be running up that hill....

[Gob]

she must have made a deal with god.

Australia's Suzy Walsham has won the annual race up the stairs of Empire State Building in New York for a record sixth time.



The 41-year-old Walsham raced up 86 flights of stairs in 12 minutes and 30 seconds on Wednesday night, adding the women's title to her successes in 2007, 08, 09, 13 and 14.

Hundreds of people signed up for the climb up 1576 steps to the 86th-floor observatory.

Former middle distance track star Walsham broke the record for most women's wins with her fifth victory last year.

The men's race was won by German runner Christian Riedel. The first-time winner came in at 10 minutes and 16 seconds.

The participants came from around the world and were led by the elite women's and men's groups.

The general field followed, with staggered, seconds-apart start times for racers to avoid a crush of people all trying to get into the stairwell at the same time.

Last year, Walsham won the women's event in 11 minutes and 57 seconds and Thorbjorn Ludvigsen, of Norway, won the men's race in 10 minutes and 6 seconds.

The course records are nine minutes and 33 seconds for the men, set by Australian Paul Crake in 2003, and 11 minutes and 23 seconds for the women, set by Austrian Andrea Mayr in 2006.

German Thomas Dold holds the record for most men's victories, with seven.

[Joe Guy]

I reached the top floor of Sears Tower (which is taller than the Empire State Building) faster than 12 minutes, 30 seconds.

[kristina]

Were you in the elevator?

[Joe Guy]

Yes. But I was running in place.

[kristina]

Yes. But I was running in place.

[Lord Jim]

Yes. But I was running in place.

Yes, but could you do it with a baby strapped to your back?

[rubato]

Do I give the baby a loaded gun ?


yrs,
rubato

[Lord Jim]

If I farted in the lobby of the elevator in The Sears Tower, I could be wrong on 108 different levels...

[MajGenl.Meade]

In the lobby? That's some strong fart!

[Lord Jim]

Okay, lobby floor of the elevator, Mr OCD...

[MajGenl.Meade]

It's a wonder you survived! The elevator should always have a floor - not just when it's at the lobby level. Sue!

[Sue U]

It's a wonder you survived! The elevator should always have a floor - not just when it's at the lobby level. Sue!

Why are you calling me? Do I look like an elevator mechanic?

[oldr_n_wsr]

Batter to call Otis

[kristina]

Batter to call Otis

Why does the batter have to call? Couldn't it be the pitcher?

[MajGenl.Meade]

Yeah, don't waffle!

[Guinevere]

Hmmmmmm, waffles. They may need to be on the Sunday brunch menu!

[Gob]

Battered Otis? Is that like an American version of deep fried Mars bars or something?

[MajGenl.Meade]

One of the two, at any rate.