Springs woman to compete in race inside Empire State Building
In the annual foot race up the 1,576 steps to the top of the Empire State Building, it's not the last floor that's the toughest, Colorado Springs real estate agent Michelle Blessing said.
It's the first.
Runners make a mad dash through the lobby to a narrow door where stairs climb 1,050 feet to the top of the skyscraper.
"It's the scrappiest, nastiest, elbow-throwing, pushing start to a race I've ever seen," she said.
The retired pro triathlete and Olympic coach should know. She's run the 86-story sprint four times, won it once, and is lining up again Tuesday for another taste of the pain.
"I've done Ironmans, I've done the Pikes Peak Marathon, but this is the most painful thing I've ever done," she said. "You go completely anaerobic and still have 60 floors to go. Your lungs just hurt."
Add to that a crowd of spectators made up entirely of office workers poking their heads through the stairwell doors at each floor and you have a very odd race.
Blessing decided to give it another go to help train for a marathon this spring.
Only 80 runners are selected. The winning times are around 10 minutes for men, 13 for women.
Building runners (yes, there are people who specialize in this kind of thing) come from all over the world for this race, held annually since 1978.
Blessing hasn't been back since she won in 1995. She hopes to finish in the top 10.
Her secret training weapon: She's been doing the Incline in Manitou Springs.
Contact the writer: 636-0223 or dave.philipps@gazette.com
