AKRON—Goodyear employees are racing on rubber that only goes about five miles per hour.
And that's just fine with the company—it'll probably keep them healthy.
About 150 of the company's employees will participate in the Goodyear Half Marathon and 10K race on Aug. 15.
“Many of the Goodyear runners will be first-time road racers, participating through the company's ‘Couch to 10K' health and wellness program,” the company reports.
They'll have plenty of company, too. In addition to about 3,000 other runners who are expected to participate, Goodyear runners expect to bring about 250 of their coworkers, friends and family members, who are volunteering to staff the race's water stations and cheer zones.
The course winds through east Akron and Ellet; the races begin at 6:30 a.m. The starting line will be on Innovation Way, in front of Goodyear's global headquarters, and includes a lap around the test track at the company's normally restricted Akron Proving Grounds.
“When Goodyear signed on to be the sponsor of this race, we wanted our involvement to include our associates and their loved ones as a way to engage them in this feel-good, Akron community event,” said Alison White, director of community engagement for the tire maker.
“This is a terrific opportunity to welcome the community to our global headquarters and involve our associates and family members as runners and volunteers,” she added.
The company said the race has exceeded its expectations in terms of registration, with runners from 32 states signed up to participate.
Post-race festivities at Goodyear's headquarters will include a live band and an Akron's Best Food Festival featuring Swenson's Food Truck, Strickland's Frozen Custard, Eddie's Cheesesteaks, NORKA Beverage and other vendors.
The races come just before the 13th running of the Akron Marathon on Sept. 26, an event Goodyear also supports.