Today Holiday Inn, the official hotel provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, hosted a free running club with world championship gold medalist Mo Farah.
Starting and finishing at Holiday Inn London Regent's Park, the 5000 metres run was open to all running enthusiasts and fans of Britain's best track and field athlete. The first 250 runners that completed the run were rewarded with a free breakfast served outside the hotel.
The run was Mo Farah's last UK appearance in 2011 before he returned to the United States to train for the Olympic Games.
Mo Farah is on Holiday Inn's Athlete Engagement Programme which supports 50 emerging and established British athletes including Rebecca Adlington and Victoria Pendleton in their quest for medals by giving them over 1,500 free room nights.
Holiday Inn has given athletes free overnight stays at hotels around the world under the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) family of brands that include InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express in the lead up to London 2012. Athletes and their support teams can use the stays while they are training, competing or during rest and recovery.
In return for hotel rooms, participating athletes provide unique experiences for Holiday Inn staff and guests.
Farah said: ″As I spend a lot of nights away from home at track and field events around the world, it's great to have this support from Holiday Inn. It's really nice to have my coaching team and family with me when I'm away training or competing.
I've really enjoyed hosting this running club for Holiday Inn and it's been great to see so many Londoners turning out and taking part.″
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is a multinational company which operates several hotel brands.