The streets of Dublin’s Docklands were alive last night to the beat of 750 corporate teams taking part in the second edition of the Grant Thornton Corporate 5K road race.
Numbers were up 60% on the first year of the race, despite clashing with Ireland’s World Cup Qualifier in Austria and were at the maximum capacity for the course.
World Champion Gold medallist Rob Heffernan was involved in the build up to the event which had separate races for elite and open teams from across the business community.
PwC emerged as winners of the women’s race with Davy Stockbrokers taking the honours in the men’s event.
The race started and finished outside the Grant Thornton offices on City Quay and took in Custom House Quay, where tens of thousands had gathered for last years Euro 2012 ‘village’, North Wall and Sir John Rogersons Quays. Runners crossed the Matt Talbot bridge and the Beckett bridge twice.
The popularity of the event shows that there is an appetite for running among the business community and many firms now have informal ‘clubs’ to encourage those who may wish to run to or from work as well as at lunchtime.
The numbers competing in the Grant Thornton race reached maximum capacity this year, given the restrictions that apply to road races in the city but it has established a place for itself on the social calendar of workplaces and doubtless helped many to kick start a fitness regime that will make them healthier and more productive at work.
There is though even greater capacity to expand the Dublin Staff Relay which takes place each May in the Phoenix Park and encourages greater supporter presence from workplaces, as well as a larger number of multiple entries from larger groups.
The timing in May gives a longer uninterrupted time for preparation as well as longer daylight for post race socialising.
It also takes place at the time of the Irish Sports Council Corporate Challenge and some form of cross promotion between the two events will likely be of benefit to both.
