6,511 participants, 81 companies. One finish Line.

Those numbers represent more than race registrations. They reflect a growing movement among Pittsburgh employers who are using the Corporate Challenge to build healthier and more connected workplaces. And in 2026, more Pittsburgh companies participated than ever before.

Here’s what the program is, why it works, and why your company should be part of it for next year’s marathon weekend.

What Is The Corporate Challenge?

 

The Corporate Challenge is P3R’s official workplace wellness and participation program, connecting companies across the Pittsburgh region through experiences with running and fitness activities. The program gives employers a simple, structured way to get their teams moving, build internal community, and represent their brand during one of Pittsburgh’s biggest weekends of the year.

Here’s how it works. Companies can register through P3R’s Corporate Challenge Google Form or contact corporatechallenge@p3r.org. Once registered, they will then receive discounted registration codes to distribute across their organization. Employees can then choose the event that fits them best, whether that is the 5k, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, or Full Marathon. Participants will then run under their company, contributing to their organization’s overall participation numbers while building something bigger than a personal finish time.

What separates the Corporate Challenge from a typical race entry is the structure behind it. It gives companies a real, tangible wellness goal to rally around, one that connects colleagues across teams, departments, and offices who may never cross paths in a normal workday. The result is a program that lives well beyond marathon weekend and turns a single weekend into a year-round culture builder.

A Program Built for Every Employee

 

The Corporate Challenge is intentionally designed to meet employees wherever they are in their fitness journey. From the 5K, to the Half Marathon, to the Marathon Relay, and to the Full Marathon, there is an event option for every comfort level and athletic ability. First-time participants can sign up for the 5K and feel just as much a part of the team as a colleague running all 26.2 marathon miles.

Jessie Aerts, a member of Deloitte’s internal Marathon Weekend planning committee, has experienced it all firsthand. “The Corporate Challenge gives us a shared goal that brings people together beyond day-to-day work: joining training runs, staying connected, motivating each other, and celebrating together while sharing stories and making lasting memories,” said Aerts. With 92 participants in 2026 and five consecutive years in the Corporate Challenge program, Deloitte is a prime example of what happens when a company fully commits to the program. 

(Jessie Aerts poses while competing in a marathon)

What starts as a race registration quickly becomes something much more. Colleagues connect across teams, training becomes a shared routine, and by the time marathon weekend arrives, the Corporate Challenge has already done its job of bringing people together in a way that most workplace initiatives never do.

Why Companies Keep Coming Back

 

Signing up for the Corporate Challenge is more than just getting your employees to the starting line. It is an investment in your company’s culture, wellness, and visibility all at once. When employees train together, motivation spreads. Colleagues who share a fitness goal start showing up for each other in ways that extend well beyond training.

“It builds real community at work, organizing and participating in training runs, motivating each other, and celebrating together. It’s an easy way to meet new people across teams and offices and make additional connections through shared workouts, group challenges, and social platforms like Strava” said Aerts.

According to Aerts, the impact goes beyond internal culture too. The Corporate Challenge gives companies public presence on one of Pittsburgh’s biggest stages.  

“We continue to participate year after year because it aligns with what we’re trying to build internally and represent externally: strengthening Deloitte brand awareness, demonstrating commitment to the community, and amplifying shared values.”

(Jessie Aerts at a community running event)

Record Breaking Growth in 2026

 

The growth of the Corporate Challenge in 2026 speaks for itself. Total participation jumped from 4,647 in 2025 to 6,511 in 2026, a 40% increase year over year, with 81 companies represented across the finish line. Some of the biggest names led the charge with UPMC bringing 1,677 employees, while first-time companies like DICK’S Sporting Goods (332 employees) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (33 employees) showed just how quickly companies can make an impact in their Corporate Challenge debut.

Ready to Join the Challenge?

 

The Corporate Challenge is more than a race entry. It is a framework for building a healthier, more connected workplace that gives your employees a shared goal, a supportive community, and an experience worth talking about long after marathon weekend is over. As Aerts put it, “The race-weekend energy makes the experience feel energizing and welcoming, and worth coming back for.”

Ready to join the Corporate Challenge Program? You can take the first step for your organization by filling out P3R's Corporate Challenge Google Form or by contacting corporatechallenge@p3r.org. We'll guide you through the process and help you embark on a journey towards a healthier, happier workforce.

We look forward to partnering with you and your organization to create a workplace that celebrates health, wellness, and achievement. Together, we'll conquer the challenges, one race at a time.

About P3R

P3R is the region’s go-to premier sporting event and experience expert. While best known for the annual DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, P3R organizes up to 20 major events every year. With a rich history of working with top-tier clients such as the Pittsburgh Steelers, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the National Senior Games, and more, P3R brings operational excellence to every aspect of event planning and execution. As part of P3R’s non-profit mission to inspire any and all to MOVE with us, we provide premium event experiences and robust programming - including the Run for a Reason Charity Program, award-winning Kids of STEEL program, Pittsburgh Corporate Challenge, RUN Varsity, and more - that engage everyone in the Western Pennsylvania community and beyond.