MMRF Endurance Events

THE RACE:

How long has the Empire State Building Run-Up been going on?
This is the 36th year of the Empire State Building Run-Up.  It is the third year that the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation has been the title sponsor and the benefitting charity.  It is the second year that the event has been at night.

When is the MMRF wave of the race?
This year’s race will take place on Wednesday, February 6 beginning at 8 PM.  The “Invitational Heat” which includes 20 of the fastest ‘tower champs” from around the world, will go at 8 PM sharp.  The MMRF Wave, consisting of 125 runners, will go at 8:15 PM.  You’ll need to come earlier to pick up your race packet and be ready to line up.    

What time do I have to come?
You will need to be in the building to pick up your race packet at 7PM sharp.  It’s a mad house with so many people in the lobby, so don’t be late! You’ll be picking up your race packet, stashing your stuff, lining up and getting ready to start the race.  Things move very fast and the race timeline is very prompt. No one will wait for you, so don’t miss the start!

What do I wear?
You absolutely MUST wear your MMRF PowerTeam technical jersey.  This will arrive to you by February 1.  We have a new MMRF technical jersey this year, so be sure to wear the 2013 edition!   If your shirt does not fit, let us know and we will swap it out.  Runners who don’t have their shirt have to start in the back.  This is our photo op!

It is warm in the stairway, so you’ll be fine in your shirt. Wear what you would wear to work out in a gym. If you like, you can wear another shirt underneath. You are only outside on the Observation Deck for 30 seconds... so don’t worry about that. You’ll actually think the cold feels great at that point!

Do I wear the team shirt to the party?
YES! You won’t be THAT sweaty. ☺ And even if you are, it’s a badge of honor to have your soiled battle gear on. We will be taking pictures with your medal and you’ll want the full effect. You can bring something to put on top and pants to put over your shorts, but be sure to keep your PowerTeam shirt on for the limelight!

How hot is it in the stairwell?
According to our resident expert, John Korff, the temperature is 65-68 F and the ambiance is stale and dusty.

How many steps? How many steps per landing?
There are 1,576 steps in the entire race, which make up 86 floors. You burst out of the stairway on the 86th floor and do a half loop around the ESB Observation Deck before you cross the finish line. There are 12-22 steps per flight. A few flights are circular. Most flights are 18 steps with 8.5 inches per step. Got all that?

Can I listen to earphones?
Earphones are discouraged but are not banned at all NYRR events. You need to be able to hear hear instructions and people shouting to you that they want to pass. If you wear earphones, we totally recommend you wear Yurbuds IRONMAN series. (We love our sponsor!)

What do my friends/wife/guests do while I’m running up?
I know it sounds mean, but your guests can’t come to watch you start. There are two reasons:  First, the Empire State Building has very high security.  Second, the packet pick up area and the pre-race staging area are pretty small… and there are several hundred people registering and waiting at once.  You’ll see:  there is no room!  There are plenty of places for your fans to hang out to wait for you right in the ESB neighborhood. There is a Starbucks on the corner and several other places to wait close by. See: Restaurants near the ESB.

Can my mom come up to see the finish line?
The Observation Deck is very tight on space.  Only official runners, photographers and timers are allowed up top.  One exception: The biggest individual fundraiser may bring a guest to witness the finish.

Is there baggage check?
Yes, there will be a special baggage check in the registration area just for our MMRF wave.

THE PARTY:

What time does the party start? What time does it end?
The party starts as soon as you get there!  After the race, you will be guided back to the Mezzanine where you picked up your race packet and where you checked your bags.  After you gather yourself, catch your breath, and put your heart back in your chest, join us for the post race party and awards ceremony in the Empire Room (lobby level of the ESB).  Most of you will be there by 9:00 PM. We’ll start the program around 9:15.  We have the room until 10:30 PM.

Can I bring guests to the party?
The Empire Room, which is the biggest public space in the ESB, has a maximum capacity of 200 people. We have 135 runners and 15 staff members from the MMRF and NYRR, so we will only be allowed to include 50 guests.  We will work to accommodate some guests, but know that we will give priority to myeloma patients.  We want to be sure you know this so that there are no hard feelings on race day!  We hope you understand.  We will send out an evite a couple of weeks before the race, and will accommodate requests at that time.

THE AWARDS:

How do you determine the winner of the Spirit of Giving Award?
The Spirit of Giving Award goes to the team of 3 that raises the most funds by 7PM on race day. This is a perpetual trophy. The last two years, the trophy has gone to Goldman Sachs.

How do you determine the winner of the NYC Triumph Cup?
The NYC Triumph Cup goes to the fastest team, determined by adding together the finish times of the fastest two runners from one team of three. The last two years, this trophy was awarded to Goldman Sachs.

Are there awards for individuals?
Yes!  We give a perpetual cup trophy to the FASTEST WOMAN and the FASTEST MAN.

• The fastest woman for the past two years was Christine Kenney. 2011 (16:06); 2012 (16:11).
  
  
• The fastest man in 2011 was Brian Kuritzky (13:38); The fastest man in 2012 was Ka Ming Lam of Hong Kong (12:45). Ka Ming is not returning, so the championship is up for grabs!
  
  

TOP INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISER:  We also award a perpetual cup trophy to individual who is not on a team who has raised the most funds.  This person will be allowed to invite a guest to the Observation Deck to watch the MMRF wave finish.

How do I get into the MMRF “Burst Wave”?
Runners who are contenders for the NYC Triumph Cup and the Fastest Man and Fastest Woman awards will have a chance to petition to join the Burst Wave via a form we send on or around January 20. There are only 30 people in this wave.  These runners will leave in one mass ‘burst’ in a race through the door and up the stairs.  They will be timed based on the starting horn and the clock at the finish line 86 flights up. The additional 95 runners in our MMRF group will leave the starting line in a time trial format – one runner leaving every five seconds.

How do I train for this race?
Be sure to read the two document found in this link: HOW THE HECK DO I TRAIN FOR THIS?. You’ll find suggestions on how to train for the race as well as race day advice.

Will my legs hurt?
Yes they will, but that is not what will slow you down. It’s your HEART. It will feel like it is jumping out of your chest. This is the ultimate stress test. Don’t worry. They call it the Run-Up, but besides the guys who finish in under 15 minutes, most people do some walking up.

FUNDRAISING

What is the easiest way to fundraise?
We have watched people successfully fundraise time and again using our Sure Fire Formula For Fundraising. We also have 5 Steps to Success that will give you the fastest, easiest way to find fundraising success. You are doing something most people you know would never attempt to do. They will support you for this crazy feat and this wonderful cause. Ask everyone! Make bets. Make it fun.

When do I have to have the full amount raised?
When you registered for the team you agreed to raise at least 50% of that total fundraising requirement by 6 weeks before the event 12/26/2012 (depending on the date you registered for the team), and to raise the entire amount by one week after the event 2/13/2013.

Can I utilize Matching Gifts?
Yes! Many of your donors work for companies that have a matching gifts program whereby they can fill out a simple form and get the donation matched, dollar for dollar. Check this out!  It is an easy way to double many of your donations.   We love matching gifts and encourage you to take advantage of them. Check out the instructions HERE.

WHY AM I DOING THIS AGAIN?
You have this race on your bucket list. You get to earn your bragging rights to have done this race, which is nearly impossible to get into. Cool technical t-shirt that you will actually wear. Collector’s item medal. And of course a great cause: The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation is the world’s largest private funder or myeloma research. The MMRF is recognized as one of the leading non-profits which is rated in the top 1% of all charities evaluated. Through its game changing model and work, the MMRF is leading the way in cancer research.