The UKRunChat podcast.
How running is building a community at Wace Morgan
29m
What happens when a local business gets behind a running event, and its employees get involved?
In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, Michelle chats to Ben Hartshorne, Business Support Administrator at Wace Morgan, headline sponsors of the Wace Morgan Shrewsbury 5K & 10K 2026 and main sponsors of the Shrewsbury Half and Metric Half Marathon.
Ben explains how getting behind the Shrewsbury 5K and 10K has helped create a running culture within Wace Morgan, with colleagues training together, taking part in the races and even joining lunchtime running and strength sessions.
When the firm first got involved, around 20 members of staff took part. Since then, Ben has seen colleagues who had never run before become regular runners.
We chat about:
- What a big running event can bring to a town
- How running can contribute to workplace wellbeing
- How colleagues who weren't runners have been encouraged to give it a go
- Shropshire's fell-running community
- Ben's family history in the sport
- Training for a 50-mile challenge with around 10,000ft of climbing
Ben previously completed a Shropshire based 50-mile event in 2024, finishing in around 9½ hours. After the event was cancelled in 2025 because of severe weather, he's back for another attempt this year, with a sub-8:30 target in his sights.
This is a conversation about running, community, workplace wellbeing and finding your own place in the sport, whether that's a lunchtime 5K, a road race or 50 miles across the hills.
