Imagine racing up many flights of stairs, your heart pounding as you ascend a towering skyscraper. Welcome to the thrilling world of tower running, also known as run ups. Unlike traditional marathons on flat tracks, tower running involves climbing skyscraper stairs. Competitors start at the base and ascend to the top, tackling hundreds or thousands of steps, testing their speed, endurance and willpower.
The physical demands of run ups are substantial, as stair climbing constitutes a prolonged, weight-bearing exercise. This activity places a significant strain on the body, burning up to four times the calories compared to regular running. It requires strong cardiorespiratory function for efficient oxygen exchange and supply, as well as considerable lower limb strength. Run ups challenge the leg muscles and core more intensely and put significant pressure on the knees and ankles, increasing the risk of sports injuries.
Therefore, safety is a top priority at these events, leading organizers to enforce strict regulations. All participants must pass pre-race checks of their balance and vital signs. Failure to meet any standard results in disqualification to ensure the safety of participants. During the race, a professional medical team is on standby, monitoring the most stressed physiological functions—heart, lungs, and muscles—to address any emergencies that may arise.
Photo: Freepik / 照片：Freepik提供
Globally, several well-known run up events capture the interest of athletes and enthusiasts alike. Notable races include the Empire State Building Run-Up in New York, the Taipei 101 Run Up and the Sydney Tower Stair Challenge. These events are not only athletic competitions but also platforms for participants to challenge themselves and achieve personal milestones. Whether motivated by a quest for a thrill or a desire to test personal limits, participating in a run up offers a unique experience of conquering skyscrapers and stretching one’s physical capabilities.
想像一下，在摩天大樓中飛快地跑上樓梯，你的心臟隨著向上攀升而怦怦跳。歡迎來到刺激的大樓登高賽，也被稱為垂直馬拉松。與傳統的平地馬拉松不同，大樓登高需要爬摩天大樓的樓梯。參賽者從底部開始，攀登到頂部，克服數百甚至數千階的樓梯，考驗他們的速度、耐力和意志力。
間的負重運動。這對身體是很大的負荷，消耗的熱量也是一般跑步的四倍之多。需要有效的心肺功能來做氧氣交換和供應，還需要強大的下肢力量。垂直馬拉松更加考驗腿部肌肉和核心力量，爬樓梯的過程中對膝蓋和腳踝的壓力也非常大，增加了運動傷害的風險。
因此，安全是比賽的首要考量因素，垂直馬拉松的組織者通常會制定嚴謹的比賽規定。所有參賽者必須通過賽前的平衡功能和生命徵象檢查。為了確保有良好的健康狀況，只要任何一項不符合標準都會被取消參賽資格。比賽過程中，會有專業的醫療團隊隨時待命，注意選手消耗最劇烈的心臟、肺臟、肌肉功能，以應對可能發生的任何危急事件。
全球有許多著名的垂直馬拉松賽事吸引了運動員和愛好者的關注，如紐約的帝國大廈登高賽、臺北 101 垂直馬拉松和澳洲雪梨塔登高賽。這些賽事不僅是體育競技的展現，也是參賽者展現自我挑戰精神和達成個人里程碑的舞台。無論是出於尋求刺激，還是想要挑戰個人極限的渴望，垂直馬拉松都能為你帶來征服高樓快感的體驗並擴展自己的體能。
MORE INFORMATION
cardiorespiratory adj. 心肺的
disqualification n. 取消資格
physiological adj. 生理（學）的
Sydney n. 雪梨
KEY VOCABULARY
1. skyscraper n. 摩天大樓
The new skyscraper added a modern touch to the old city, blending the past with the future.
這座新摩天大樓為這座老城市增添了現代感，將過去與未來融合。
2. tackle v. 對付；處理
The boss called a meeting so that we could discuss how best to tackle the problem.
老闆召開一場會議以便我們能討論如何最有效地處理這項問題。
3. endurance n. 耐力
Long-distance runners need to have great endurance to complete a marathon.
長跑選手需要擁有極強的耐力才能完成馬拉松賽事。
4. constitute vt. 被視為；被看作
The company only achieved 0.5 percent growth this quarter, which constituted a failure in the CEO’s eyes.
這間公司本季只達到 0.5% 的成長，在執行長眼中這被視為是一項失敗。
5. strain n. 壓力；負擔
Joan was feeling the strain from having to work two jobs to make ends meet.
瓊得兼兩份工以打平開銷，她感到很有壓力。
6. calorie n. 卡路里；卡（熱量單位）
This ice cream has 250 calories in each serving, so don’t eat too much.
這種冰淇淋每份有 250 卡的熱量，所以不要吃太多。
7. priority n. 優先權；優先（考慮的事）
When riding on public transport, you should give elderly people, pregnant women and those with disabilities priority when it comes to seating.
當搭乘大眾運輸工具時，你應該給予年長者、懷孕的女人，以及殘障人士座位的優先權。
8. milestone n. 里程碑；重要事件
The launch of the new product line was a milestone for the startup, indicating its growth and expansion.
新產品線的推出對這家新創企業來說是一個里程碑，象徵著其成長和擴張。
9. capability n. 能力；才能
The man’s capability to understand language has been severely damaged by the accident.
這名男子的語言理解能力因那場事故而嚴重受損。
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