PAFC tower run attracts over 200 contestants

Over 200 runners challenged themselves to ascend 116 floors, 3,201 stair steps and 541 meters of the Ping An Finance Center (PAFC) during the 2022 PAFC International Vertical Marathon Masters on Saturday. Liu Zhisen, a contestant from Longgang District, won the gold medal in the men’s elite-category race with a time of 19 minutes and 47 seconds. Li Anna, who took part in the race for the first time, was the first to climb to the top of the tower in the women’s elite-category race with a time of 24 minutes and 43 seconds. PAFC is Shenzhen’s highest skyscraper. 

(From L) Christopher M. Weed from the U.S., Dmytro Terekhno from Ukraine and Ignacio Blanco from Spain show their medals after finishing the 2022 PAFC Vertical Marathon Masters on Saturday. Photos by Sun Yuchen

The entrance of the 2022 PAFC International Vertical Marathon Masters. The Ping An Finance Center (PAFC) is Shenzhen’s highest skyscraper. 

Liu Zhisen, a contestant from Longgang District who won the gold medal in the men’s elite-category race with a time of 19 minutes and 47 seconds, crosses the starting line.

Liu Zhisen, a contestant from Longgang District who won the gold medal in the men’s elite-category race with a time of 19 minutes and 47 seconds, reaches the finishing line.

Li Anna, who took part in the race for the first time, is about to cross the finishing line. Li was the first to climb to the top of the tower in the women’s elite-category race with a time of 24 minutes and 43 seconds.

Li Anna (2nd from L) and Liu Zhisen (2nd from R) celebrate at the awards ceremony Saturday.

The top six winners pose for a group photo at the awards ceremony Saturday.

 An expat contestant from Pakistan shows his medal after finishing the 2022 PAFC Vertical Marathon Masters on Saturday.

Hugo Larrede (L) and Juliane Niravong from France pose for a photo after finishing the 2022 PAFC Vertical Marathon Masters on Saturday.

A volunteer helps a runner loosen up her muscles after the 2022 PAFC Vertical Marathon Masters on Saturday.

A volunteer escorts Liu Zhisen, the gold medal winner in the men’s elite-category race, while he took a walk after finishing the 2022 PAFC Vertical Marathon Masters on Saturday.