On Wednesday, February 3, 2016, over 200 elite runners from around the globe—including mountaineer and Marmot Ambassador Athlete Sean Swarner and ultra-marathoner Joe Polwrek—will tackle the leg-numbing 39th Annual Empire State Building Run-Up. Presented by Marmot, this fitness feat will have athletes stepping foot on quite literally every step of one of the world's most iconic buildings.
To traverse the 86 floors of the Empire State Building, athletes will climb 1,576 steps. Now, while the rest of us can reach the building's Observatory in under a minute via elevator; the fastest runners can get from bottom to top in about 10 minutes. Only a select few have the opportunity to race after they've entered the invitational lottery.
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The race is broken up by heat:
Invitational Women’s Race: 8:00 p.m.
Invitational Men’s Race: 8:04 p.m.
Brokers’ Challenge: 8:08 p.m.
Media Race: 8:12 p.m.
CAF Race: 8:16 p.m.
Marmot Race: 8:40 p.m.
MMRF Race: 8:50 p.m.
Time Trials (Lottery Heat): 8:55 p.m. (one participant to be released every five seconds)
More Quick Facts:
- Distance climbed in the race (approximately one-fifth of a mile vertically): 1,050 feet
- Men’s course record, set by Paul Crake of Australia in 2003: 9:33
- Women’s course record, set by Andrea Mayr of Austria in 2006: 11:23
- Most race victories in Men’s Invitational, held by Thomas Dold of Germany (2006–11): 7
- Most race victories in Women’s Invitational, held by Suzy Walsham of Australia (2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015): 6
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Stay tuned for more coverage and our interview with Sean Swarner, a two-time cancer survivor who has climed Everest (and the rest of the Seven Summits) with only one functioning lung.
