Stair climbs

[TallBill]

I just signed up for the run up the AON center in Chicago. It's an 80 story skyscraper and I'm super excited to do it. I've been hitting the stair machine at the gym since there are no easily available stairwells for me to use. January 31st, should kick my ass.

 

[darkxshade]

I use the stair machine once a week at the gym, not sure if it's just me but it seems easier than climbing actual stairs. On the machine I can climb 200 flights(according to the display) in just over 35 mins. Meanwhile, climbing 10 actual flights of stairs will begin to break me down.

 

[TallBill]

Depends on the machine I'm sure, but yeah the transition isn't perfect.

 

[brikis98]

Any sports stadiums near you? Or even bleachers at a high school field? Running up and down those a bunch of times is a hell of a workout and would probably prepare you better than a stair machine. At any rate, good luck.

 

[TallBill]

Any sports stadiums near you? Or even bleachers at a high school field? Running up and down those a bunch of times is a hell of a workout and would probably prepare you better than a stair machine. At any rate, good luck.

Nothing that I know of that's open to the public. I'll do a bit of investigating.

 

[TallBill]

Well the climb came yesterday. First 12 flights were a decently fast pace. After that I switched to pulling myself up and was never able to switch back to "running". Did 2 stairs at a time the whole way up. Final time for 80 floors, 16:52. Finished 190th, fairly happy for my first climb. I'll have to adjust my strategy/training for future ones. Lots of fun though.

 

[HN]

nice.
any soreness today?

 

[TallBill]

No, not really that bad at all. I went out dancing last night too, no problems. I'll probably still wait till maybe wednesday to workout my legs again though.

 

[TallBill]

Just signed up for another one on 2/14. 31 story building, you go up 3 times total. Should be fun. I think I convinced my roommate to come with too.

 

[RagingBITCH]

TB - good luck! There was one last week here in Dallas but I'm still nursing an IT band injury. I will say stairs are the one form of cardio that kicks my ass...always a good workout.

I like brikis' comment on the bleachers - I'd say it's more for sprint/interval type workouts where you can fly up, brief rest, repeat. It is a hell of a workout though, I do it during speed season/when I'm not training for races in particular. If you're looking to do 80 flights at once, you're probably better off being able to simulate climbing stairs at a slower pace for the same number of floors. Just my opinion though

 

[Lamont Burns]

I walked by the AON building this fall on my way to soldier field, nice work on climbing it. I want to do one, there's a 50 floor one here in STL in March I want to do. My gym has a stair stepper thingy I could train on, but my feet are too big for it. Size 13 ftl.

 

[TallBill]

Goodness gracious, I'm pooped. 3 trips up the 31 story Oakbrook Terrace Tower, 17:17... and now I'm off to bed. I had to work till 4 so I did it on no sleep.

 

[allies]

Hahah... freak. Nice.

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Good job TB...that sounds fun!