Stair Climbing Races

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Have you ever heard of a tower climb?  We have a few here in Charlotte.  One is the “Race the Top,” which is a 50-story, 672 vertical feet, 1,194 step race to the top of the Duke Energy Building.

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(Source)

 

Past winners of the race have completed the climb in just over 7 minutes!   Crazy, huh?  The average is closer to about 20 minutes.

 

I’ve been thinking about the tower climb a lot because I’ve recently kind of feel in love with the stairclimber at the gym.  As part of my Commitment goals, I’m trying to do different types of workouts so I don’t get bored and fall back off the wagon.  In addition to stairclimbing, I’ve picked up the rower last night – it was fun.  

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Hell, maybe I’ll find myself in a Zumba class soon!  I’ve always been nervous to take a dance class, but I think I need to keep challenging myself to do new stuff.  It’s good for the body and mind.

 

Breakfast:

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Coffee Oatmeal!

 

3/4 cup oats

1/4 cup almond milk

1/2 cup brewed coffee

1/2 a banana

Vanilla extract and cinnamon

Toppings: Coconut, almonds, strawberries, brown sugar

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Thought of the Day:

 

From Operation Beautiful

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{ 23 comments }

 

  • Jessie April 23, 2014, 9:04 am

    you MUST try Zumba! If it’s an instructor with good energy it’s so much fun! and even if you feel like you look silly, people are too busy looking at themselves in the mirror trying to get the steps right to look at you.

  • Jana @ Bananas for Balance April 23, 2014, 9:29 am

    That oatmeal looks delicious! I read you’re coming to Boston for the Runners World races and if you’re in town the Wednesday or Friday before you should come to November Project! Especially Wednesday (the best day in my opinion) because we do the Harvard Stadium stairs so if you’re loving stairs these days then you’ll be in heaven 🙂

  • Patty @ Sensual Appeal April 23, 2014, 9:38 am

    I cannot imagine doing a stair climb! Every year I hear about the Empire State Run-Up and just can’t imagine…I go up a flight of stairs and am so out of breath. Somehow I can run a marathon, but a flight of stairs wipes me out – which is why I hate the stepper! 🙂
    Also, coffee in oatmeal?? Why have I never thought of that?!

  • Julia April 23, 2014, 9:45 am

    I’m doing the Duke stair climb next weekend! I have no idea how to train for it (my gym doesn’t have a stair climber) but I’m hoping that my cardio endurance from running will help and I’ve been walking on the treadmill on an incline. I’m not going for time, I’m just trying to make it to the top!

    • Caitlin April 23, 2014, 1:53 pm

      Have fun!!!! Let me know how it goes!!

  • Katie April 23, 2014, 9:48 am

    I’m not the biggest fan of zumba, but I have tried it at a couple different places, and I will say that zumba studios are more fun then gyms/community centers. Mainly because zumba studios usually turn off the lights and have “club lights” which makes it less intimidating. But all gyms are different, so you can always ask them!

  • Angela Daffron April 23, 2014, 9:57 am

    Come to Vegas for the Scale the Strat! It benefits the Lung Association too.

  • Becky@TheSavedRunner April 23, 2014, 10:01 am

    I think it’s so good to do different exercises because it surprises your body and then challenges it. I am hoping to try some new stuff soon too. We are moving in a month and we already are eyeing a gym we want to join, so I am excited to see what group fitness classes it offers!

  • mindy @ just a one girl revolution. April 23, 2014, 10:21 am

    You should TOTALLY do a stair climb – I did one in November at the Sears Tower! 103 flights!! 🙂 Here’s my recap: http://www.justaonegirlrevolution.com/skyrise-chicago-2013/

    • Caitlin April 23, 2014, 1:53 pm

      So cool Mindy!

  • Ali April 23, 2014, 11:49 am

    I did a stair climbing race in Denver a couple years ago – it was kinda fun. Definitely a change of pace from a running race.

  • Abi@AbsofSteel April 23, 2014, 12:17 pm

    Wow, I bet a stair-climbing race would be crazy hard! and now I’m going to have to try it one day 😉 I’ve only ever tried the rower once but it was a lot of fun and I’ve been meaning to give it another go sometime, if you have any good rowing workouts feel free to share!

  • Stephanie @ Whole Health Dork April 23, 2014, 12:32 pm

    There’s one in the Hancock Tower in Boston that benefits the MS Society that I’ve thought about doing. Definitely sounds fun and I don’t mind the stairs that much. It’s a nice change of pace from a regular race, though the view usually isn’t too good.
    Breakfast looks delicious! Does it have a strong coffee taste?

    • Caitlin April 23, 2014, 1:41 pm

      No it’s very mild… well, mild to me. But I really love coffee.

  • Nicole April 23, 2014, 2:12 pm

    I’ve run the Sears Tower and other smaller stairclimbs and they are a wonderful challenge. I love the variety of a stair climb workout. If you train you have to find a real building to climb. The stair mill at the gym just isn’t the same.

  • Elizabeth April 23, 2014, 2:14 pm

    Definitely try Zumba. I used to be super nervous about going, because I have no dancing abilities whatsoever, but honestly, no one cares. There’s always that one girl that you know dance for years, but everyone else is just trying to follow along. I look like a giraffe having a seizure, but whatevs, it’s a good time.

  • Shannon April 23, 2014, 3:33 pm

    We have a really popular tower climb here called Climb The Wall (the building is the Wall Centre)….I’ve always wanted to do it however when you have 2000 people stomping up a concrete stairwell it creates and awful lot of concrete dust which can cause lung problems, infections, bronchitis…..just be aware if you do decide to do one. I’ve had friends do it and they spent a month or more “recovering” from the 10 minute climb.

    • Caitlin April 23, 2014, 3:42 pm

      EWWWWWW! That’s gross. And horrible!

  • Sara @ LovingOnTheRun April 23, 2014, 4:01 pm

    A tower climb sounds pretty intense! Not so sure I could handle it but I know it would be a great workout!

  • Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs April 23, 2014, 5:39 pm

    Oooof — a stair climbing race sounds tough! I can’t believe how fast the winners finished!

  • kathy April 23, 2014, 10:47 pm

    I’ve often thought (and then chickened out!) of doing the CN Tower climb in Toronto. It’s 1,776 steps (and the record time is 7:52…howwww?) You can also walk around the edge of the top..outside! People are crazy

  • Runner Girl Eats April 24, 2014, 6:26 am

    I did a Climb for Air last November, 22 flights. I finished in 3:20 for third place female and was sooooo proud of myself. I am already stoked to do more stairclimbs. They are a killer workout!

  • Ileana April 24, 2014, 5:06 pm

    That climbing race sounds awesome, but hopefully it doesn’t benefit Duke Energy! As a fellow North Carolinean I’m disgusted with them for how they’ve been handling their (negligence-caused) coal ash spill. Yuck.

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