rburgunder :: Richard Burgunder – Professional Endurance Athlete

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Feb

2010 NYRR Empire State Building Run-Up

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For the fourth consecutive year, I had the honor to compete as an invited athlete in one of the most exhilarating athletic competitions in the world with some of the most diverse and well-trained athletes in the field. The 33rd annual NYRR Empire State Building Run-Up is one of the world’s premier tower races up a total of 1,576 steps to the Observatory deck on the 86th floor. The event is an invitation-only world class race attracting top athletes from 19 states and 17 different countries. I started in the Elite wave (runners seeded 1-99) and finished 61st among a field of 294 runners with a time of 14:46, a new PR.

The Empire State Building - 86 Floors and 1,576 Steps to the Observation Deck

It’s showtime!

Team MGD 64 Athlete

“I run on the road, long before I dance under the lights.” – Ali

Trevor Folgering getting some advice from superstar Thomas Dold. Trevor used to be a professional body builder too.

Tony brought out the big guns for the ESBRU

Elaine (USA), Thomas Dold (Germany) and Trevor Folgering (Canada)

A New ESBRU PR – 14:46

Tony, Mark and I Promoting MGD 64

Lower Manhattan from the Observation Deck

Upper Manhattan and the Chrysler Building from the Observation Deck

Thomas Dold, 25, of Germany won his fifth consecutive NYRR Empire State Building Run-Up today, tying Al Waquie of the United States (1983–87) and Paul Crake of Australia (1999–2003) for most victories in the 33-year history of this race up 86 flights (1,576 steps) to the observation deck of New York’s tallest building. Melissa Moon, 40, of New Zealand won the women’s race in her debut.

5x Empire State Building Run-Up World Champion Thomas Dold of Germany and I

The Overall Male and Female Award Winners:Men – Thomas Dold (Germany), Matthias Jahn (Germany) and Matthew Byrne (USA) Female – Melissa Moon (New Zealand), Gretchen Grindle Hurlbutt (New York) and Amy Fredericks (Connecticut) Photo by New York Road Runners© 2010

Thomas Dold (Germany) and Melissa Moon (New Zealand) – The Overall Champions

Mark and I celebrating

How high can we go? And this was after we ran 86 flights and 1, 576 stairs…

Elaine and I “Jumping”

In addition to the excitement of competing in the race, I had the opportunity to meet several very intriguing athletes from all around the world. Some really cool people that I met included Elaine, Trevor, Tim (aka “Running Raw”), the Germans and Patel. Elaine is an American endurance athlete who will be competing in the Comrades Marathon in South Africa and then three days later climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Trevor Folgering is a Canadian who’s a fitness professional, former pro body builder and also the current director of the Canadian Stair Climbing Association. Trevor hopes to implement an elite level stair climbing circuit throughout Canada that would attract extreme athletes from around the world. Tim Van Orden started “Running Raw”, a grand experiment in diet and athletic performance focusing on athletic performance athlete while eating a 100% raw vegan diet. Patel Devang is only 20 yeas old and ran an astonishing 14:26 in his first Empire State Building Run-Up. I also want to thank my ultrarunning friend, Mark Saxon, for being my VIP guest to this event and the designated photographer.