Shanghai Tower Hosts Second Women's Vertical Marathon with Record Participation

This past Sunday, Shanghai Tower—standing as the tallest skyscraper in China—was the venue for the second Women's Vertical Marathon, which attracted around 800 female athletes from more than ten different countries and regions. Mei Xue, the general manager of Shanghai Tower Business Operation Co., who also participated in the race, emphasized that each step taken was a testament to pushing personal limits.

To address feedback from previous participants who felt that the 40-floor climb between floors 79 to 119 was too short, the organizers increased the challenge this year to 50 floors, running from floors 69 to 119, enhancing both the physical and mental aspects of the marathon. Introduced this year was the "Honey Team Challenge," where pairs—whether mothers and daughters, sisters, or close friends—could take on the vertical challenge together, fostering a sense of teamwork among participants.

Chinese athlete Xu Heping emerged victorious in the individual race, completing the climb in an impressive time of 9 minutes and 50 seconds. For the Honey Team Challenge, the duo of Ding Shali and Wu Binhui claimed first place with a combined time of 26 minutes and 51 seconds. Julie Rose Vilvandre, a French student enrolled at Shanghai Normal University, described the marathon as a "unique" and "inclusive" experience, appreciating its friendly and festive atmosphere that showcased Shanghai's welcoming nature to international participants.

The event was organized by Shanghai Tower and supported by the Samaranch Sports Development Foundation, along with the Lujiazui Administration of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.