The Empire State Building successfully hosted its 48th annual Run-Up on October 7, 2026, with NYU Langone Health as the presenting sponsor and Merrell as a supporting sponsor.
Key points
•Empire State Building hosts annual Run-Up
•NYU Langone Health and Merrell sponsor event
•200 runners compete up 1,576 stairs
More than 200 runners from around the world competed in several heats to climb the building's 1,576 stairs up to the iconic 86th Floor Observation Deck. The event was part of the building’s ongoing celebration of its anniversary and featured various categories including tenant employees, media members, and real estate brokers.
In the men's elite heat, Ryoji Watanabe from Japan won with a time of 11:18, followed by Wai Ching Soh from Malaysia in second place and Sproule Love from New York City in third. For the women's elite heat, Annemarie Wilhelm from Austria took first place with a time of 13:32, ahead of Yuko Tateishi from Japan and Anna Carlson from New York City.
NYU Langone Health, ranked No. 1 in the nation for healthcare by Vizient, Inc., has been a key partner in this event for two consecutive years. Merrell, a global leader in modern outdoor gear, supported the Run-Up as part of its 'It Starts Outside' campaign.
Photo: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.Photo: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.
