As far as sporting events go, it’s a bit of a strange one.

But, as we all know, doing silly things for charity, or even just for fun is a very popular pastime, and Bangkok’s annual Vertical Marathon, held this year on 29th October, is no different.

Held each year at Banyan Tree Bangkok, the thousands of plucky contestants, from professional runners to amateurs, race up the 1,093 steps– that’s 61 storeys to you and me – from the ground floor lobby to the finishing point at the Vertigo Grill and Moon Bar – where hopefully the runners will be offered a light refreshment or two before they start the lengthy and no doubt much slower descent back to ground level!

All competitors are rewarded with an official marathon t-shirt and medal for going the entire distance, with proceeds from  all registration fees going to a Thai Red Cross initiative focusing on the HIV Formula Feeding Fund, to help supply the babies of HIV positive mothers with a special milk formula. Over the years many millions of Thai Baht, equating to almost US$100,000 have been donated to this very worthy cause.

Despite being a relatively short race in terms of time – the fastest runners can go from start to finish in well under 7 minutes! – there are a number of different categories that runners compete in – from young children to ‘veterans’ aged over 40 (their words not mine!), and even relays.

Once all runners have tackled the course, a prize presentation will go ahead where HRH Princess Soamsawali will hand out the awards for the fastest three in each category.

As one of Bangkok’s tallest and most visually impressive buildings, Banyan Tree Bangkok has been proudly hosting this event for the last 12 years, and lays on plenty of things to see and do for not just competitors and guests, but also sightseers and other attendees of the day’s festivities, with entertainment and music throughout the festivities keeping everyone amused.