Running beneath the flags of the Corporate Challenge's six host countries, participants in the first J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Championship held outside of New York City get off to a fast start in Johannesburg on March 4, 2010.

Taking a great idea and running with it
... for 35 years

From Singapore (bottom photo) to San Francisco (top photo) and in host cities on three other continents, the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge has been the inspiration for millions of participants as it enters its 35th year.

The JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge® began simply enough, as great ideas often do.

Inspired by their successful sponsorship of the New York City Marathon, bank officials looked for a way to create an event solely for corporate runners, and at a distance for which even a busy executive would have time to train. It was decided to try a single Corporate Challenge® race at 3.5 miles.

The idea took on a life of its own in 1977 when 200 runners from 50 companies gathered in Central Park for the inaugural race in what then was called the Manufacturers Hanover Corporate Challenge®. The idea was an obvious hit. The Series has done nothing but grow, and grow, and grow since.

Events in Africa and Asia push Series' international growth

JPMorgan Chase added events in two new continents in 2004, with inaugural races in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Singapore. These two cities have been spectacular successes and continue to be part of our six country, five continents Series in 2011.

Not coincidentally, both Johannesburg and Singapore are involved in another recent trend - hosting the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Championship. To reflect the globability of the Corporate Challenge, JPMorgan Chase, owner and operator of the Series, is committed to rotating the Championship to cities in different continents. Hosted in New York for its first 26 editions, the Series Championship was held in Johannesburg on March 4, 2010, and is scheduled to be run in Singapore on April 21, 2011.

As the Series celebrates its 35th year, it recalls a terrific year in 2010, when the final number of participants exceeded 235,000 - which represents a participation well over 1,000 times greater than the first year. The idea of Charles H. McCabe, Executive Vice President of Manufacturers Hanover in 1977, clearly lives on today.

Series represents a committment to health and fitness

"The growth of the Corporate Challenge® is a testimony to JPMorgan Chase’s continuing support of health and fitness, teamwork and camaraderie in the corporate communities across the U.S. and abroad,” said Barbara Paddock, senior vice president for the bank.

In 2000, the Series grew to 193,920 participants from 6,071 companies, up from 1999 participation of 192,669. Those numbers represent a huge increase from 1998, when the Series reached 177,498 participants, but the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge® is about more than numbers.

The Series sends a message that it is not just fiscal fitness that is important in the corporate world. Physical fitness also is important. Participating companies use the races as a platform to promote fitness and well-being in the work place. Runners find it easy to train for the 3.5-mile distance and have the extra benefit of competing with their colleagues in a relaxed and social atmosphere.

The simple idea that began so modestly in 1977 continues to be a winner year after year.

If you have run in the Series in the past, we thank you for your support and look forward to welcoming you again. If you would like to get your company involved for the first time, please look through our web site and contact officials of your local event.

The JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge® - simply a powerful idea in business and running.

Frank Handelman, the first champion of a Corporate Challenge event in 1977, re-enacts his breaking of the tape as Sharon Jacquet (left) and Leslie Lassiter of the JPMorgan Private Bank assist in Central Park in 2006.