Runners step up to the challenge at Défi des Escaliers

Today in Quebec City, 1,700 runners took their running to the next level. The Défi des Escaliers challenge took place today having runners race up and down some 30 cases of stairs connected the upper and lower towns of Quebec City.

L’escalier du Cap Blanc, dernière montée dans le cadre du Défi des escaliers. #quebechebdo pic.twitter.com/2hucNr9Uuw

— Journal Québec Hebdo (@QuebecHebdo) June 14, 2015

When normally runners cautiously look for the uphill section of a race, these runners took on stairs– 3,000 steps to be exact. It’s quite the challenge for someone looking to change up their running with something extra difficult. It’s fairly safe to say that this 19K race is no PB course. Those looking for a shorter route can opt for the 13K. The winner was Alexandre Ricard who ran 1:16:49. In second was Marc Couture (1:21:21) and in third was Eric Lachance (1:23:06). The women’s winner was Marianne Boivin who ran/climbed in 1:26:27. Following her was Lucie Gonthier in second place (1:29:11) and Joanne Normand in third running a time of 1:29:37.

C’est la fin du 7e défi des escaliers #rcqc pic.twitter.com/8fqWvX4xwZ — MarieMaudePontbriand (@MarieMaudeP) June 14, 2015