Running events 2024: Pepperl+Fuchs Berlin and Bühl take part

Things were pretty sporty at Pepperl+Fuchs in May, with not just one but two running events. Colleagues from the Berlin and Bühl locations literally put their best foot forward, lacing up their running shoes to prove what they could do. The runners took to the starting line with a healthy dose of team spirit and a positive attitude.

Colleagues from Pepperl+Fuchs participated in the relay race organized by water utility Berliner Wasserbetriebe in Berlin on May 14 of this year. Twenty-five committed runners from Pepperl+Fuchs entered, divided into five teams. Colleagues from the Pepperl+Fuchs affiliate Witt Sensoric GmbH joined in for the first time as well. Their team was named the “Wittsbolde,” a pun on the company’s name and the German word for a joker or wit. “We had a great time running together,” says Thomas Depping Pinto, who works in development at Witt. “We all got the chance to get to know each other better.” The 5 x 5 km race through Berlin’s famed Tiergarten park started at 6:30 p.m.

“The atmosphere throughout the event was really cheerful and happy. You could really feel the anticipation and team spirit even during the warmups,” says Tracy Van der Veken, an assistant in Pepperl+Fuchs Berlin. The trend continued during the event, with participants cheering each other on, further boosting the mood.

Group photo of the Pepperl+Fuchs runners at the relay race in Berlin. They are standing on a green meadow and some trees can be seen behind them. Three of them raise the relays. They wear the white Pepperl+Fuchs running shirts. — *It’s about to start! The anticipation is great.*

The colleagues achieved excellent results among the 1,700 registered teams that participated in the Tuesday evening event. The “Lightbusters” team were particularly impressive, crossing the finish line in 200^th place, with an excellent time. The fun continued after the run. The colleagues lingered well into the late evening, talking and enjoying their time together.

Running events: From Berlin to the Black Forest

But Berlin wasn’t the only place to host a run. The first AOK company run in Bühl was held at the Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark sports complex on May 15. A total of 676 runners took part, including six colleagues from the Pepperl+Fuchs location in Bühl. As part of the “Running for ALL” initiative, runners were invited to choose between a 5.5-kilometer course and a 3.5-kilometer barrier-free course.

Group photo of the Pepperl+Fuchs runners at the company run in Bühl. They are on a sports field, three of them standing, the other three kneeling in front of them. They wear the white Pepperl+Fuchs running shirts. — *Running together: Full of energy, our colleagues started in Bühl at 6 p.m.*

Right on time at 6 p.m., the participants took off through the fields of Bühl. Benjamin, Application Engineering & Proposal Support, finished in 37^th place, making him the fastest runner on the Pepperl+Fuchs athletic team. The men’s team came in 22^nd in the team rankings.

“In spite of the cloudy skies, the mood was great, and every single runner really gave their all in the final stretch, as they were cheered on by their colleagues. The run was a big hit for us!” says process engineer Denis Reck. The runners moved on to the after-run party right afterward, enjoying music, tasty food, and drinks. Participants were joined by family and friends for the rest of the evening.