The third Varso Tower Run broke records and supported a good cause
1,400 stairs. That was the challenge awaiting 700 runners at Varso Tower during the recent Varso Tower Run, a tower-running competition we carry out in the tallest building in the EU. The event has become a well-established tradition that sports enthusiasts from Warsaw and abroad could sign up for for the third time.
Tower running is a discipline that tests runners’ limits around the world. Varso Tower has joined the elite club of prestigious destinations, such as the Empire State Building in New York or the Shard in London, where tower runs are held every year. Both the men’s and women’s records have been broken this year, showing that the unique building can always push athletes to new heights.
Over 50 floors in under 7 and 9 minutes
The competition is open for both elite and recreational runners. In the professional category, Ryoji Watanabe from Japan, the current vice-champion in tower running, was the fastest to reach the roof of Varso Tower. He conquered 53 floors in 6 minutes and 44 seconds and beat his own record from last year by 1.5 seconds. What’s more, Ryoji overtook the world champion in tower running and the world number one, Wai Ching Soh from Malaysia, who also participated in the run.
The fastest woman to cross the finish line 230 meters above the ground was Klaudia Krajewska from Poland. She reached the top floor in 8 minutes and 43 seconds, which was more than a half minute quicker than the record she broke, held by Yuko Tateishi from Japan.
From working to running: the open category
Hundreds of people who work from the Varso Tower offices every day didn’t miss the chance to change their oxfords and heels for running shoes, and took part in the race in the open category that excludes elite athletes. The fastest recreational runners were Bartek Parkasiewicz and Dominika Ostrowska.
Even though Marcel Sedlak, the CEO of our Investment organisation, doesn’t work from the Varso Place complex every day, he also joined the race, supporting five colleagues from our Polish team at the starting line.
A long-run for a better future
Every year, the Varso Tower Run supports local charities through the HB Reavis Foundation. After the third edition, a cheque for EUR 11,700 was handed to Polish Humanitarian Action. This wouldn’t be possible without the patrons and sponsors of the event.
A special thank you goes to:
– the honorary patron of the race, Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw
– the strategic sponsor of the event, Bank Pekao S.A.
– the sponsors: CMS law firm, PZU Zdrowie
– event partners: Magnicity Warsaw, NYX Hotel Warsaw, CIC Warsaw and Zdrofit fitness clubs
