Expect another ribbon of humanity down Columbus Drive on May 24 when the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge returns to Chicago for its 37th annual running.

Memorial Day is the unofficial kickoff to summer, and there’s one event in Chicago that has become synonymous with that long weekend. 

It's the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge® in Chicago, and registration is now available for the 37th annual edition.

Scheduled for Thursday, May 24 at Grant Park, the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge will attract a capacity crowd of over 27,000 runners and walkers from more than 600 companies. Registration is $52 per entrant and each must be part of a company team. Registration will close when capacity is reached or Thursday, April 19, whichever occurs first.

And, based on recent history, capacity will be reached.

The 2017 race in Grant Park featured 27,175 entrants from 620 companies, the largest single-night Corporate Challenge ever held in the United States. The only Corporate Challenge city in the world – and there are 13 of them in seven countries to boast larger crowds is Frankfurt. The German city holds the all-time attendance record with 73,719 entrants on June 11, 2008. 

Due to that popularity, Chicagoland businesses are encouraged to begin their registration early and finalize their rosters as soon as possible to guarantee their full allotment of spots. The Corporate Challenge has already logged 170 off-season requests for entries from first-time participating companies and accommodating all requests will be difficult.

Companies can enter a minimum of four employees and, if you plan quickly, there is no maximum. The Corporate Challenge welcomes businesses of all sizes and industries, and is an all-inclusive event with highly-competitive racers, weekend joggers and first-time walkers. 

Businesses also have the option to turn their participation in the Corporate Challenge into a true team-building experience by reserving hospitality space in Grant Park.  With an impressive selection of tent sizes and catering options available, over 300 companies can be accommodated in this program. But hospitality also sells out and reservations are first-come, first-serve. Contact Chicago.Hospitality@jpmorganchasecc.com for any support with your registration or hospitality reservations.

The 10 largest companies in terms of entries were: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (962 entrants); CDW (417); Capital One (368); United Airlines (356); TransUnion (334); Morningstar (300); Molex (297); Wintrust Financial (250); Citadel (245); Crate & Barrel (235).

Deloitte (men), GCM Grosvenor (women) and The Northern Trust Company (mixed) were the first-place teams last May and earned the right to compete in the 2018 J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Championship, to be held June 21 in Boston.