Bupa Great Birmingham Run challenges local businesses.

Midland businesses are being urged to show they are the region’s fittest and fastest firm, by entering the 2014 Bupa Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge.

Swapping their workplace and desks for the pavements of Birmingham, the challenge is open to small, medium and large businesses to compete in the Bupa Great Birmingham Run on Sunday October 19th, with prizes for the first three teams in each category.

Last year’s Business Challenge was the biggest ever, with over 400 runners and 37 teams taking part. Organisers hope to beat the record 20,000 runners who took part in the 2013 run, which reached capacity a week before the event. With interest increasing every year, entries for the 2014 run have been increased to 22,000.

The Bupa Great Birmingham Run is the second biggest half marathon in the UK. David Hart, Communications Director for the event, said: “This is a great way for you and your colleagues to get fit, have fun and raise some money for charity; we’d love to see a record number of entries, from companies of all sizes.”

Businesses already registered include Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Fox’s Biscuits, Free Radio, Geese Theatre Company, JW Hinks LLP and Tata Motors.

To register go to: www.greatrun.org/birmingham Teams must be a minimum of four people and a maximum of eight, but businesses can enter as many teams as they want, in male, female or mixed sex categories. Mixed teams must have a minimum of two men and two women.

Team members must be 16 years of age or over on race day; placings are based on the accumulated first four finishing times in each team. Every team that enters 12 or more employees will receive their own personalised company engraved plaque.