It's the Climb

This past Thursday, I participated in a stair climb race, Story by Story, to raise money for InMotion, a nonprofit that provides free legal services to battered women and their children.  I've done some work with InMotion over the past year, and it was my first stair climb, so I was excited.

The 42 story climb took place at 1411 Broadway.  Approximately 1,000 climbers raised over half a million dollars.  Some climbers did the climb twice.  Some wore 10 lb weight belts.  This year, I just did the climb.

I had no idea what to expect, or how long it would take.  I heard it would be over before I knew it, it was hard to imagine how that could be possible.  

It was a pretty social race.  Most people were there with corporate groups.  Few people wore headphones so I went without music.  The groups meant a lot of weaving around people.  I was there with a coworker, but she's an avid runner and super quick, so when we reached the starting line we said we'd see each other at the top.  

I probably went out a little bit too hard.  Towards the middle, I wasn't running so much as walking quickly.  The stairs seemed really huge, too.  But, before I knew it, I was thirty-something floors up and I found the energy to run again.  I finished in a respectable 9:17.  

I was pleasantly surprised not to be sore the next day - just a bit tight.  All in all, it was very fun, and I'd definitely be interested in another stair climb.

-Gym Belle-