Runners put their legs and lungs to the test Wednesday night for the 40th Empire State Building Run-Up: a grueling challenge that asks competitors to climb 86 flights—or 1,576 stairs—up the famed New York City skyscraper.
Piotr Lobodzinski, 31, of Poland, won the men’s race in 10:31, which was 12 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. Suzy Waltham, 43, of Singapore, took the women’s race in 12:11.
The total vertical distance climbed in the Run-Up is approximately one-fifth of a mile. Both first-place finishers were slightly off from the Run-Up records: Paul Crake of Australia set the men’s record in 2003 with a time of 9:33, and Andrea Mayr of Austria claimed the women’s mark in 2006 with a time of 11:23.
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Download Your Training Plan Boston Marathon Amazing Runners World Show new fiancé, A Part of Hearst Digital Media rescued her. Sdoia and Materia finished together in 58:44, she with her prosthetic leg and he in his full firefighter gear.
Sdoia partnered with Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), which helps people with physical disabilities pursue fitness and athletics. CAF is one of the featured charities in the Empire State Building Run-Up.
Want to see exactly what it’s like to climb 86 flights of the Empire State Building? Watch the video below for a timelapse version that takes you all the way to the top.
Heather is the former food and nutrition editor for Runner’s World, the author of The Runner’s World Vegetarian Cookbook, and a nine-time marathoner with a best of 3:23. She’s also proud of her 19:40 5K and 5:33 mile. Heather is an RRCA certified run coach.
