edition Nike Zoom Jasari + running shoes with a built in microchip to record their running time, and a personalised running top. The track for the finals, this time over 1000 metres, through Battersea Park, ended with the finish line in the Events Arena, where two thousand friends and family cheered on the competitors. Bass heavy beats and grooves pumped out to help raise the adrenalin at that final push across the line. The winning male and female competitor each won an all expenses paid trip to any sporting event of their choice, anywhere in the world. The top 200 runners each claiming a video iPod Nano.

With the young enthusisastic crowd introduced to athletes Mark Lewis-Francis, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Asha Philip, and the winners announced and paraded, the athletics business made way for the music. Coventry's newest musical heroes, The Enemy, punched and pounded their way through a decathlon of pop punk tunes, with the energy and swagger of early Jam. Tom Clarke (lead vocals, guitar) Liam Watts (drums) and Andy Hopkins (bass guitar, backing vocals), belted out their 80s mod revival influenced tunes from their highly successful debut album, We'll Live and Die in These Towns, including Away From Here, Happy Birthday Jane and the title track.

Anarchy Cartel provided the dance troup interlude on the other stage, before the two stages merged into one long runway for Dizzee Rascal and DJ Semtex to work the crowd. It was clear the majority of the audience were waiting excitedly for young Mr Rascal, and was the highlight of their night. (Apparently he'd attempted the 100 meter dash at one of the trials). The Mercury award winning grime star rapped through his bass heavy garage, hip hop and ragga eclectic mix with songs from his three acclaimed albums, Boy In Da Corner, Showtime and Maths + English. The stand out tracks included Jus' a Rascal and Sirens.

The well organised event, promoted a healthy mix of athletics and music, with a friendly, positive atmosphere to a young, sober crowd. Due to be televised on Channel Four on December 7th, one would expect the event to be repeated in other parts of the country. It may not dent the binge drinking obese tendencies of the young modern Briton, but it heralded a refreshing association between the otherwise dirt of rock 'n' roll and the benefits of working up a running sweat. And who knows, it may just inspire the next generation of athletes, or musicians.

Rob Barnett, Music News