Pre-registration has started for this year's International Vertical Marathon, to take place next month in Tianhe district of Guangzhou – the capital of South China's Guangdong province – with registration running to 6 pm on July 22.

Unlike a conventional marathon, where participants run a grueling distance over a normally flat terrain, in a vertical marathon competitors run up a flight of stairs in a high-rise building.

The event will take place on Aug 4 in the 320-meter-high Canton Financial Center (Track A) and the 220-meter-high Huijin International Financial Center (Track B) in Tianhe.

The two buildings have a combined total of 117 floors and 3,026 steps.

A participant crosses the finishing tape at last year's International Vertical Marathon in Tianhe. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]

Participants in the individual group need to complete Track A and Track B independently. A track-changing area will be set up, with an allowed changeover time of up to 15 minutes.

A team race will be added to the event for the first time, in which participants will finish Track A and Track B in the form of a relay. Teams consist of five runners, with at least one required to be female.  

The maximum number of participants in the individual category will stand at 400 and the team race will be limited to 20 groups.

A cash prize of 2,000 yuan ($275) will be awarded to first-place winners of the individual group, 1,500 yuan to second-place winners, and 1,200 yuan to third-place winners. First, second, and third-place winners in the team race will receive a reward of 2,500 yuan, 1,500 yuan, and 1,000 yuan, respectively.