Our Varso Tower put runners to the test for the fifth time. All for a good cause
If you’re into running, chances are you’ve heard of Run Up. The competition attracts some of the world’s leading stair runners, and every year one of its races brings them to Warsaw and our very own Varso Tower, the tallest building in the European Union.
But you don’t have to be a professional athlete to take on its nearly 1,400 steps. The Varso Tower Run is open to the public, giving anyone up for the challenge a chance to make it all the way to the top.
And why not go the extra mile while we’re at it? Every year, we also turn the race into an opportunity to support something good through the HB Reavis Foundation. This time, we raised PLN 30,000 (around EUR 7,000) for children’s and young people’s mental health.
Over 800 amateur runners came to run – and to help
Events like this are exactly what we’ve always wanted our projects to make possible. We want them to be active parts of city life – places where things happen, where people come together and where we can make a positive contribution to the communities around us. And we believe sport is a great way to do just that.
This year, the race supported the UNAWEZA Foundation and its MŁODE GŁOWY (Young Heads) project, which focuses on mental health. The foundation invited content creator Dawid Koczur, better known online as Synek ze Śląska, to spread the word about the event and take on the challenge himself.
“I travelled here especially from Upper Silesia to run up the tallest building in the European Union. It was incredibly tough – I am completely exhausted and will probably go straight to sleep. But I am absolutely thrilled that I made it, that we are here and that we are running for such an important cause in support of the MŁODE GŁOWY project,” said Dawid.
He was joined by more than 800 amateur runners, who climbed just shy of 1,400 steps to the top of Varso Tower. Among them was a large group of employees from companies based at Varso Place – including, of course, our own HB Reavis team. Dominik Ciepiela and Małgorzata Hamera came out on top in the dedicated tenant category.
Almost 1,400 steps in under seven minutes
And what about the professionals? Fabio Ruga and Annemarie Wilhelm took the top spots in the fifth edition of the Varso Tower Run, with Ruga making it to the top in less than seven minutes.
The Italian athlete completed the 53-floor climb in just 6 minutes and 56 seconds, finishing ahead of Japan’s Ryoji Watanabe and Austria’s Klaus Hausleitner. It was Ruga’s first victory at Varso Tower after taking second place on his previous appearance.
“I really did not expect to win today, which makes me even happier. This was my second race at Varso Tower, and I will definitely be back,” commented the winner.
In the women’s race, Austria’s Annemarie Wilhelm claimed victory on her Varso Tower debut, reaching the finish line in 8 minutes and 35 seconds. Valentina Belotti of Italy and Poland’s Klaudia Krajewska completed the podium.
“It was a very tough race, but it is simply beautiful up here. Celebrating a victory with this view of Warsaw is an incredible experience,” shared Annemarie Wilhelm.
And whether it took seven minutes or considerably longer, everyone who made the 53-floor climb to the finish line on the Highline Warsaw terrace received a V-shaped medal to mark the achievement.
See you at the starting line
The Varso Tower Run was organised by HB Reavis Poland and Sport Evolution, with PZU Zdrowie and CMS as official sponsors. CTP, CIC Warsaw, NYX Hotel Warsaw, NIVEA and the Zdrofit fitness club network joined as race partners.
A big thank you to everyone who helped make the fifth edition happen – and, of course, to every runner who faced the challenge of running to the top of the tallest building in the EU.
