One of the most difficult endurance races in the world is the race up to the top of skyscrapers, yet the number of people trying their hand keeps rising. At the 44th Empire State Building Run-Up 374 runners competed to reach the top first.

The Empire State Building held the 44th annual Run-Up on Friday, that saw 374 runners from around the world raced up the 1,576 stairs to reach the finish line on the building’s iconic 86th Floor Observatory.

There was no change in the winners in both the categories, men and women, as winners of 2021 race retained their titles. Soh Wai Ching of Malaysia took the top spot in the Men’s Elite category with a time of 10:44, finishing before Ryoji Watanabe of Japan and Fabio Ruga of Italy. This is the 28-year-old’s second consecutive win at this event.

“I’m so happy to be here to compete again. This is my second win, and I improved my time. I hope to be back again next year and to improve my time again,” said Wai Ching, after bagging the title.

Cindy Harris of Indianapolis in the United States finished first in the Women’s Elite heat with a time of 13:56, ahead of Shari Klarfeld of Plainview, New York and Maria Elisa La Pez Pimentel of Mexico. This was Harris’ 24th Run-Up and sixth win. This year, she beat her 2021 time of 14:01.

“I feel really good and very fortunate to be doing this so long. Running this race means a lot, especially this competition because this one was very close,” said Harris.

“Catfish” host Nev Schulman ran in this year’s Celebrity heat. Other heats in the race featured commercial real estate brokers, Empire State Building tenants, and members of the media.

“We are inspired each year by the athletes from all over the world who train and take part in this ultimate test of endurance. A big congratulations to all who came to the “World’s Most Famous Building” to participate in the Empire State Building Run-Up,” said Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory.

Turkish Airlines, Turkiye’s national flag carrier, returned for its fourth year as the Run-Up’s presenting sponsor. After the race, the Empire State Building’s world-famous tower lights shined in red and white to celebrate the 44th annual Run-Up.

Challenged Athletes Foundation was the ESBRU official charity partner with a designated heat for challenged athletes and CAF supporters to raise funds in support of people with physical challenges and their access to sports. CAF athlete Anthony Smith, an Iraq war veteran with an arm amputation, finished the race with a time of 56:05.