Sunday, March 24, 2013, I will be participating in my first Big Climb Seattle, a charity event benefiting The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The goal: climb 69 flights of stairs to the top of the Columbia Tower, the tallest building in downtown Seattle. This is my first time in this event, and I'm looking forward to it with a mix of excitement and trepidation. I know I'll survive, but doubt I'll set any speed records.
To be clear, the Columbia Tower is 73 floors high, but the race starts in the lobby on the 4th floor. We'll be climbing 69 flights to the top floor.This being a fundraising event, part of the require preparation is, well, the raising of funds. Let's cut to the chase. Please donate to my Big Climb Seattle fundraising page. Do it now, then come back here. I'll wait.
As you probably noticed on my fundraising page, I'm racing in honor of my mother Mary. In 2005 she was diagnosed with chronic leukemia and multiple myeloma. She endured several series of chemotherapy, and, thankfully, her leukemia is in remission. She's a tough old broad -- she had to be to raise me and my two older brothers! She'll be 85 this April, and she shows no signs of slowing down. I don't think I could maintain her busy active/social schedule.
Training for this event has been quite a change for me. In addition to the two "Metabolic Effect" workouts I complete every week, and the weekly workouts at The RAC with my awesome trainer Stacie, and the occasional bike rides (including the Seattle Randonneurs winter training series), I've tried to find time for some stair-climbing training. Specifically, I've attended a "stair climbing boot camp" put on by X Gym, and I've followed some of their excellent tips on their Stair Training page. I also do HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) on Stair Master stair mills, treadmills, and stationary bicycles, and also the occasional hilly walk/run.
Just writing about all that training makes me tired. I need a nap -- while I'm napping, go donate, please!
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