Well over 13,000 runners will barrel through north Buffalo on Thursday evening as part of the 32nd Corporate Challenge, Western New York’s biggest road race that’s open to full-time members of the local workforce.

Setting off at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, runners from 450 companies will depart from the Amherst Street and Nottingham Terrace before cruising west on Amherst to Delaware, then descending down Delaware and back. The route is 3.5 miles in its entirety, and it will certainly work up a thirst for the post-race party held in Delaware Park near the ring road.

[See Don Nieman’s photo gallery from the 2011 Corporate Challenge]

Tops Friendly Markets, the Buffalo School District, Kaleida Health, Catholic Health and First Niagara Bank lead the way in the “most participating runners” category, all with over 250 taking part. Proceeds from the race benefit the American Red Cross, Greater Buffalo Chapter. 

Representatives from JP Morgan Chase & Co. encourage runners to park for free in Buffalo State College lots M and L (see image below from BuffaloState.edu), and a free shuttle service will take runners to the starting line from 4 to 6:15 p.m. and also back to their vehicles post-race from 8:30 to 10 p.m.

In terms of road closings, here’s a map of the streets closed between 5 and 8 p.m.:

(Header photo courtesy of Don Nieman from last year’s race)