High-res
Congrats to all runners of the 35th annual Empire State Building Run-Up!
(via Empire State Building Run-Up - Slide Show - NYTimes.com)
The best climbers take on the Empire State Building’s 1,576 steps two at a time, but they cannot pace themselves as they fight to create room and breathe consistently up the narrow, stuffy flights.
“I felt like my throat constricted early on, about Floor 6 or 7,” said Chrissie Wellington, 34, a four-time triathlon world champion.
Between the 20th and 30th floors, people fall into order as space widens and leg strength dissolves. Runners then primarily use the railings to pull themselves up.
“Your legs aren’t functioning, your throat is screaming, you can barely put your arms on the railing and you want to throw up — and you’ve got 10 to 15 floors to go,” said Van Orden, who has competed in the event five times.
