Empire State run-up (tues 1/3)--preview

above left --photo of Frank and I after 2007 finish (missing amy); photos of 2006;a photo of me finishing in 2006 from www.realendurance.com-haha, and last year's winner --courtesy of NYRRC. Unfortunately, cannot find my 2007 photos of Frank, amy, john and I!! They are gone from the computer.
Empire State Building Run-Up - 32nd Annual / Tuesday, February 3 / 10:30 a.m. / Empire State Building, New York City / Invitation only / S

From the NYRRC website:

Want to step up to a challenge? Test yourself up 86 flights of stairs in the Empire State Building Run-Up. A quick 1,576 steps will get you from the ground floor to the Observation Deck that looms nearly a quarter- mile above Fifth Avenue. Please note that this is an invitational race, with selections based on athletic ability and background.

This is an invitational race, with selections based on athletic ability and background. NYRR reserves the right to accept or reject entries as necessary to accommodate the narrowness of the the stairwell. Previous participation does not guarantee acceptance for 2009.
Course:
The Empire State Building, the most famous skyscraper in the world, was constructed on the site of the former Waldorf-Astoria hotel starting in 1930. "Opening Day" was celebrated on May 1, 1931.

Generally considered to be 102 stories high, the Empire State Building has 85 floors of commercial space, one flight to the Observation Deck, and a mooring mast structure that adds another 16 stories. In the Empire State Building Run-Up, participants climb 86 flights (1,576 steps) to finish on the Observation Deck. Although not the tallest building in the world since the 1970s, the Empire State Building remains highly esteemed for its power, majesty, and proportion.
Course Records

Paul Crake: 9:33 (2003)
Andrea Mayr: 11:23 (2006)
2008 Champions

Thomas Dold: 10:08
Suzy Walsham: 12:44


The 2009 Empire State run-up will take place on tues, Feb 3 (and it is supposed to snow but who cares?? We'll be indoors). This will be my 6th? time, and Frank's 3rd time? Last year, I took a break from the run-up (so did Frank-he was in India), as NYRRC does like to cycle in different people --in fact, I was a bit surprised that I got in this year. Our friend Amy, an elite master, is slated to run this year but she is injured --she usually comes in 1, 2 or 3.. It is tough but short! Of all of the events that I compete in, I get the most nervous before this -I am naturally an endurance runner and my body wants to start out slowly.. I get more nervous here than before a 50 miler, as know it will be suffering! My times range from a PR of 14:38 (4th woman overall--1998??) to a 16:38 --some years just fighting a cold and can't breathe or just tired (in 1996 I ran the run-up 3 days after the Kurt Steiner 50K --talk about different muscles)...the only training I ever do is some stairmaster work at the gym, and some hilly races --so at 10:30 the women line up (the men go in 2 waves about 10 minutes later) and when the gun goes off we jostle for position and sprint up the first few stairs --then the breathing gets hard and the quads start to ache. If I am having a bad day, women pass me... -30,40,50, 60 landings --water is provided and some running is involved in between ladings (thank goodness)- at about floor 70, the first man usually passes me -these men are amazing --they run the 86 steps in about 10 minutes -they bound 2 steps at a time and pull up on the handrails. The Aussie climbers train by running up sanddunes! Finally, the end is in sight --at floor 86, the climbers run outside to finish --the cold air feels great for a few minutes. After the air starts to get cold again, it's time to go down for coffee and treats (provided for reporters, who love this competition).