South Businesses Running Together

The starting gun has been fired on the Morrisons Great South Run Business Challenge which will see companies from across the region line up to see who is the fastest.

Companies of all sizes are encouraged to enter teams, and compete to post the fastest overall time in the region in a number of categories.

Business Challenge entrants will join a field of up to 25,000 runners taking part in the Morrisons Great South Run, which marks its 25th year in Portsmouth on Sunday, October 25.

Among the first to lay down the challenge is a 15-strong team from business and property solutions specialists Fasset, based at Langstone Technology Park, Havant.

The team members, a mix of new and more experienced runners, are preparing for the event together and are often training in pairs or small groups to encourage each other.

Claire Mayne of Fasset said: “A team took part in the Business Challenge last year and it was such a success that no-one needed much convincing to do it again!

“It was terrific for team morale and bonding and everyone enjoyed the experience – even those who were limping at the end! We all met up before and after to talk tactics.

“Fasset really supports staff wellbeing by encouraging participation in events like this and supporting staff. There are lunchtime running clubs, a fitness centre that employees can make use of and we are supplying T-shirts and kit.

“All the staff members are choosing their own charity to support and last year more than £400 was raised for various causes.”

The 2015 Morrisons Great South Run Business Challenge is split into small, medium and large businesses (less than 50, 50 to 249 and more than 250 employees respectively).

The best four finishing times in each team are used to calculate the team’s overall time – and the fastest in each category wins.

An engraved trophy will be awarded for the winning team in each category, and every company that enters 12 or more employees will receive their own personalised company engraved plaque.

The times can be broken down so that teams from a business park, High Street or town can compete against each other – or, for example, teams from rival law firms, accountants or estate agents could take each other on.

There should be a minimum of four and maximum of eight people per team and companies can enter as many teams as they like.

Teams can be all-male, all-female or mixed, with a minimum split of two male and two female. All team members must be aged 16 or over on race day.

The Morrisons Great South Run is the world’s leading 10-mile running event and the course takes in Portsmouth landmarks including HMS Victory and HMS Warrior, and ends with a final two miles along Southsea seafront.