from Tash - Empire State Building Run Up - 5th Feb

I did it! It turned out to be surreal experience not only as it involved climbing 1,576 steps inside this iconic building, but also because of the particularly colourful characters who also ran/climbed. For example, the mens winner holds the 1 mile world record for backwards running….5:46:59! The oldest female was 74 & looked like Barbie’s grandmother, stopping for a photo shoot before the finish line.

In the end it took me 16 mins & 4 secs & I was 15th lady.

If I had to rate the race Runners World style I would say:
Scenery: Grey stairwell….. not much variety in either step colour or gradient. Super steep.
Atmosphere: The most excitable bunch of people I’ve ever ran with.
Organisation: Excellent. Mary Wittenberg personally congratulated individuals at the top. The marshals on the stairwells were ESB employees & looked utterly bemused.
Value: Good value for money at $30 given they closed the entire ESB to tourists. Of course this doesn’t take into account flights, hotels & New York shopping..... yikes!
Beginner friendliness: Not friendly, in fact positively evil!
Once is enough, so would probably not do it again...... but Taipei 101..... maybe!