2015 and 2016 Vertical Rush winner, Piotr Lobodzinski. ©iancorless.com
The second leg of the 2017 Vertical World Circuit heads for London with an incredible line-up of the world’s top skyscraper racers. They will join more than 1,000 participants in Shelter’s Vertical Rush on Tower 42 in London’s financial district, Thursday, March 9.
Hitting the heights of the 42 floors and 932 steps will be reigning VWC world champion Piotr Lobodzinski from Poland who won here in 2015 and 2016 with Lenka Svabikova from the Czech Republic.
“I’m looking forward to have good run in London on Thursday, second stage on the VWC 2017,” said Lobodzinski. “I’m feeling very well so expect to improve my best time in Tower 42 which is 4’12” set in 2015. The staircase in not very comfortable for me, the handrails are very low, but I’ll give it my best to win for the third time in a row!”
2015 and 2016 Vertical Rush winners, Lenka Svabikova and Piotr Lobodzinski. ©iancorless.com
Svabikova commented, “After a disappointing run in Dubai last weekend, I’m ready again and on my way to London full of power! It’s my third time here and I would like to win, get 100 points for the ranking and run my personal best, around 5’30.
“The staircase in Tower 42 is not easy, but it’s left hand which I prefer, so I’ll do my very best to repair my reputation and feelings!” The women’s standing record was set in 2012 by Australian Suzy Walsham in 5’01”.
Former VWC world champion and seven-times winner of the Empire State Building Run Up, Thomas Dold from Germany, after a two-year absence, is back in the sport. He is the standing race record holder here in 3’58”.
“I’m looking forward to my first tower run this year and the first international Run Up since 2015,” he said. “I will run as fast as I can but maybe not as fast as when I set the course record in 2012 in under 4 minutes.
“I’ll remind myself if you run faster, you’ll reach the finish line earlier and enjoy the beautiful view of London longer – something every runner will get at the top!”
Thomas Dold, former VWC Champion and Vertical Rush record holder
Top ranked international athletes will be competing for points in the 2017 Vertical World Circuit which unites ten iconic tower racing events across the globe. Five out of the ten races are counted in the final ranking.
Among the elite athletes on the start line tomorrow will be, from Italy, Emanuele Manzi, Cristina Bonacina, who won the race in 2011 and 2014, and Fabio Ruga. Ignacio Cardona from Spain is back, together with Moroccan Omar Bekkali. Look out for Dominika Wisnievska from Poland and Briton Mark Sims.
The event marks the tenth anniversary of Vertical Rush, the UK’s tallest, toughest tower-running challenge to raise funds for Shelter, the housing and homeless charity.
Tower 42, site of the Shelter Vertical Rush. ©iancorless.com
2017 Vertical World Circuit ranking
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