Crolla’s 10k run team will be full of fight
PROS AND AMATEURS JOIN BOXER’S CREW
BOXING star Anthony Crolla has recruited a team of fighters to take on the Great Manchester Run with him.
New Moston fighter Anthony and his crew will take part in the Business Challenge at this year’s run in May.
Supported by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the challenge sees companies of all sizes in Manchester’s booming economy battle it out at Europe’s biggest 10k. It has become an annual fixture in the calendar of Manchester businesses, taking place as part of the race which sees thousands of people run, jog or walk their way through city centre streets.
Anthony, who is currently preparing for a WBA world lightweight title rematch with Jorge Linares at Manchester Arena this Saturday, has assembled a team of professional and amateur boxers to rjoin him in the run, which also boasts a sold-out half marathon for the first time this year.
The 30-year-old took part in last year’s event with a team of speciallyselected runners dubbed ‘Crolla’s Army,’ but his squad this year will be made up of boxers, many of whom train at the same gym as Anthony, in Bolton.
He said: “I always make sure I do this run. I really look forward to it because the atmosphere makes it a very special day. There’ll be a few fast times going in, there’s a bit of competition between the lads – certainly nobody will want to pick up the wooden spoon.
“It has to be the very best 10k in the world. It brings out the best in the people and the best in the city. It gives people a goal to aim for.
“We’re a fit set of lads so we should all be able to do 10k pretty easily, but you see people of all shapes and sizes – it gives them the motivation to go on to have a healthier lifestyle.”
Last year, more than 250 companies and organisations entered more than 3,300 runners to compete for the prize of Manchester’s Greatest Businesses and raise hundreds of thousands for local and national charities.
With two distances to choose from this year, it is expected that even more companies will enter male, female or mixed teams of four to eight runners to compete for the trophy awarded to the fastest small, medium and large businesses across the categories.
Included will be a special prize category for Greater Manchester Chamber members – the Chamber Challenge, awarded to the fastest member business from each category in the 10k.
The Great Run Company chief executive Mark Hollinshead said: “Many Manchester companies have taken up the Business Challenge as a great tool for team building. It’s a case of healthy body, healthy mind, healthy business.”
Entries to the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run 10k are open. For more information, visit greatrun.org/ ManchesterBusiness
Crolla ready to rumble: Page 41