The ABP Southampton Team with Run Verity and training for the Southampton Marathon
As one of Southampton’s leading businesses helping generate billions of value for the local economy and supporting thousands of jobs, ABP Southampton is delighted to sponsor the Southampton Marathon in its ninth year.
The team at ABP have been working with Rees Leisure, the race organisers, to deliver a well-rounded community running event. The event with five races – full marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K and a family fun run – makes it accessible to all.
The races start and finish at Southampton Guildhall. The route includes landmarks across the City from Southampton Bargate, the infamous Itchen Bridge, Southampton Football Stadium, Riverside Park and Southampton Common.
With sustainability in mind, the event will not provide water in plastic bottles but in cardboard water containers instead. There is also an area for runners to donate their old running trainers and hoodies.
The race is on Sunday 7th, April, and we look forward to welcoming runners locally and further afield.
Chris Rees, Rees Leisure, said: “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with ABP. The Southampton Marathon is increasing year on year. Last year, we had 9000 runners, and this year, we are expecting more.”
Alastair Welch, ABP Southampton Regional Director, said: “We are proud to be part of the local community and, therefore, delighted to continue our support of the Southampton Marathon event. It is important that we make a meaningful and positive difference in our local community, and I am delighted that money raised through the sponsorship of runners will help important causes across the UK. Our own staff will be taking part in the race and raise money for our charity of the year – ANDYSMANCLUB.”
Members of the ABP Southampton Team are training with Run Verity to ensure they are fully prepared for the event in April. Run Verity is a local organisation that has worked with staff at ABP for several years to train them specifically for the Southampton Marathon event. The running group is a great way to engage employees and encourage them to train collectively.
Verity Wright, Run Verity Founder, said: “We really enjoy engaging with the staff at ABP and can see them progress quickly in our 12-week programme. With two running groups – couch to 5K and hills and sprints - the idea of the programmes are to build confidence in running ability and have some fun at the same time.”
ABP’s ongoing sponsorship of the Southampton Marathon is a key part of the ABP series, a programme of support for mass participation wellness events close to its port locations in 2024. These include Cleethorpes (near ABP’s Port of Grimsby), Newport, Cardiff, and Ipswich. Events which are open to all, and include two marathons, four half-marathons, three 10K runs and two 5K runs.
