NYRR Empire State Building Run-UpFebruary 3, 2009 [Story] [Video] [Results] |
| As a midwinter snowstorm swirled around the Empire State Building’s 102 stories, drama unfolded within the iconic site of the 32nd annual NYRR Empire State Building Run-Up. Both defending champions returned to the race this year and succeeded in defending their titles—Thomas Dold of Germany with a wire-to-wire run and Suzy Walsham of Australia after a fall at the start and a courageous rally in the late stages. Some 249 runners finished the Run-Up, an invitational event that has been on NYRR’s annual calendar since 1978. |
 The Broker Challenge, for Empire State Building brokers’ teams, started before the invitational heats. |
 Ladies first! The start of the women’s race was a flash of color and motion. |
 The men’s start was also a fast and furious dash to the stairwell entrance. |
 Cindy Harris of Indianapolis, a four-time winner, took third this year. |
 Michelle Blessing, who won the Run-Up in 1995, was 14th this year (15:41). |
 Women’s running pioneer and three-time Run-Up winner Nina Kuscsik, 70, finished in 24:57. |
 Rickey Gates of Boulder, CO, took third (10:49); he was the 2008 runner-up. |
 Piero Dettin of Venice, Italy, was the oldest male finisher at age 71. |
 John Legere, the CEO of Global Crossing, ran 16:49 and took ninth in the 50-59 age group. |
 Paul McNamara (right) and Richard Myers, both of Tennessee, finished the Preliminary Run-Up in 17:24. |
 Suzy Walsham of Australia overcame a bad fall at the start to win her third straight Run-Up. |
 Thomas Dold of Germany made it four Run-Ups in a row, and in his fastest time yet, 10:07. |
 A member of the New York City Fire Department team crossed the finish line amidst swirling snow. |
 A trio of top women finishers savored their accomplishments at the top. |
 Michele Rigamonti of Italy proved that his finisher’s medal is real. He ran 13:39. |
 Empire State Building General Manager Jim Connors (second from left) congratulated runner-up Marco De Gasperi of Italy (left). |
 Dyan Newberry, 60, of Los Angeles ran 21:45—presumably without her teammate. |
 Daniela Vassalli of Italy took second in the women’s race in a time of 13:40. |
 Jim Ochse of Allentown, PA, who won the Run-Up in 1980 (12:20) and 1982 (11:42), returned 26 years later and ran 16:18. |
 This 71-year-old Preliminary Run-Up finisher didn’t look fazed by his 1,576-step ascent. |
 Ginette Bedard, 75, a multiple age-group world record-holder, ran 24:19 to win her division. |
 Dwayne Fernandez, 23, of Australia, ran 26:12 with two prosthetic legs—and looked like it was a walk in the park! |
 Suzy Walsham got more than usual press attention for her heroic comeback victory after being nearly trampled at the start. |
 Thomas Dold becomes very attached to his Run-Up finish banners. He may have taken this one home with him. |
