Bieg Firmowy - a virtual edition for almost 500 companies from all over Poland

Description

When all mass events were cancelled in 2020, we knew we could not let down the children supported by Fundacja Everest (the Everest Foundation), and that we had to deliver a solution that thousands of employees from all over Poland would be happy with.

That is why organizing Bieg Firmowy (the Corporate Run) together with the Activy app was a perfect choice. Participants did not have to gather in one place, and thanks to systems that check route accuracy, we were sure the results would be reliable.

On Saturday, 22 May 2020, 1,732 teams from 452 companies started the virtual relay. Each of the more than 10,000 runners covered a 5 km route. And we have been running like this every year since 😉.

Every year, thousands of participants, both runners and people who like to be active on their own terms, log in to the Activy app to track their progress, compare results with other teams and draw motivation from the company competition. The ongoing cooperation between Activy and Compani lets us optimize the whole process, from registration and tracking results to the final summary and announcing the winners.

See what the 2020 edition looked like

About Bieg Firmowy

Bieg Firmowy has been held regularly since 2013. The idea is to get company employees moving and to help those most in need. In 2020, because of the pandemic and the ban on mass events, we decided once again to organize a virtual event.

Working with Activy, we were sure the routes would be verified and that in the end we could present real results. Thanks to up-to-date rankings and team comparisons, participants could follow how their colleagues and other teams were doing in real time.

Preparations

2020 edition

Working together on a run for more than 10,000 employees from more than 450 companies from all over Poland was quite a challenge. Communication and good education of the runners were key. In virtual competitions, technology can always get in the way, especially with apps that use GPS.

We cannot give every participant the same phone or watch to make sure the distance is measured the same way. Terrain, cloud cover, equipment and many other factors affect how accurately a route is recorded.

That is why, before the official start, we ran several weeks of training sessions. Participants could test the app, adjust their phone settings or connect a sports watch to Activy, and choose a suitable route, so they were ready for the start.

Every company that registered a team received a unique code to join the app, so we were sure the right people were in the teams.

Some companies registered more than a dozen teams: 3M (95 teams); Credit Suisse (51 teams); Kaufland (46 teams); KRUK (36 teams); Credit Agricole Bank Polska (28 teams); ZF (27 teams); Europejski Fundusz Leasingowy (27 teams); Ofix Lewandowski (25 teams); UBS Business Solutions (21 teams); Capgemini Polska (21 teams); Publicon (20 teams); HPE Global Business Center (20 teams).

This year's edition of Bieg Firmowy turned out to be an extraordinary challenge for us. We are very happy that this year we broke the record for the number of participants, with more than 10,000 runners from several hundred companies.
The fact that so many employees took part in the virtual form of the run shows that employees have big hearts and are ready to help whatever the circumstances - Bieg Firmowy organizer

How the event works

Every year, Bieg Firmowy brings together well over ten thousand participants, who not only compete but also support a good cause: the proceeds from the event go to help the foundation's beneficiaries. Thanks to Activy and Compani, companies can involve their employees in a special challenge that combines healthy competition, team building and charity.

How does it work?
Registered participants have 24 hours to cover a distance of 5 kilometers. For a team's result to count, all of its members have to start. To make sure the recorded routes are fair, we introduced several safeguards.

If a participant paused during the run, for example ran 1 km, stopped, then ran another, the route was not recorded. Knowing that it sometimes takes a moment to start the app, put the phone away, then take it out and switch it off, we introduced an algorithm that calculated the fastest 5 kilometers. If a participant ran 5.2 km because they were looking for their phone in the last few meters to switch it off, only their best time over 5 km counts in the ranking.

Knowing that technology can sometimes fail, Activy support is available all weekend and solves any technical problems participants have. In addition, every hour employees received push notifications with the current results or a reminder to start.

The organizers of the Run provide information packs that can be collected in person or virtually. Before the start, participants can join a virtual warm-up, and at the end every participant receives a medal that was sent to their company in advance.

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Summary of the 2024 edition‍

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Thanks to smooth organization, flexibility and a great atmosphere, companies from many industries happily come back to Bieg Firmowy every year. Because people can join both in Wrocław and online, employees can take part in the event wherever they are. The cooperation between Activy and Compani lets us keep improving the format of the run, giving companies and their employees unforgettable sporting emotions.

If your company would like to join this special initiative and enjoy an unforgettable sporting adventure, we invite you to the next edition of Bieg Firmowy!

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