Changing room chat: Thomas Dold reaches seventh heaven

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

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

Melissa Moon, of Wellington, New Zealand, was this year’s women’s winner in 12 minutes and 39 seconds.

Athletes from around the world took part in the gruelling trek from the lobby to the observation deck, floor by floor, up 1,576 steps. Around 650 people registered for this year’s race.