Vertical marathons: Race to the top

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More than 200 competitors raced to the top of the 108-meter high Kerry Center in Beijing's CBD during the 2018 Beijing Kerry Center Vertical Marathon Challenge on Saturday morning.

He Liangliang led the pack with a time of three minutes and seven seconds, meaning the 34-year-old climbed one floor roughly every six seconds.

The first recorded known vertical marathon took place in 1905 as racers scaled France's Eiffel Tower. Also known as tower running, the sport has gained popularity in China's modern cities, which have an abundance of shiny new skyscrapers.

Photo courtesy of the 2018 Beijing Kerry Center Vertical Marathon Challenge

Compared to traditional marathons, vertical marathons provide a much shorter completion time. The fastest time to reach the top of Shanghai Tower, the world's second tallest building and the site of the highest vertical marathon, was under 18 minutes.

However, vertical marathons have the same intensity as their horizontal counterparts, as gravity and rhythm play a vital role. “The best strategy is climbing in uniform motion,” competitors He and Gong Yao agreed.

“You should use the handle, holding it and powering your body. Then coordinate your hands and feet as you climb; you will go faster,” He told CGTN, explaining his technique.

When asked if the short course could be too easy, He, the winner of the men's group, said, “The shorter the course, the higher the intensity. So, it's difficult to say which course is easier to complete.” Furthermore, the stifling air inside the enclosed stairwell stands in stark contrast to the fresh air outside.

People in costumes participate in the funny vertical marathon event to raise money for charity, Seoul, South Korea, November 11, 2018. /VCG Photo

Financial professional Gong, who finished seventh in the women's group, emphasized the importance of consistent practice. “I practiced climbing 30 floors, three times per day before the match. That's nearly 100 floors in total every day,” Gong said. Runners in traditional marathons tend only to run a full course (around 42 kilometers) once a month.

While outdoor marathoners take off from the starting line simultaneously, vertical marathons employ a different tactic. The competitors are split into groups. Each group starts a few minutes after the next, and each runner within the group starts a few seconds after his competitor. This keeps runners from clogging the narrow staircase on the way to the top.

Due to the various designs of high-rises, the courses will not always be straight, and many times they become flat between flights. Therefore, the cadence of the race changes, which provides a break in the monotony experienced in traditional marathons, and gives vertical runners the chance to adjust or catch a breath.

Runner accepts medical treatment during the 2017 Shanghai Tower International Vertical Marathon event, Shanghai, China, November 26, 2017. /VCG Photo

Similar to traditional marathons, results are recorded by chips attached to the number slips worn by each runner, and there's a medical examination before the race. To avoid cheating – such as someone taking an elevator or substituting for another runner midway through the race – and in the case of a runner being unable to continue, a staff member is positioned on every floor to supervise.

As urbanization deepens, people living in metropolises are farther and farther away from nature. On a clear day, when you complete a vertical marathon and stand on top of the city, the panorama will be worth the pain. In a polluted area, vertical marathons may be one of the only ways to experience a marathon in the middle of a concrete jungle – the other would be the treadmill and good imagination.

Video Editor: Li Chenqi, Lan Haowei

Cinematographer: Wang Yue, Deng Kai, Li Chenqi