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More than 400 participants to climb 86 flights in iconic New York City building; 34th edition powered by MMRF
NEW YORK – (January 24, 2011) – Defending champion Thomas Dold of Germany looks to become the first person to win six titles when he headlines the field at the 34th Empire State Building Run-Up powered by MMRF on Tuesday, February 1, it was announced by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.
Dold, 25, who has won the last five Empire State Building Run-Ups, is currently tied with Australian great Paul Crake (1999-2003) and Al Waquie
of the United States (1983-87) for most victories in this
signature race on the NYRR calendar. The Empire State Building
Run-Up will test the limits of some 400 competitors from around the
world as they race up 86 flights – 1,576 steps – to the outdoor
observation deck of the world’s most famous office building
and the tallest building in New York City. In 2010, Dold
crossed the finish line in 10 minutes, 16 seconds, while Melissa Moon of New Zealand finished in 13:13. Moon will not return to defend her title.
“As extreme sports
continue to grow in popularity, NYRR is excited to continue
with our own extreme event, the Empire State Building Run-Up
Powered by MMRF,” said Wittenberg. “This iconic building is the
perfect venue for runners from all over the world looking to
capture their love of running and their love of New York City in one
day.”
Dold is a standout in the
sport of professional tower climbing, with a lengthy list of
victories around the globe, his own website and several
sponsors. Topping the World Cup rankings of the Tower Running
circuit, Dold is up against tough competition from others near the top
of the rankings, including Americans Jesse Berg, 38, of Chicago, IL, and Tim Van Orden, 42, of Bennington, VT.
“The Empire State
Building is such an incredible building,” said Dold. “And to
take part in a run that has a history longer than I’ve been
alive, that’s always something special.”
Three-time women’s champion (2007-09) Suzy Walsham,
37, of Sydney, Australia, returns (after missing last year,
when she was pregnant) with a chance of equaling the women’s
race record of four wins, currently held by Cindy Harris, 42, of Indianapolis. Harris will be one of her leading challengers.
Crake, of Australia,
holds the course record at 9:33, which he ran in 2003 to win
his fifth consecutive Run-Up. Crake, whose course record is
three minutes faster than Gary Muhrcke‘s winning time in the
inaugural 1978 race (12:33), was paralyzed in a tragic cycling
accident in 2006, the same year that Andrea Mayr of Austria set the women’s record of 11:23.
This year, the Empire State Building Run-Up will also feature a charity race for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
Approximately 100 participants will run for charity in the
day’s first race, which will start at 8:00am. The preliminary
race will start at 9:00am, followed by the ESB Brokers’ Challenge race at 9:30am and the Team for Kids race
at 9:40am. The women’s invitational race will begin at 10:30am and
will be followed by the men’s invitational heats at 10:35 and
10:40am.
Soaring 1,454 feet above
Midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building is the “World’s
Most Famous Office Building.” The skyscraper’s robust
broadcasting technology supports all major television and FM radio
stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State
Building was named America’s favorite building in a poll
conducted by the American Institute of Architects. The Empire
State Building Observatory is one of the world’s most beloved
attractions and is the region’s #1 tourist destination. For
more information on the Empire State Building, visit: www.esbnyc.com, www.facebook.com/EmpireStateBuilding or @ESBObservatory
For more information, go to: www.nyrr.org
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