German man wins Empire State Building race again

A German runner has won an annual race up 86 flights of stairs at the Empire State Building for a record seventh straight time.

Stuttgart resident Thomas Dold completed the Empire State Building Run-Up yesterday in 10 minutes and 28 seconds.

"Well, the good thing is that I've done better than all the others," said the 27-year-old Dold, who completed his last three run-ups in 10 minutes and 10 seconds or less.

He said he didn't know why the finish was "so exhausting" this year because he's "really fit" and compares training techniques with other runners.

Two other men have won the race five times since it began in 1978: American Al Waquie from 1983-87 and Australian Paul Crake from 1999-2003. Crake remains the record holder with a time of 9 minutes and 33 seconds but has not competed since suffering a devastating bicycle accident in 2006.

Melissa Moon, of Wellington, New Zealand, was this year's women's winner in 12 minutes and 39 seconds. The 42-year-old Moon also won the race in 2010.

Athletes from around the world took part in the grueling trek from the lobby to the observation deck, floor by floor, up 1,576 steps.