RUNNING GERMANY: FRANKFURT – Fast times and 71,735 entrants mark 22nd Frankfurt Corporate Challenge

FRANKFURT, June 11, 2014 — Size has always mattered at the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge® in the German financial capital.

With 71,735 entrants representing 2,781 companies, tonight’s Corporate Challenge in Frankfurt becomes the largest road race in the world thus far in 2014, and the third largest in Frankfurt’s 22-year history.

But on this night, speed also was a watchword. And Tinka Uphoff had plenty of it. A record-breaking amount, in fact.

Uphoff — the 2013 Frankfurt women’s champion in 19:07 — did herself eight seconds better on this night and broke the 19-minute barrier over the 5.6-km race course. Her 18:59 is the fastest women’s time in the history of the Frankfurt race.

Running for Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (loosely translated as German Federal Financial Authority), Uphoff bested Anna Reuter of Volkswagen, who finished second in 20:15. Uphoff credited her superb effort to the runner’s high she maintained from last year’s victory.

“The adrenaline was still flowing,” Uphoff smiled, referencing back to the 2013 victory. “This is a very special race to win, with so many people. It is also a run for a great cause, as the (donation) to disabled athletes is wonderful. I will definitely return next year.”

Uphoff’s reference to the cause was specifically a donation of 258,000 Euro that was made by J.P. Morgan on behalf of all participants to German Sport Aid and German Handicapped Youth. Through the Corporate Challenge, J.P. Morgan has donated more than 1.75 million Euro to handicapped sports activities in the past eight years.

The men’s race was equally fleet of foot. Sebastian Reinwand and Joseph Katib, both of Memmert GmbH, staged a mano-a-mano race that ended with Reinwand edging his teammate by just two seconds, with a winning time of 16:24.

“The race started off really quickly, but after the first half I was side-by-side with my colleague,” Reinwand said. “We train together a lot — both before and after work, so we’re familiar with each other and our styles.”

Even while in the midst of a tight race, Reinwand took the time to enjoy the environment. The race is held on Frankfurt’s busiest city streets with the course going by dozens of skyscrapers with thousands of spectators on the sidewalks using noisemakers and confetti-shooters.

“I especially enjoyed the many spectators along the track and the wonderful atmosphere,” Reinwand said.

J.P. Morgan has owned and operated the Corporate Challenge in Frankfurt since 1993, beginning humbly with 527 entrants on a dirt race course along the River Main. It has now grown to an event that featured participants from 439 different towns and cities throughout Germany. It attracts top runners — witness Uphoff and Reinwand — and tens of thousands of others who are simply out to have a fun, camaraderie-filled night with their colleagues.

“Fantastic athletes, well-trained and with great enthusiasm for sports,” said Martin Wiesmann, Senior Country Officer for J.P. Morgan. “What a wonderful event! The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge is once again a great pleasure.”

For full results and much more information, please visit the Corporate Challenge’s German site.

The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Series returns to the United States next week for two events in Upstate New York — Syracuse on Tuesday, June 17, and Buffalo on Thursday, June 19.