Business Runs increasingly popular among employees of companies

Running with your company's name on your chest.Advertising for the company. Running with colleagues. Those who take part in the Business Runs know that they don't have to endure the long and tough 42 kilometres and 195 meters journey alone. Often it's the fun before the event and the achievement on the day that are the reasons that business teams take part.

The Business Runs are actually a relay, which is run by two or four, but also can be run on an individual basis. The number of companies taking part is growing substantially, especially in the relay race for four. Usually, interest in the first and last 'sections' is always high. The middle two parts are often less popular.

Wim Merksteijn from the Perfect Group takes part every year. "We always have that discussion too, haha. We all want to start and we all want to finish, because most of the spectators are on the Coolsingel. But I have also run the second and third section a few times and have enjoyed the amazing atmosphere in the city just as much."

Erik van der Spek has completed the relay several times and enjoys the enthusiasm of the public along the route every time.

"It's funny how you make light of this marathon for weeks, but in the days leading up to it you start to become nervous. The tension grows. You notice this in your colleagues. Anyway it's good for the morale in a department or company to sport together. You get to know each other so much better. During the Business Runs you will also be forced to prepare together and you talk to each other more often than usual. If you then return to work with a medal you see the non-runners sometimes looking at you differently. You notice that they wish they had run as well."

ABN AMRO

The ABN AMRO participants in this edition were able to attend a running clinic recently in the Kralingse Bos which was run by the one and only Gerard Nijboer. The man, who won a silver medal at the Olympic Games in 1980, gave tips and tricks to those who were interested. The meeting was organized by the Roparun team 126, which wants to collect more money for a charity and wants to get more bank employees taking part in sports.

At the ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam you and your colleagues can achieve a top performance through participation in the Business Runs.

Participation and training for the Business Runs not only leads to a good atmosphere between colleagues, it also provides healthy and active workers who bustle with energy.

For the most experienced marathon runners, there is the Business Marathon in which all team members run the whole marathon distance. In the section Business Duo Marathon two team mates run a half marathon each and in the Business Relay Marathon four team members run a quarter marathon each.