Arup Are Up For The Challenge At Great Birmingham Run On Sunday, 5 May

The 39 runners from engineering giant Arup won’t have far to travel to the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run on Sunday, 5 May, with their stunning new Centenary Way offices just yards away from the Broad Street start line.

Arup are one of dozens of businesses taking on the Business Challenge at the Great Birmingham Run with runners tackling both the 10k and half marathon distance.

A whole host of Midlands companies of all shapes and sizes are signing up for the Great Birmingham Run 10K and half marathon Business Challenge.

The Business Challenge invites the corporate world to compete for bragging rights and a fastest-time trophy, with the finishing times of the fastest four members of a team used to calculate the overall team time.

As Arup’s second largest office in the UK, One Centenary Way is home to almost 1,000 engineers, designers, digital specialists and technical advisors working on some of the largest construction and development projects in Birmingham and globally.

Arup’s new and seasoned runners will be visiting Birmingham from across its Midlands sites with Steve Fernandez, director of the Nottingham office, eager to retain his crown as the company’s fastest runner at last year’s Great Birmingham Run.

Arup is running for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity – the company’s charity of the year at the new One Centenary Way offices.

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.”

At Great Run, we know the power running has to make a positive impact on our lives in ways big and small, and that’s why this year we’re highlighting the power of running in our Great Run series campaign focusing on positive change achieved through running. The Business Challenge at the Great Birmingham Run is the perfect fit for that.

This year we’ll be celebrating local people, businesses, and groups coming together to be part of something bigger than themselves. Every single person who crosses the finish line is an expression of positivity, local pride, and personal achievement. 

If you’re new to half marathon running, taking part in an event is the best way to maintain a running routine and at two months away, The Great Birmingham Run is your perfect goal.

Taking place on Sunday, 5 May, the Great Birmingham Run is a run for everyone, of all ages and abilities, whether it’s your first 10k or your 50th half marathon.

To sign up a team for the Business Challenge visit greatrun.org/business-challenge