Plexus gearing up for Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Run

31 May 2017

Employees at Aberdeen-based oil and gas engineering and service business Plexus Ocean Systems are gearing up for the first Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Run Business Challenge on Sunday 27th August.

Eight members of staff with varying degrees of running experience, have signed up for the 10km, and are in hard training to ensure they are as well prepared as possible for the big event, which is expected to attract huge numbers of participants.

Executive Assistant Simmone Davidson is one of the driving forces behind the Plexus team. She said: “Plexus is part of the Healthy Working Lives scheme, which involves an annual plan of activities to encourage all of our staff to make positive lifestyle choices to improve their physical and mental health.

“During the downturn in the oil and gas industry we have tried to include a number of activities that raise morale and bring the team together.“Organising a team to run the 10k challenge is part of our annual activity plan and this combines with our fundraising and support for the company nominated charity VSA.“We have a very mixed group of runners - two are experienced regular runners and the rest are complete novices up for a challenge!

“The team training has now developed an element of competitiveness, particularly with the men in the group, and some small bets may have been made.“We are all looking forward to the day - and hope the event is a great success for everyone, particularly those that have supported it being held in Aberdeen.”

HR Lead Clarinda Muir is also excited about the prospect of tackling her first 10km as part of the Plexus team.

She said: “As a company we are always looking for new challenges, especially where we can be involved as a team. Personally, I am very much a novice at running but I’m keen to take up the challenge. I haven’t started preparing seriously yet, but I do have a training plan. 10km will be the furthest I have ever run.

“We will be training together as a group and are organising running clubs once a week after work. This is a great way of keeping each other motivated and it should be good fun.

“It’s also good that we will be doing this for a local charity. The whole company workforce was asked to choose a charity and VSA was the preferred one.

“I’m really looking forward to the whole experience of doing the race and being able to run the whole way. It’s fantastic we have this event in Aberdeen.”

The other team members are John Donald (Material handling supervisor), Fiona Cowie, (Equipment and logistics supervisor), Paul Lussier, (Financial reporting manager), Jordan Guild (Material handler), Ellie Sorrie (HR Administrator) and Brent Harrald (Engineering manager).

The inaugural Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Run will be staged on Sunday 27 August and will include a 10K and half marathon distance. Companies of all sizes in the city’s business sector are encouraged to sign up and battle it out on Union Street later this year.

With two distances to choose from, companies can enter male, female or mixed teams to compete for the trophy awarded to the fastest small, medium and large businesses across the categories, with the added bonus of encouraging the team members to stay fit and healthy, as well as the opportunity to raise money for local charities.

There are a number of different prize categories and all businesses that enter 12 or more people into the event will receive a free engraved plaque to present to their fastest runner.

The event partners, Aberdeen Inspired and the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, are supporting the Business Challenge initiative.

Russell Borthwick, chief executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: “We’re calling on as many businesses as possible across the North-east to get their trainers on and get running to raise money for worthy causes across our region.

“This is a great team-building exercise and we’re delighted that our own team of Chamber runners will be taking part this year, encouraging as many members as possible to take part in the Business Challenge.

“The Great Aberdeen Run will be a fantastic event for the city region, bringing thousands of visitors into the city centre. We’re proud to be a part of it and wish everyone competing the best of luck.”

Entries to the Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Run Business Challenge are now open, for more information to register a team visit greatrun.org/Aberdeen

The Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Run will be delivered in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, Aberdeen Inspired and Visit Aberdeenshire.