The Corporate Run in Miami began in 1985 as part of the 13-city Manufacturers Hanover Corporate Challenge race series.  The first event had 1,315 participants.  Local runners who were hooked on the benefits of running and keeping fit had a fun event that they could share with their co-workers.Throughout the event's 21-year history we have been proud of the changes and growth to become one of the country's top ten largest road races – the Mercedes-Benz CORPORATE RUN.  Eleven years ago we broke the 10,000 participant mark, now we consistently attract more than twice that number.  What brings the people back year after year?  What are the reasons for participating?

Company Party
Many employees will tell you the fun times with co-workers at the Corporate Run were better than the company’s annual Christmas party.Companies go "all out" when planning their Corporate Run celebration.  Fun, healthy food, good drink, company T-shirts, tent decoration are all a part of the race night experience.  Spouses and friends of the company are invited to partake in activities as guest runners.  Many corporations invite companies they do business with (or would like to do business with) to their tent for post-race snacks!The fun, healthy atmosphere always breeds good times as employees join together in a giant after-work Office Party.

Healthy Message
Companies are encouraged to support this event not just because of the healthy message it sends but because it encourages participation on all levels – everyone can be part of the team.  Add to this the monies that are donated from this event to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and other local charities, and you have a win-win situation for everyone involved. A growing number of local companies are showing their commitment to physical fitness by installing gyms and hiring exercise instructors.  People can see personal improvements from simple fitness programs, such as walking or running short distances regularly.  It gives people a better outlook on life and helps them gain confidence.  Studies show that workers who exercise have fewer sick days and maintain a higher level of energy during the day.  They are more productive in their work.  A Florida Power and Light manager of the FPL-Well program says "our program begin in 1991 with the purpose of maintaining the health and well being of our employee population.  We believe that for every dollar spent on our health and fitness programs, three dollars are saved on health care costs.  Also, it adds value by improving the health and morale of our employees.”Perhaps no other single event has aroused the health consciousness of South Florida's executive corps as much as the Mercedes-Benz CORPORATE RUN.  Team captains recognize the Corporate Run as a moral building and company-bonding event.  They understand that sometimes people need a little push to become involved in fitness and the Corporate Run provides that push!

Run, Walk and Party
After all the hours the company captains put into organizing their group's participation in the annual event, all that is left to do is run, walk and party!  For those who are competitive and like to be at the front of the pack, running the Mercedes-Benz CORPORATE RUN is the way to go.  You have a chance of grabbing the top team award in your industry category, but more importantly, you'll be one of the first back to the your company tent to have your pick of the best post-racegoodies including subs, cookies, fruit and cold drinks. About 30% of the participants walk the event each year.  Walking 3.1 miles seems like a huge task for some (especially when you include the Port of Miami bridge), but when you add the scenic course, event camaraderie and charity beneficiary – it's a lot better than being stuck behind a desk at work.  Most walkers finish in less than one hour the join their co-workers at Florida's largest Office Party.

Good Memories, Sore Muscles
On Friday morning following the event you'll be able to re-live and compare notes with your co-workers.  The bonds generated from team camaraderie are carried through the entire year.  So sign up, get organized, train, participate, get healthy and on Friday following the event – you too can have good memories and sore muscles!

1985 – Manufacturers Hanover Trust Bank hires Team FootWorks to produce the 3.5-mile Corporate Challenge run at Mary Brickell Park.  The race  course goes south on Brickell Ave. to SW 25 Rd and Miami Ave. and returns to finish on Brickell Ave., adjacent to the park.  Inaugural year drew 1,315 participants.

1986 – Race site returns to Mary Brickell Park with the same Brickell Ave. course and grows to 1,681 participants.

1987 – Same park and course: 2,342 participants.

1988 – Corporate Challenge moved to Bayfront Park – the first event held in the newly opened downtown Miami park.  2,790 runners finish on the Promenade.

1989 – Bayfront Park and 3,128 finishers.

1990 – 3,556 participants.

1991 – The bank tightens their belt and closes their Miami office – the Corporate Challenge leaves Miami.  Local sponsors American Bankers Insurance Group and Baptist Health South Florida step up to support the re-made Corporate Run and keep the popular event alive.  The course length was changed to the standard road race distance of 5K (3.1 miles) and with our hometown support, we grew to 5,212 participants.

1992 – 7,252 participants finish the Corporate Run held in May.  Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida in August of this year affecting many companies, including the event’s title sponsor – American Banker’s Insurance Group – their headquarters in South Miami-Dade is virtually destroyed.

1993 – Office Depot comes on board and begins a six-year term as the title sponsor.  Miami Corporate Run grows to 8,512 finishers.

1994 – A new course going into the Port of Miami greets 11,667 participants.  Ronnie Hollassie of Calder Race Track is the men’s overall winner and starts his streak of consecutive wins that will last until he is beaten in 2002.

1995 – 14,188 participants.

1996 – 16,172 participants.

1997 – Record year for Miami with 20,015 participants

1998 – With Miami’s race bursting at the seams, Ft. Lauderdale is added to relieve the pressure on Miami’s roadways.  We have more people coming from Broward and Palm Beach counties to run the Ft. Lauderdale event than participate in any other race in their own county.  Ft. Lauderdale Corporate Run at Bubier Bark has 4,366 participants and Miami has 18,788 for a grand total of 23,154 Corporate Run participants.

1999 – Title sponsorship grows thin . . . tough times, but Miami event grows to 19,132 and Ft. Lauderdale to 4,743 giving us 23,875 overall participants.

2000 – Club Med comes on as the title sponsor and Xcelerate gains strong presence as our presenting sponsor.  Miami has 18,293 participants and Ft. Lauderdale draws 5,072.

2001 – Club Med and Xcelerate continue their sponsorship.  Ft. Lauderdale moves to New River Village because of construction at Bubier Park and draws record numbers: 5,632 participants.  Miami participants endure worst weather in event's history – non-stop rain throughout the event – but a second largest field of 19,848 participants.  Following the 2001 events: dot com trouble, slow economy and the 9/11 tragedies prevent Club Med and Xcelerate from continuing their sponsorships.

2002 – MOS Imaging Systems and Humana sign on as the event's new title and presenting sponsors, respectively.  The Ft. Lauderdale event moves to National Car Rental Center to make room for more participants, parking and team tent area and draws 6,068 from 209 companies.  At the Miami event, the 19,074 participants from 514 companies enjoyed sunny skies.

2003 – The MOS Imaging Systems Corporate Run draws 5,342 participants form 168 companies in Ft. Lauderdale.  Miami's event attracts 17,931 runners and walkers from 524 companies.  MOS ends its 2-year title sponsorship agreement.

2004 – The South Florida Mercedes-Benz Dealers sign on as title sponsor of the Corporate Run and give away a $30,00 car in a random drawing.  Miami celebrates its 20th annual event with record participation of 20,157 entrants representing 642 companies, and its year seven for Ft. Lauderdale with 5,227 entrants from 172 companies.

2005 – Mercedes-Benz Dealers is back as title sponsor with another $31K car to give away to a lucky participant.  Miami celebrates its 20th anniversary with 22,056 participants from 601 companies; Ft. Lauderdale runs its 8th annual attracting 172 local companies and 5,864 runners and walkers.  The first annual West Palm Beach race at the Meyer Amphitheater on Flagler Drive brings 1,089 participants from 51 companies.

2006 – Mercedes-Benz Dealers is back with another car to give away to a lucky participant.  The Miami Corporate Run is in its 21st year with 21,382 participants from 595 companies; Ft. Lauderdale runs its 9th year attracting 5,827 runners and walkers from 160 companies. The second annual West Palm Beach race at the Meyer Amphitheater brings 1,082 participants from 57 companies.

2007 – Mercedes-Benz Dealers again offer a free car to one lucky participant in each of the three races. The Miami race is in its 22nd year with 19,177 participants from 540 companies; Ft. Laudedale is in its 10th year with 5,313 people representing 142 companies. The West Palm Beach race attracted 1,154 participants from 48 companies.

2008 – Mercedes-Benz Dealers is title sponsor for the 2008 series.  The catering was provided by a new vendor this year; Game Plan Services, Inc. The choices are wider and more sophisticated than in the past. Miami was a great success with 20,506 participants from 569 companies. The Ft. Lauderdale race moved back to downtown to host 4,335 participants from 142 companies. The West Palm Beach race had 1,027 people from 44 companies 

2009 – Ahh success.......with participation slightly down due to the economy times. Our numbers were still very impressive, enough so that Active.Com, ranked us as the 3rd largest 5K in the country!!! More than 22,000 individuals from over 730 South Florida companies took part in the Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run Series. The Palm Beach Start/Finish line was moved one block west due to construction along Flagler Blvd. And runners in Miami had to be diverted when part of the course was mistakenly torn up by construction crews working overnight. All in all it was a challenging year, but the end result proved once again, the true spirit of community and its support for one another!