More Tech company needs at least 116,087 runners to bring largest multi-venue race record to U.S than any other day out of the year and a sports technology company hopes to capitalize on those numbers. Houston-based BSX Athletics is partnering with Turkey Trots across the nation in an effort to set a Guinness world record for the most participants in a multi-venue race.
The CA Notice at Collection DAA Industry Opt Out Things to Know About Gabby Thomas with 116,086 runners set in October 2010. BSX has 22 races on board with total finishers equaling 115,400, based on 2012 numbers. If the three races the company is courting sign on, total participants could exceed 140,000 runners.
If the group does secure the title, the official name of the record will be changed from "most participants in a racing event" to "most participants in a racing event (multiple venues) within 24 hours."
BSX originally planned to push for the record on Memorial Day, but there were too few races to pull from. Once they realized Thanksgiving Day was a road racing gold mine--in 2012, more than 835,000 runners finished a Turkey Trot--November 28 became the new target date.
BSX president Dustin Freckleton is confident of success, but says the real objective is to get more people off the couch and onto the roads.
“Bringing together all of these races, most of which are benefiting influential charities, feels like a fun and impactful way to make a difference,” he says.
As part of the Gobble Challenge, BSX provided participating races with an eight-week 5k training plan and planted the idea that “maybe, just maybe, the combined energy of tens of thousands of athletes each working to set a personal record could be used to achieve a world record.”
Races in states across the country, from Jersey to California, are participating, including the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot, one of the nation’s largest Thanksgiving Day road races with 24,000 runners. A full list of Gobble Challenge events can be found here.
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