Florida Man Climbs to 3 World Records in Stair Racing

When Troy Alston pulled his hamstring for the third time during his senior year at Warner University, his track scholarship dreams seemed over. But that closed door led him to discover competitive stair climbing, a grueling sport that would carry him to three world records.

Alston now works as a marketing coordinator at St. Petersburg College, where he trains in the stairwells of the downtown office. Over 15 years, he has completed 149 races across the United States and Europe, setting 50 course records along the way.

His first race taught him humility. After training in a six-floor parking garage, Alston signed up for a 25-floor climb in Orlando and hit a wall at floor 18. But reaching the top gave him an unexpected rush of accomplishment that hooked him for life.

One month later, he won his first race—a 30-floor, 512-step climb in Fort Lauderdale. He set the course record and never looked back.

The sport started in 1978 with a race up the Empire State Building's 86 floors and 1,576 steps. Today, towerrunners compete in enclosed stairwells without fresh air or cheering crowds. The challenge is as mental as it is physical.

Alston's world records include the fastest ascent of Canada's Skylon Tower in 2017, which earned him the key to Niagara Falls. He holds the record for most consecutive wins in a recurring event with 14 straight victories at Jacksonville's Bank of America Tower. His newest record marks 70 stair-climbing wins in Florida alone.

Why This Inspires

Many of Alston's races benefit the American Lung Association. He has completed 80 climbs for the organization and donates to help others in the community. "It does a lot for trying to get clean air, find a cure for lung cancer," he says.

The numbers tell a remarkable story of dedication. Alston drove to every Florida race, logging 27,000 miles over 15 years—more than the Earth's circumference.

"If you want something that you never had, you do something that you've never done to get it," Alston says. His message is simple: when one door closes, another opens.

The former 400-meter hurdler once dreamed of the Olympics, but he found his arena in vertical racing instead. Athletic goals can take unexpected paths, and sometimes the detour leads somewhere even better.