Research by ASICS found two thirds (67%) of respondents were missing the chance to compete with others.
Half of those surveyed reported a negative impact to their mental health because of being disconnected from teammates and 61% said having a virtual event would boost their motivation.
Running until November 22, the Ekiden challenge involves teams of six covering a combined total distance of 42km.
Teams decide how they split up the distance, meaning both novice runners and seasoned pros can get involved.
The newly-created ASICS Race Roster app logs their efforts and the Runkeeper app has also been created to help with training.
A beginner runner herself, Yoon is set to take part with five other ASICS executives in her team.
She said the challenge has encouraged her to run for the first time – another positive impact for employees when it comes to protecting their mental health during the pandemic.
“It has given us an ability and the tools to reconnect with our employees,” she said.
“It’s encouraged us to participate and also build a lot of energy and excitement around working together as a team.”
Launched globally for anyone to participate, the Ekiden aims to foster a worldwide approach to corporate challenges.
While many workers in Australia are beginning a gradual return to the office, countries across Europe face continued lockdowns.
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