Race for Corporate Glory

Hundreds of Southern California business people will trade their pinstripes for racing stripes Sept. 17 as they participate in the Los Angeles running of the Manufacturers Hanover Corporate Challenge.

Teams of employees from businesses in 14 other cities, including London and Dublin, already have competed in a series of 3.5-mile races, leading up to the finals in New York this November. There, the top men’s, women’s and co-ed teams from each city will race down Park Avenue for corporate glory. (The last of the 16 city competitions will be in Atlanta on Sept. 24.)

Last year’s Corporate Challenge Series drew 58,000 runners representing 43% of the Fortune 500 companies, according to Manufacturers Hanover. Only 200 people from 50 companies attended the first Corporate Challenge race in New York in 1977. Los Angeles’ top 1985 men’s team, representing Rockwell International, finished first in the overall standings. The city’s top co-ed team, from TRW, finished second overall and the women’s team, from Northrop, finished 13th.

The Los Angeles race will be run in Griffith Park. Interested parties should jog to any Manufacturers Hanover office for more information.