17th Vertical Marathon at Banyan Tree Bangkok on 8 November 2015

Now in its 17th year, the popular Vertical Marathon returns to Banyan Tree Bangkok on Sunday 8th November 2015. The challenge is to run up 1,093 steps and 61 floors to the Vertigo roof top bar. The record is 6 minutes and 35 seconds. I’ve never ever done a marathon in my life but I’m seriously considering doing this event. I’m overweight and considerably unfit, but I like the idea of this challenge. How difficult could it be? For sure I wouldn’t be able to run it. And certainly I won’t be finishing within one hour, let alone 6 minutes! But surely I can eventually drag myself up to the top?

This vertical marathon ties in nicely with the new Fitbit fitness tracker that I recently bought. This wearable device counts the number of steps and flights of stairs that I do. My daily target at the moment is 10,000 steps and 40 flights of stairs. I’ve been able to do that and more sometimes. But, you know what it is like with new gadgets like this. You use them a lot to start with and then soon get bored. However, with the aim of competing in a marathon in four months, this could be the incentive I need to lose weight and get fit. What do you reckon, can an overweight, middle-aged, unfit male who has never competed in a sports event stand a chance?

For more information about the Vertical Marathon and to register, please visit www.gotorace.com