Empire State Building Run-Up

Yesterday, 249 runners raced up 86 floors to the Empire State Building observation deck in the annual New York Road Runners' Empire State Building Run-Up.

We've got photos of the action, courtesy of New York Road Runners.

Participants of all ages lined up at the starting line in the Empire State Building lobby -- including 75-year-old Ginette Bedard of Howard Beach and 71-year-old Piero Dettin of Italy.



The runners climbed 1,576 steps. Think about that next time you wimp out and take the elevator.



Thomas Dold of Germany was first across the finish line on the 86th floor of New York's most legendary skyscraper, with a time of just 10:07. “This is such a special win for me,” said Dold, who is one victory shy of tying five-time winners Al Waquie (1983-87) and Paul Crake (1999-2003) for the greatest number of Run-Up titles. “You have to train a lot to get a victory like this, and it gets harder every year—lots of guys want it.”

Suzy Walsham of Singapore overcame a nasty fall at the stairwell entrance to win the women's title with a time of 13:27. "I said to myself, I’m in pain, what should I do, do I stop or keep going? I decided I didn’t come all this way to just not run it..." Walsham explained.

Think it would be cool to race to the top of the Empire State Building next year? Better hit the stairclimber at the gym or join the New York Road Runners to start your training.