The Empire State Building Hosts Annual Run-Up, Presented by Starbucks and Powered by the Challenged Athletes Foundation

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Empire State Building (ESB) hosted the 46^th Annual Empire State Building Run-Up, presented by Starbucks and powered by the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). In several designated heats, more than 650 runners from across the world raced up the building’s 1,576 stairs to reach the finish line on the iconic 86^th Floor Observatory.

“The race to the top of the Empire State Building, the world’s number one rated attraction, is a bucket list event and a significant achievement for athletes of all levels from around the globe,” said Tony Malkin, Chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust. “We congratulate all who participated in this ultimate test of endurance.”

Ryoji Watanabe of Japan took first place in the Men’s Elite heat with a time of 10:34, just before Wai Ching Soh of Malaysia in second place, and Fabio Ruga of Italy in third.

“This course was very hard, but I wanted to win,” said Watanabe. “I made it happen and I’m very happy.”

Monica Carl of Germany placed first in the Women’s Elite heat with a time of 13:30, ahead of Yuko Tateishi of Japan in second and Verena Schmitz of Germany in third.

“This is the oldest stair run and [ESB] is my favorite tower,” said Carl. “It was a big, big dream to win this race and now it’s come true.”

Other heats in the race included Empire State Building tenants, members of the media, and brokers from leading real estate firms.

Seattle-based coffee company Starbucks served for the first time as the presenting sponsor. The Empire State Building is home to the newest Starbucks Reserve® flagship store that covers three floors and 23,000 square feet.

CAF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increased access to sports and physical activity for people of all ages with permanent physical disabilities. CAF returned as the ESBRU’s official charity partner with a designated division that included athletes with permanent physical disabilities and CAF supporters who raised funds to empower lives through sport.

In the evening, the Empire State Building shined its world-famous tower lights in green to celebrate the 46^th annual Run-Up.

Hi-res imagery and video can be downloaded here.

More information about the Empire State Building Run-Up can be found online.

About the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building, the “World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience created an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102^nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86^th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop culture. The Empire State Building Observatory Experience welcomes millions of visitors each year and was declared the #1 Attraction in the World – and #1 Attraction in the U.S. for the third consecutive year – in Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do, "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, the world's most popular travel destination by Uber, and the #1 New York City attraction in Lonely Planet's Ultimate Travel List.

Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn and Shutterstock, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Weibo, YouTube, or TikTok.

Source: Empire State Realty Trust
Category: OBS

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241009957289/en/