German runner Thomas Dold yesterday won the 2008 Taipei 101 Run Up — an annual event that attracts world-class runners and jogging enthusiasts — and claimed the grand prize of NT$200,000.
More than 2,500 competitors, including professional runners, corporate teams and individuals, joined the challenge to climb 2,046 steps — 390m up 91 floors — in the fourth Taipei 101 Run Up to compete for cash prizes totaling NT$1 million. Dold, who also took part in last year’s competition, defeated the defending champion Italian Marco De Gasperi to win the title in the Men’s Elite Group with a time of 10 minutes 53 seconds. Taiwan’s Chen Fu-tsai (陳福財) came in third.
In the women’s event, Lee Hsiao-yu (李筱瑜), of Taiwan, won in 14 minutes and 53 seconds. Chien Pei-yu came second with 16 minutes and 14 seconds while Italian Cristina Bonacina finished third.
PHOTO: AFP
Other than professional runners, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Stephen Young and Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General Yeh Ching-chuan (葉金川) also participated in the race.
Young and his wife, Barbara Finamore, who took part in the race for the third consecutive year, said that they enjoyed it.
“My wife and I are planning to climb Yushan [玉山] this summer so this is a good practice for us,” Young said.
Yushan is the tallest peak in Taiwan, towering 3,952m above sea level.
Young said after the race that he was a bit more tired than last year, as he had just come back from the US and was still jet lagged.
“But I feel that this year it was not that hot as before in the staircase and I will definitely join the race again next year,” he said.
Taipei 101 Manager Harace Lin (林鴻明) said the race is not only a health event, but also meaningful.
“This year we will donate all registration fees, less the insurance premium, to charity groups helping disadvantaged children living in remote areas,” he said.
The Taipei 101 Run Up was held for the first time in November 2005 not only as a stair climbing competition in the world’s tallest building, but also as a way to encourage Taiwanese to exercise.
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