The 2018 Eiffel Tower Vertical®: Tower running is trending!

These athletes travel all around the world to challenge themselves while climbing the stairs of some of the most famous buildings or monuments. Now, tower running has become a trending sport. This discipline is gathering more and more enthusiasts around one single objective: climbing stairs step by step (sometimes two or three steps in one stride) to reach the top as fast as they can.

Focus on this trend and its origins:

November 26th 1905*

Tower running was born on November 26th 1905, with the “Championnat de l’escalier” which gathered 277 competitors at the Eiffel Tower. The winner was a man named Forestier, who climbed the 729 steps between the parvis and the second floor in 3 minutes and 12 seconds.

266 tower running events ***

The Tower Running World Association is currently holding 266 official events all around the world. This number is also increasing each year.

2 international circuits

There are currently two international circuits: the Vertical Word Circuit and the Tower Running World Association. Both circuits are dominated by Piotr Lobodzinski in the Men category and Suzy Walsham in the women Category. They both won the three first editions of the Eiffel Tower Vertical®. It doesn’t get any better than that.

The longest tower running event in the world

This event happens in the city of Radebeul, Germany. During this ultra-marathon lasting a full 24 hours, the participants have to climb up and down the Spitzhaustreppe stairs 100 times, which corresponds to 8,848 meters of elevation and 39,700 steps.

The Eiffel Tower Vertical®

Set in a monument that is entirely open to the outside, the Eiffel Tower Vertical® is a unique tower running event. It offers a full ascent of the world’s most visited monument and lets the participants discover a portion of the tower that is still unknown to the public: the stairs between the second and third floors.

The Eiffel Tower Vertical® has been in existence since Friday, March 20th 2015. 61 athletes took part in this first edition.

The participants of the 2017 edition

19 countries represented - 41% of foreign athletes

Australia - Austria - Belgium - Canada - China - Colombia - Czech Republic - Denmark  - France - Germany - Italy - Mexico - Netherlands - Poland - Slovakia - Slovenia - Spain - United Kingdom - USA

29% of women / 71% of men

Average age: 33,5 years

List of the 2018 athletes:

Pre-registration for the 4th edition ended on November 10th with 735 candidates for 129 available tickets. The list will be announced on December 11th, during the press conference of the Eiffel Tower Vertical®.

Eiffel Tower Vertical® records:

In the Men category, the record is held by champion Piotr Lobodzinski, in 7’48’77. In the Women category, it’s Suzy Walsham who holds the record, in 9’34’75.

More information about the Eiffel Tower Vertical®:

About the Eiffel Tower Vertical® :

The Eiffel Tower Vertical® is the opening event of the EcoTrail de Paris®. The EcoTrail® is an international concept of nature running event opened to anyone and focused on eco-responsibility. EcoTrail® events are set in locations near large cities and their suburbs. The objective is to let as many people as possible (re)discover the natural and cultural heritage of urban areas.

* Source : www.Lesechos.fr

** Source : www.france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr

*** Source : www.towerrunning.com