On Sunday, the day of the Nottingham Post Corporate Challenge finally arrived for the Nottingham Means Business team. After months of strict training and mental preparation, the team were finally ready to tackle the half and mini marathon.
Team Nottingham Means Business outside the Nottingham Post Corporate Challenge tent before the start of the race.
This year Nottingham Means Business supported the Nottingham Post Corporate Challenge and fielded a team representing NMB, Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, DNLCC, Experience Nottinghamshire, Nottingham City Business Club and Cartwright Communications.
Simon Gray, David Bishop, Jonathan English, Gaynor England, Ceila Morris, Jayne Francis-Ward, Paul Brown and Amy Macdonald ran to support CityCare, the leading provider of NHS community services in Nottingham.
For Amy taking part in the half marathon was a last minute affair, after stepping in to run as a replacement for Nick McDonald who was injured just a few days before.
Amy had this to say about her experience:
“I felt extremely under prepared! When I entered the Victoria Embankment, I was overwhelmed – the noise of the crowd and the sheer size of the event was enough to blow me away and make me want to run home, rather than take on the half marathon. Until the Friday prior to the race, I was expecting to spend a leisurely Sunday with friends and family, eating food and relaxing – a lifetime away from the reality I faced as I stood at the starting line, preparing to run 13.1 miles through Nottingham.
The whole experience was a spectacular blur, I was in such a state of nervous excitement that by the time I realised what I was doing, I had already ran the first ten miles. Although the race was physically draining, it was without a doubt the spectacle of the event that left me drained – in the best possible way. It was a fantastic day that I would have never experienced if it wasn’t for Simon, chief executive of Nottingham Means Business, inviting me to join his team or my MD Liz, who encouraged me to represent Cartwright Communications and take one for the team!”
Gaynor England commented:
“Thanks for roping me in. Although I was ‘a reluctant entrant’ at first I had a brilliant day and loved the atmosphere! So much so I have enlisted my colleagues Annette and Sarah to join me in taking part in the half marathon next year!”
Jayne Francis-Ward added:
“I had a brilliant time. I really enjoyed the experience and I’ve started training for next year, when I’m aiming to do the half marathon. I mean business!”
In total the Nottingham Means Business team raised £270 for Nottingham CityCare – the chosen charity of Nottingham Means Business founder Jim Taylor, who sadly died earlier this year.
Here’s the official time for Nottingham Means Business team from Sweatshop.
A big congratulations to Shoosmiths who won the Corporate Challenge. Here’s the list of final results.