The Rondo 1 Run Up, one of the most important tower running races in the world, will be held in Warsaw’s Rondo 1 skyscraper on March 9.

The race is classified as a Master Race in the Towerrunning World Cup calendar, which includes 19 races around the world where participants run up the stairs of tall buildings.
Every year it attracts amateurs and professionals from around Europe.

Several top runners have competed in the race in the past, including the runner-up of the 2012 Towerrunning World Cup and the 2012 European Championship bronze medalist.

This year’s elite group comprises last year’s winners, Italian Fabio Ruga and Pole Anna Ficner, who completed the race in 3:39.53 and 5:08.59 respectively. The runner-up, in the women’s race, Cristina Bonacina from Italy, and the second runner-up in the men’s race, Victor Novotny from the Czech Republic, will also participate in the race. Polish runner Piotr Łobodziński, who came in fourth in the 2012 race, wants to improve his result this year.

As usual, there will also be a team of 24 Warsaw firefighters who will run up the stairs fully equipped with fire uniforms, heavy helmets, masks and air tanks.

All proceeds from the Rondo 1 Run Up entry fees will go to SOS Children’s Villages, a charity which provides homes and family-based care for orphans and abandoned children. The race will be sponsored by CBRE, the building’s exclusive leasing agent.

Karolina Kowalska