Tonight, beginning at 7:15 p.m., 12,000 Boston employees will lace up and take to the streets of the Back Bay to participate in the 31st J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge. This 3.5-mile road race is the largest road race that is confined to Boston’s city limits.
For the 20th year in a row, this challenge has reached its full capacity for entrants. So which Boston companies are going to be represented? Well, or starters, one of last years top female finishers (coming in 3rd) was CoachUp employee Victoria Barnaby completing the 3.5-miler in 20:06. As for the men, Trinity Partners came in on top with their rockstar runner completing the race in just 17:43.
This year, the race has reached its full capacity crowd of 12,000 entrants — the 20th consecutive year being filling its field.
A total of 585 Greater Boston companies will be represented later tonight in this after work team building race. The top 10 largest company participants include: Liberty Mutual Insurance (431 entrants); J.P. Morgan (260); Fidelity Investments (223); Novartis (177); Eaton Vance (145); Athena Health (140); MFS Investment Management (138); Vertex Pharmaceuticals (134); Sapient Corporation (131); Wellington Management (124).
The race begins in the Boston Common on Charles Street, between Boylston and Beacon streets. From there runners will pound the pavement down Commonwealth Ave until they hit Kenmore Square. At that point the route loops back and brings runners back down Comm Ave before finishing where they started on Charles Street.
And if you drove to work today, it might be time to pull up Google Maps and start rerouting your ride home. According to the release, “Commuters and residents in the Back Bay should note that there will be street closures on a rolling basis from 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. on Beacon, Arlington and Boylston Streets, and Commonwealth Avenue.”
This challenge is more than a way to gather employees for a heart-healthy activity. According to their site, J.P. Morgan makes local-designated donations at each city the series visits. And as for Boston, the 2014 beneficiaries are BUILD and the Greater Boston Food Bank.
So get out there and support these corporate teams, Boston! Or at the very least, you now know what the large crowds are all about as you make your way home during your commute.
Image via CitiCenter
