Race you to the Top

running up the 900 steps to the 52nd floor

Benidorm’s Gran Hotel Bali, the tallest hotel in Europe is the scene of an unlikely sporting event this Saturday 20^th May. It’s the venue of the third annual race you to the top event which involves running up the 900 steps to the 52^nd floor – a distance of 200 agonising, vertical metres.

For anyone interested in taking part it’s free to enter and the fastest three competitors in the male and female categories will receive cash prizes and accommodation in the hotel’s luxury suites. Everybody else who finishes the course will get a certificate and a nice view of Benidorm as they gasp for air at the top!

Many specialist stair racers enter the event and past winners include Paul Crake, an Aussie who still holds the record for running up the stairs of the Empire State Building in New York and Spanish girl Yamilka Gonzaléz who did the Bali in 5 minutes 30 seconds!

16 May 2006 Stephen White.