The winner climbed Varso Tower's stairs in 6 minutes and 45 seconds
The second edition of Varso Tower Run attracted approx. 700 competitors who raced up the stairs to the roof of the tallest building in the European Union. The winner from Japan broke last year's route record by conquering the height of 230 meters in just 6 minutes and 45 seconds. The event's organizers supported the Polish Humanitarian Action, which received a donation of PLN 40,000.
53 floors, almost 1,400 steps and 230 meters above ground - that's how much every runner had to overcome on their way to the finish line twice as high as the observation deck of the Palace of Culture and Science. Approximately 700 runners have undertaken this unusual challenge, including almost 100 people who work in the building daily and their guests.
The participants included some of the best towerrunners in the world, including 7 of the 10 highest-ranked athletes in the Towerrunning World Association. Japanese runners were the fastest, with both the men's and women's win. In a record time of 6 minutes and 45 seconds, Ryoji Watanabe, the current number 2 in the world ranking, was the fastest to reach the top of Varso Tower.
Varso towerThis spring, I shed tears of regret in another race in Warsaw.
Now the Varso Tower Run result brought tears of joy. Warsaw is a wonderful place that arouses many emotions. Thank you to the fans and organizers. I am convinced that I will come back here to compete among many friends
– commented Ryoji Watanabe.
The leader of the ranking and currently the biggest star of world towerrunning, Wai Ching Soh, who was considered the favourite, had to settle for second place, less than 3 seconds behind Watanabe. Piotr Łobodziński took the third step of the podium. Last year's Varso Tower Run winner crossed the finish line with a time of 6:59, improving his result from 2022 by almost half a minute.
Among women, the absence of successful Polish representatives was taken advantage of by the Japanese, Yuko Tateishi, who won with a time of 9 minutes and 14 seconds. Kaisa Kukk, second at the finish line, was over 13 seconds behind her, and Klaudia Krajewska from Poland ran another 5 seconds slower.
Varso TowerIn recent months, I have been struggling with an injury and trying to return to regular training.
I was not expecting a great result, so 3rd place and only 5 seconds behind the 1st make me even more happy. It was also good to meet many stair climbing friends from all over Poland and test myself on the tallest building in the European Union
– commented Klaudia Krajewska.
Apart from sports rivalry, the race also had a charity dimension. During the decoration of the winners of the second edition of Varso Tower Run, a symbolic check for PLN 40,000 was handed over to the account of the Polish Humanitarian Action. The sponsor of the donation is the HB Reavis Polska Foundation.
The event was held under the honorary patronage of the Mayor of Warsaw. The sponsors include CMS, PZU Zdrowie, NYX Hotel Warsaw, CIC Warsaw and Zdrofit fitness clubs. More information, including full results, can be found at www.wbiegnijnavarso.pl.
Varso Tower is part of a mixed-use place developed by HB Reavis, which includes offices, a hotel, an innovation centre and retail with restaurants, cafes, shops, fitness club and medical centre.