Group of athletes run up the Empire State Building's staircase

Climbing the stairs can be a daily challenge for many. But for a small group of elite athletes, it's their passion. The Empire State Building Run-Up, challenges runners to race up 86 flights of stairs, the first person up is crowned the winner. Smitha Rao was at this year's race and filed this report.

[@humbertsmith8864]

UPDATE: This event was stopped after reports of a fairly large gorilla on the upper decks.

[@WarrenMatthewsGolf]

I’m only here for Rickey

[@koreoprezzii]

OMGGG RICKYYYYY

[@Noo-Noo7950]

Imagine there was a fire and you had to go down all those stairs

[@user-fo7pl6uw9h]

It is hard try running 50-60 stairs in speed you will know