Malaysian tower runner Soh Wai Ching won the Empire State Building Run-Up in New York today.

In just 10 min 49 sec, Soh Wai Ching, a Malaysian tower runner, manages to race to the 86th-floor observation deck. The Empire State Building Run-Up involves 1,576 steps. Around 200 runners from 24 countries took part in the event. This race is the world’s first and most famous tower race.

According to the organizer, tower-running sports athletes consider the ESBRU as the ultimate test of endurance. Turkish Airlines is one of the sponsors for the event.

Malaysian Soh Wai Ching won the men’s invitational while Cindy Harris from the U.S. won the women’s competition with 14 minutes. The winners even won open tickets by Turkish Airlines itself.

Marvel superhero Sebastian Stan, who played Bucky, supported the cause and joined in the run with his personal fitness trainer, Don Saladino.

The Winter Soldier also posted about Soh on his Instagram stories. He is delighted and impressed with Soh’s achievement.

The Empire State Building Run-Up (ESBRU) was first held in 1978.

It is the most known and the oldest stair race of its kind. Participants race up 1,576 steps, nearly a quarter-mile, to the Observatory deck on the 86th floor. The race is by invitation only. The New York Runners Club selects a limited number of runners from all applicants. Participants include regular NYC residents as well as a selection of runners from other various popular races.

The race begins in the lobby as a mass start in two waves. Women start first with a five-minute head start before men. The altitude difference is 303m.

Empire State Building Run-Up Brief Facts:

• The race climbs 1,050 feet, or approximately 1/5 mile.
• The 86 flights make up a total of 1,576 steps. Accumulatively, 18-19 steps per flight.
• Soaring 102 stories and 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building is the world’s most famous office building, and one of the tallest buildings in New York City.
• The Empire State Building opened to the public on May 1, 1931.
• Visitors reach the Observatory, on the 86th floor, by elevator in less than a minute.
• The first winners were Gary Muhrcke (12:33) and Marcy Schwamm (16:04) in 1978.
• The fastest record holder is Paul Crake from Australia, who reached the Observation Deck in 9 minutes, 33 seconds, in 2003. Andrea Mayr of Austria holds the women’s record of 11:23 in 2006.
• In 2012, Thomas Dold, of Germany won his seventh consecutive title. Runners Al Waquie of the United States and Paul Crake of Australia tied for second place with five wins each.
• In 2014, Suzy Walsham, of Australia became the first woman to win the competition for a fifth time.

(Source: Astro Awani, Baruch College NY)