Thomas Dold runs backwards 10K in 40:58

Don't worry, the highlight video lasts just over 7 minutes.

Among the 28-year-old Dold's other claims to fame: He's won the Empire State Building Run-Up the past 7 years (he'll attempt to 8-peat next Wednesday February 6 live on ESPN) and he currently holds 5 world records in backwards running between 400 meters and a mile (his mile time is 5:46).

Man, that is impressive.

FunFact: According to Wikipedia, backwards running is also known as Retro-Running.

I never even heard of this guy until a couple hours ago when I read Bill Donahue's story in last Sunday's New York Times Magazine about the suddenly booming sport of stair climb racing.

It sounds so horrible and painful, I think it might be right in my wheelhouse. 

I'm gonna investigate and maybe find one nearby and give it a try.

Acccording to the Times story, there are around 100 such events a year in the U.S. alone, though the sport is biggest in Europe and Asia.