This competition offers your associates a team building, morale boosting competition around one of Akron’s premier community sporting events. Not to mention the invaluable opportunity to promote health and wellness within your organization – helping to combat obesity and increase healthy living. You can even use this challenge to promote your business by outfitting your runners and volunteers with apparel with your business name and logo.

Here’s how your business can participate:

Relay Competition - $200 per team

Relay teams will compete within the 5-person team relay race in the Business Challenge category. The top finishers in all male, all female and co-ed divisions will be awarded recognition awards.

The winning businesses will receive:

• A recognition award
• A special listing and link on the Road Runner Akron Marathon Web Site
• A special listing in the 2005 Road Runner Akron Marathon results book
• Mention on a Rubber City Radio Group station
• Listed in a post-race ad in the Akron Beacon Journal

Volunteering Competition – must have at least one relay team registered to participate

Volunteer teams will work during the Road Runner Akron Marathon race weekend at either the Health and Fitness Expo, Kids Fun Run, start line, finish line or along the course. Teams must have a minimum of 15 people.

The business with the largest team of volunteers that work during the race will receive:

• A recognition award
• A special listing and link on the Road Runner Akron Marathon Web Site
• A special listing in the 2005 Road Runner Akron Marathon results book
• Mention on a Rubber City Radio Group station
• Listed in a post-race ad in the Akron Beacon Journal
• Invitation to the volunteer appreciation party
• Free volunteer t-shirt

Charitable Giving Competition – must have at least one relay team registered to participate

The Road Runner Akron Marathon & Team Relays is a great way to raise money for a charitable organization. In addition to participating in the relay competition, relay members can raise money for a charity by obtaining sponsors or pledges. Monies can be raised for any of the Road Runner Akron Marathon Run for Charity! Organizations can be part of the 2005 Road Runner Akron Marathon charitable giving at the end of the year (see website for how organizations can be added to this list). A charitable giving captain must report all collected money to the Akron Marathon staff by October 15, 2005. All monies donated must go directly through the participating organization.

The business raising the most money for charity will receive:

• A recognition award
• A special listing and link on the Road Runner Akron Marathon Web Site
• A special listing in the 2005 Road Runner Akron Marathon results book
• Mention on a Rubber City Radio Group station
• Listed in a post-race ad in the Akron Beacon Journal

All competing businesses will receive:

• A listing of participation on the Road Runner Akron Marathon and Team Relays web site
• A special sign at The University of Akron Health and Fitness Expo presented by Ritzman Natural Health Pharmacies and at the finish line of the race
• A free goodie bag stuffing ($400 value)
• An opportunity to purchase Road Runner Akron Marathon & Team Relays gear at a reduced cost

To become part of this competition, businesses must complete the Business Challenge application. All entries must be registered by September 1, 2005. If you have already registered a relay team and would like to upgrade to the Business Challenge competition, an upgrade registration form is available online.

All application forms are available online at http://www.akronmarathon.org/businesschallenge.asp