The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge made its first stop in Boston way back in 1984, but the motivation for participation from multinational pharmaceutical company Novartis goes back much further than that.

“Yes, we participate because it’s fun, and it’s also the only real way you can enjoy a stroll down Commonwealth Avenue and see the city as it was in the 1800s,” smiled Samuel Coe, the team captain for the Novartis Biomedical Research team.

Indeed, Boston is a city built on tradition so it’s appropriate the 39^th edition of the 3.5-mile Corporate Challenge in Boston featured the same out-and-back course on Commonwealth Avenue that it has followed since the first race. It’s flat, historic, beautiful, and on this pristine night attracted 5,945 participants from 295 companies.

Coe and his Novartis teammates are regular participants in the Corporate Challenge, and they particularly applaud the humanity of coming together in competition, camaraderie and community.

“This is my 10th year as team captain for the Novartis Biomedical Research runners and our 15^th as a company participating in the event,” Coe reported. “Local sponsorships are a big focus for us as a worldwide company focused on medical research, and the Corporate Challenge’s support for causes in the Boston metro area just makes sense for us.  What continues to amaze me is how it keeps us connected as humans and researchers in what’s become a very virtual world.  As a company, we succeed when we collaborate, and this run has sparked and maintained lasting professional and personal relationships that help us do more, together.”

The five largest participating companies on this eve-of-summer night were Takeda Pharmaceuticals (191 participants), Liberty Mutual (100), DraftKings (99), Moderna (96), and Wellington Management (94).

“Takeda is thrilled to join the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge once again,” said team captain Ruth Hayes. “As the largest life sciences employer in Massachusetts, we’re proud to bring together the biggest team participating this year — uniting colleagues from across our business in a fun, fitness-focused atmosphere that supports a great cause.”

And what would the Corporate Challenge be in Boston without the most popular flightless bird in marketing, the LiMu Emu?

“The Corporate Challenge is an event where titles don’t matter, everyone wears the same colorful, matching, and slightly sweaty t-shirt featuring a colorful sprinting LiMu Emu, and reminisces about their race at our after-party over a pint,” said Alex Bradford, Liberty Mutual’s team captain.

It was a night of celebration also for The Langham, a Boston landmark hotel in the nearby financial district.

“The Langham has been participating in the Boston Corporate Challenge for over 20 years,” said team captain Rachelle Boudreau. “This year is especially meaningful as we celebrate the 160th anniversary of Langham Hotels & Resorts, marking the occasion with our largest group of participants to date.

“Events like this are the perfect occasion to rally our employees from all departments for an opportunity to bond outside of the workplace,” Boudreau continued. “With such a diverse team across many areas of the hotel, the Corporate Challenge provides a rare chance for everyone to come together as one, united in friendly competition and in support of a great cause. It also reinforces our commitment to employee wellness and a strong team culture, encouraging camaraderie, movement, and morale.”

Being the home of one of the world’s most famous marathons, it’s not surprising that Boston has some fantastic runners, and three of them reached the awards stage at the Corporate Challenge. Cameron Leonard, representing Axcelis Technologies, earned the male division title with a time of 16:55. Lexa Grasz, wearing the colors of Fidelity Investments, took the female crowd in 21:16. And Kassian Eaton, competing for Klaviyo, captured the non-binary title with an official time of 18:31.

Event owner and operator JPMorganChase donated in celebration of all Corporate Challenge participants to The Ron Burton Training Village (RBTV). Founded in 1985 by former original Boston Patriots legend Ron Burton, Sr., RBTV maintains its vision to empower youth through education, leadership, physical wellness, social advancement, and spiritual growth. RBTV has provided transformative experiences for thousands of participants, fostering a legacy of personal and community excellence.

The charitable tenet of the Corporate Challenge is what has brought KARL STORZ, a global leader in human medical instruments, back to the Charles Street starting line for a decade.

“Being the team captain for KARL STORZ at the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge in Boston for the past 10 years has been both a memorable and rewarding experience,” said Margarita Navarro, team captain for KARL STORZ. “It’s an incredible feeling to represent our company alongside more than 250 other organizations in the heart of Boston for an event that promotes wellness and supports a local charitable cause.

“This event is more than just a race – it’s a powerful reminder of how wellness and charitable giving can be woven into the fabric of a workplace culture,” Navarro continued. “Whether running or walking the 3.5-miles, our KARL STORZ teammates come together with energy and enthusiasm, united by a shared commitment to health, community, and teamwork. It’s inspiring to see colleagues support each other on and off the course, all while contributing to a meaningful local cause. This event, just as our company, promotes both well-being and social responsibility in the workplace.”

With Boston complete, nine of the 16 locations in the 49^th year of the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Series are in the books. Through those nine events, the Corporate Challenge Series has drawn 168,669 participants (18,741 average per event), an increase of 2% over the 165,460 attracted through the same nine events in 2024.

A trip across the pond to London is next up, on July 2-3 at Battersea Park, with more than 30,000 participants expected.