Taipei 101 Run Up 2026 Draws More Than 5,000 Runners to One of the World’s Toughest Stair Races

May 11, 2026

Taipei 101 Run Up 2026 brought together more than 5,000 participants from 32 countries on May 9, as elite athletes and amateur runners tackled one of the world’s most challenging towerrunning races at Taipei 101.

Athlete at the race start. Image ©️ Taipei 101.

The fourth race of the WFGT Towerrunning Challenge 2026 was part of the Towerrunning 200 series, and sanctioned by the Towerrunning World Association. The event once again transformed Taiwan’s tallest skyscraper into an international vertical racing arena.

Until 2010, Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world, and it remains one of the most iconic skyscrapers globally, standing 508 meters tall in Taipei’s Xinyi district. The building’s 101 floors symbolize renewal and progress, representing the transition into a new century (100+1) and new beginnings with every year that follows.

Due to ongoing exterior renovations, this year’s finish line was moved indoors to the 88th floor. Competitors faced a demanding climb of 1,983 steps and more than 380 vertical meters to reach the finish line.

Race Results

🏆 Women’s Results

Tea Faber (CRO) 14:07
Annemarie Wilhelm (AUT) 14:14
Yuko Tateishi (JPN) 14:29
Hsiao Wen Ku (TPE) 14:30
Mei Tong Chen (TPE) 14:47
Jui Chuan Chao (TPE) 14:56

In the women’s race, Tea Faber of Croatia successfully defended her title, taking victory in 14:07 after another strong performance in Taipei. Austria’s Annemarie Wilhelm followed closely in 14:14, while Japan’s Yuko Tateishi completed the podium in 14:29.

🏆 Men’s Results

Ryoji Watanabe (JPN) 11:25
Fabio Ruga (ITA) 11:31
Mark Bourne (AUS) 11:37
Wai Ching Soh (MAS) 11:46
Ching Chun Lo (TPE) 11:57
Jeremie Boquillod (FRA) 12:07

The men’s race saw Japan’s Ryoji Watanabe take an impressive win in 11:25, ahead of Italy’s Fabio Ruga and Australia’s Mark Bourne in a tightly contested podium battle.

Among the standout performances was Malaysian star Soh Wai Ching, currently ranked world No. 1, who finished fourth in 11:46. Taiwanese athlete Lo Ching-chun delivered a personal best on home soil with 11:57.

Winners of the Taipei 101 Run Up 2026. Image ©️ Taipei 101.

A landmark towerrunning event in Taipei

The Taipei 101 Run Up 2026 once again confirmed its status as one of the world’s most demanding stair races, defined by its steep gradients, high altitude, and continuous vertical ascent.

Beyond elite competition, the event brought together more than 5,000 participants from 32 countries, including professional athletes, public figures, charity runners, and recreational participants. Each finisher received a commemorative medal and runner tag, with additional on-site recovery services such as sports massage and gait analysis available after the climb.

The event also maintained its strong charitable focus, with a portion of registration fees donated to organizations supporting children, community welfare, and sports development initiatives across Taiwan.

From start to finish, the race atmosphere combined high-performance sport with community participation inside one of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers.

Athlete at the Taipei 101 Run Up 2026 Race Start. Image ©️ Taipei 101.

What’s next in the WFGT Towerrunning Challenge

The WFGT Towerrunning Challenge 2026 now moves on to its fifth stop of the season at the UFO Bratislava in Slovakia on June 27.

An overview of the WFGT 2026 season so far:

🇪🇸 Mirador Torre Glòries, Barcelona – January 17 (completed)
🇪🇪 Tallinn TV Tower, Tallinn – March 29 (completed)
🇺🇸 Reunion Tower, Dallas – April 25 (completed)
🇹🇼 Taipei 101 – May 9(completed)
🇸🇰 UFO Tower, Bratislava – June 27
🇺🇸 Space Needle, Seattle – September 27
🇺🇸 Empire State Building, New York City – October 6
🇺🇸 Willis Tower, Chicago – November 1 (tbc)
🇷🇴 SkyTower Bucharest – November 14
🇨🇳 Shanghai Tower – November 21 (tbc)