Finishing itself was a dream. I waited four years to enter with my grandson, but he couldn't get a ticket in the sign-up, so I had to go up alone.
At 1 p.m. on the 19th at Lotte World Tower in Jamsil, Seoul, Kim Yong-jin, 83, who was waiting at the starting line of the 8th SKY Run, said, "I've entered the vertical marathons at the 63 Building in Yeouido and POSCO Tower in Songdo, Incheon, but I haven't done SKY Run. I prepared by walking 30,000 steps a day." Kim is this year's oldest SKY Run participant.
SKY Run is an unusual sports event where participants challenge their limits by climbing to the 123rd floor, 555 meters, and a total of 2,917 steps at Lotte World Tower. Anyone, regardless of age or gender, can take part. Launched in 2017 and now in its eighth year, this year's SKY Run drew 2,200 people across the elite, general, and kids categories. It is hosted by Lotte Property and Development.
In his opening remarks, Lotte Property and Development CEO Chang Jae-hoon said, "The journey up to the 123rd floor has become more than a simple race; it has become a journey symbolizing the joy of surpassing one's own limits," adding, "Entry fees will be donated to help with the rehabilitation of children with disabilities." According to Lotte Property and Development, all entry fees will be donated to the development fund of the Bobath Children's Rehabilitation Center at the Lotte Medical Foundation. About 12,000 people have participated in total through last year.
This time, the elite category and the "Kids SKY Run" category were newly added. In the elite category, overseas elite athletes and past winners compete, while the Kids SKY Run is a race where a guardian and a child run together. Child runners racing with their parents wore light green bibs. Before the official start, participants taped their knees and did warm-up exercises near Arena Plaza at the starting point.
Im Dong-gyu, 45, said, "It's my first time this year, and my goal is to finish within 30 minutes," adding, "After signing up, I practiced by climbing the stairs at work every lunchtime." Im's spouse and children cheered, saying, "Go, Dad."
Participants in distinctive outfits were seen throughout the venue. Korea Coast Guard employees took part in their duty uniforms. One participant crossed the finish line wearing a dark gray suit and dress shoes. Wi Tae-sung, 44, said, "I got inspired after seeing runners in suits at other marathons and even went up last year's Signature 63 Run (the 63 Building vertical marathon) in a suit and dress shoes," adding, "It was tough from the start, but I'm happy I seem to have come in within my target time."
Some participants wore wearable robots. They were demonstrating the "Hypershell" product showcased by Lotte Shopping's e-commerce platform Lotte ON. Hypershell by VD Robotics is an AI wearable robot worn around the waist and legs that helps with walking and climbing stairs. It officially launched on Lotte ON this time. A Lotte ON representative said, "We took part to let people check on-site the product's characteristics that help enable efficient movement during exercise."
Participants from overseas stood out as well. According to Lotte Property and Development, vertical marathoners and influencers from 20 countries, including Japan, Spain, Taiwan, and Malaysia, took part this year. Patricia, 41, from Spain, said, "Climbing the stairs was really hard. But I'm happy now that I finished," adding, "I'm enjoying the experience itself rather than focusing on the time." Her partner Marc, 41, said, "We travel to running events around the world and enter various races. SKY Run is my second attempt after last year," adding, "We also plan to enter the Taipei 101 vertical marathon in a few weeks."
At 9:30 a.m., the elite category held an awards ceremony for first through third places for men and women. In both the men's and women's races, first place went to Japanese athletes. They received, along with medals, commemorative gold coins of 5.55 grams symbolizing the tower's 555-meter height.
In the men's category, Japan's Yoji Watanabe took first in 16 minutes, 8 seconds. An Bong-jun (17:17) and So Wei-ching (17:47) followed right behind. In the women's category, Japan's Yoko Tateishi reached the top in 21:19. Kim Bo-bae (22:31) and Park Da-jung (23:44) placed second and third, respectively.
Watanabe, 42, met just after the ceremony, said, "From the 100th floor, it was the critical point. I thought I might die like this," but added, "I was happy to be the first to reach the finish." Tateishi, 40, also said, "My target time was in the 21-minute range, and I'm disappointed I didn't hit it," but noted, "I want to be No. 1 in the world among vertical marathoners." Park Da-jung, 35, who took third again following 2023, said, "This is my fourth time just at SKY Run," adding, "I'm satisfied that I cut my time from the 25-minute range to the 23-minute range."