Vertical Run - Bitexco Tower, Vietnam

See the Tuoi'tre news paper article on my race HERE 

Winner M 40-49 Age group category. 
See article about my run in the Tuoi Tre news HERE

 In was my first ever attempt at a vertical race.  My strategy was a negative split (second half faster than first half), the race is 49 floors. A staggered start format with 5 minute intervals meant competitiors set off in groups of 12 to 14 runners. Several guys went ahead as they leapt up the first few flights of stairs. From the very first step I maintained my ‘2 step stride’ strategy. I quickly got into my rhythm and didnt have to break it for the entire race. I passed the leaders of my group by the 9^th floor. The air was warm, dusty and dry in the stair well. At the 28^th floor we had to exit the stair well, run a ¾ lap around the outer office area and re-enter a second stair well. This was a difficult feature of the race as my legs felt like jelly when I tried to adapt to the flat ground.  I grabed a small drink as I ran by the support station before re-entering the stair well. As this was about the half way mark I pushed harder from here. I felt o.k at the 30th floor but quickly achieved what would have been maximum heart rate by the 40^th floor. The last 9 floors were a blur as I pushed even harder to the finish and even managed to run the last 40m or so from the exit of the stair well to the finish gate in the viewing gallery of the tower. Great fun, will definitely do another!

 Time: 6:59

Category Place:  1^st  (M 40-49)

Overall place: 20^th (of 494 runners)

For the record, world #1Thomas Dold of Germany won the Elite race in 4:51 sec.

Next race Singapore  20th Nov