NYC's Empire State Building Run-Up

Looking for an intense, but very "short" race? Consider New York City's Empire State Run-Up. One of the world's most popular tower climbs, the race starts in the lobby then heads directly to the narrow stairwell -- 86 flights to the top. The male and female winners of this year's race finished 10:08 and 12:44 respectively.

Racers say that it's mentally a tough race. The stairwell wasn't meant for large crowds and is only wide enough for two people at a time. As runners gain altitude, their ears start to pop. And of course, there's the whole climbing stairs thing, 1,576 to be exact. Whew!