Teams urged to get down to business for Great Run
BUSINESSES across Birmingham and the West Midlands are being encouraged to enter a team running challenge as the event day draws in.
The Business Challenge at the 2024 Great Birmingham Run will bring together teams of colleagues to compete for trophies at the annual 10k and half-marathon races.
Teams of any size can enter but only the times of the four fastest finishers will be used to calculate the overall total.
Prizes will be awarded to the fastest teams competing both distances.
This year’s 10k and half marathon will be held on Sunday, May 5 and will follow the same course as last year’s Great Birmingham Run.
Starting in Broad Street opposite the Library of Birmingham, the course will wind its way through the Jewellery Quarter, city centre and Southside before the 10k runners turn back for home while the half marathoners head to Bournville and Cannon Hill Park.
The finish line is again on the Smithfield development site where medals and refreshments await.
Among the companies to have pledged to take part this year is the Midlands offices of Arup.
The engineering consultancy has signed up 39 employees for the Business Challenge, with the start line just a stone’s throw from
the firm’s new Birmingham office in One Centenary Way which opened recently and is home to 1,000 staff.
Among those taking part will be Steve Fernandez, director of the Nottingham office, who is hoping to retain his crown as the company’s fastest runner at last year’s Great Birmingham Run.
The firm is raising money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital
Charity. Midlands outreach leader Russ Smith said: “We have a mixture of seasoned runners, some of whom are members of amateur running clubs and our own lunchtime run group.
“Levels and abilities vary but we are an inclusive organisation which means we’ve welcomed everyone, even me in my electric wheelchair, although some would say that’s cheating.
“We’re proud to be taking part for Birmingham Children’s Hospital as it is such an important cause.
“We’ll also be taking part in the Dragon Boat Race in June organised by the hospital so look out for us there too.”
Visit the Great Run website to find out more and sign up for the Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge.