Monday, May 17, 2021

Stepping Out, Literally - 2021 Fight for Air Climb


Every step counts. And, this year, those steps happened outside.

The 2021 Iowa Fight for Air Climb, took to the steps at Principal Park in Des Moines. The date was May 15th. The new outdoor venue was perfect, the climbers were ready, and all the necessary COVID protocols were in place. 

So we came, we climbed, and we conquered.

The Fight for Air Climb (more info HEREis a national event, with numerous local venues, and is affiliated with the American Lung Association. Now in it's 18th year, the Des Moines Climb had always been held indoors, utilizing the stairwells of several tall buildings downtown. Last year, due to the COVID-19 crisis, the event had to go virtual. Since the threat of COVID-19 is still very much a reality, event organizers were able to change the Climb to an outdoor setting for the 2021 Climb. Alas, Principal Park, home of the Iowa Cubs baseball team, was where it all happened.


This year, instead of scaling several flights of stairs, and then riding the elevators down (before climbing another stairway in a different building), we would be in constant motion on-foot. The start line was at one end of the field, and the climbers then alternated going up one aisle, and then down the next, as they made their way around (and through) the rows of stadium seats.


I'm no stranger to stair-climbing, or to this event. I first took to the stairs in 2013, and I have gone back every year except for 2019 (when I was in DC for the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile) and last year (when I had to do the climb on my own stairway). If you care to read about the previous climbs, here are the recaps --> 20132014201520162017, 2018  (you're welcome).

Anyways, my scheduled climb time was 10:30, and since I live an hour from Des Moines, I didn't need to be on the road before 9:00. So, I did what any self-respecting runner would do and went for a run (just eight miles) prior to leaving town. I pulled into the parking lot around 10:15, giving me ample time to get my race packet and take my time walking to the start line.


With all COVID protocols in place, there weren't the usual crowds of spectators. Usually, a lot of the climbers arrive early, and stay long after climbing, to cheer on the other climbers. Also, it's a treat to see so many groups of fire fighters (in full gear) and law enforcement personal (also in full uniform). But, not this year. We were instructed to wear masks while in the stadium (except for when climbing) and then had to exit afterwards. 


Similar to when we're in the buildings, each person waits in line (this year, all spaced 6-foot apart from each other). The climbers were allowed to "go!" when the person in front of them had cleared the first aisle.

I didn't quite to know what to expect with the stadium version of a climbing event. I thought it would be easier since we'd only essentially be doing one "flight" at a time, then running (or walking) across the top row to the next aisle...only to get a gravitational boost while descending. Then, another run/walk across the bottom row before repeating the process on the next aisle.


           


Actually, this turned out to be more of a challenge than I'd anticipated. Although the upward climbs weren't too long, the descents were tricky. The steps are fairly flat, but they're wide. Trying to "run" down them could be a recipe for disaster if you're not paying attention. In other words, there wasn't any  downtime between flights. 

Since the climbers were well-spaced, though, there weren't any issues with crowded stairs (like there usually would be in the building stairwells). Also, we were going in a one-way direction on the stairs, so if we needed to pass someone, there was ample room (since there was no danger of someone else coming down towards us).

Having run eight miles earlier, and then ridden in a car for the better part of an hour afterwards, my hammies were feeling a bit tired. By the time I made it around the stadium, I'd definitely worked up a good sweat...in a pretty short period of time (just over eight minutes). Since this was my first time climbing a stadium, it was an automatic PR (I know...LOL).


Upon crossing the finish line, we were given a bag (with some additional swag and snacks). It was a bit anti-climatic without any excess finish line fanfare or peeps doling out high-5's, but that's our reality for the time-being.


As for swag, we got unisex tech shirts (which actually have a great fit #NotBoxy), a neck gaiter, and medal. Additional goodies (at packet pick-up) were the drawstring bag, sunglasses, a mask, collapsible water bottle, a koozie and miscellaneous items (lip balm, pens and bandages). Decent haul, if you ask me!



Overall, I was very impressed with how this event was managed. It was a big change climbing 834 outdoor stadium steps (as opposed to over 80 flights of indoor stairways), but it was a fun twist to a favorite event. I think in-person attendance was down, but I know many opted to participate virtually. As of Monday afternoon, the event's fundraising goal of $147,000 was far-surpassed with over $166,000 collected thus far! Side note: all participants are required to raise at least $100, or they are not allowed to climb (most exceed that minimum, though).

It will be interesting to see what happens next year. Whether the Climb returns to an indoor setting, or does a repeat at Principal Park, I know I'll be there.


For information about finding a Fight for Air Climb near you, check out their national site HERE.

Have you ever been enticed to do a stair-climb event? Is there a Fight for Air Climb in your area? Do you know anyone affected by lung disease?

I'm linking this with Kim and Zenaida for the Tuesday Topics Link-Up


I'm also linking with Debbie, DeborahLisaLaura and Jenn for the Runners' Roundup

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32 comments:

  1. I'm so impressed that you first ran 8 miles, then did 834 steps in a stadium, Kim! Also nice that you could raise so much money for a worthy cause.

    Although a bit anti-climactic this year, I think I would prefer the outdoor version for 2022. How about yourself? Which one would you prefer?

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    1. Honestly, I'd do the Climb no matter where they have it. It's such an important cause for me. The outdoor setting was a great change, though. I just wish the stadium was bigger, or that we could have gone up & down EACH aisle instead of alternating...but with COVID regulations, that would have been a bit crowded.

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  2. I am always amazed when I read about your stair climbs. I get winded going up and down to my bedroom lol

    Great job! Great cause too.

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    1. Well, stair-climbing has served me well and has really enhanced my running and overall fitness ;-) I'm not a huge fan of speedwork (like on a track), but I'll gladly run up and down a stairway numerous times or do several sets of hill repeats LOL I guess, for me, it's kind of my "cheater's version" of speedwork.

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  3. That is a nice swag haul! If you had your choice, would you rather do it in the stadium or indoors? Or is it just an event that you love so much that you'll be there no matter what?

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    1. Seriously! When I saw all the stuff in the swag bag (at check-in), I was impressed. But then to get even more at the finish line? SCORE! I really liked the stadium version, but I wish this stadium was bigger...either more rows of seats (so the aisles would be longer) or more sections (so there would be more aisles). Maybe in non-COVID times, they could have us go up & down EACH aisle instead of alternating? Stay tuned ;-)

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  4. I love that you do this race every year and raise money for such a great organization.

    The swag this year looked really good - you know I'm all about the swag lol.

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    1. The swag really rocked this year. We didn't get any last year (since it went virtual, we had the option of receiving a shirt in the mail, but I declined). We've never received all those little extras before, so that was a nice surprise ;-)

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  5. Great job! I can't believe you ran 8 miles before doing this. I think I would prefer to do a stair climb outside where you get to go up and down rather than a longer climb up. Its great that they were able to make this happen this year!

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    1. The eight miles really weren't a big deal (at least for me) since the climbing wasn't as intense as when we do numerous flights of stairs. I still had some cranky hammies, though, when all was said and done ;-)

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  6. I love that you do this every year! What an over achiever to run 8 miles beforehand. I think I might like it better being outside especially is the weather is nice. Nice job out there!

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    1. We really lucked out with the weather. Rain had been in the forecast, but wound up not showing until the afternoon. Even so, I think we would have had enough "roof cover" that it wouldn't have been too bad if it had rained.

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  7. Congratulations! And congrats to the people in charge for figuring out how to do it safely. As soon as I read your description of going up AND DOWN the stadium steps, I thought "that sounds harder!" But also more pleasant being outside- indoor stairwells don't have the best air quality. Anyway, sounds like a fun event for a great cause!

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    1. Ha!! The joke was on my with all the down-climbs. The steps are so short, it's really tricky walking down them...I tried to semi-run down a few times, and it was really scary LOL

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  8. Nice job, Kim! I bet in some ways having it outside was actually nicer. My calf is so tight after climbing a bunch of stairs on a steep hike yesterday -- and it wasn't even that far (although that was the second hike).

    It will be really interesting to see what they do with it next year! Which would you prefer?

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    1. The outdoor setting was a really nice change! I honestly don't have a preference for indoor vs. outdoor. I just hope if it returns to the outdoors (in non-Covid times), they're able to make it a bit more challenging by utilizing up/down traffic on all the aisles, or even make it an around-and-back route.

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  9. Wait, you ran 8 miles before this event? Wow! I did a similar event years ago when I climbed up the stairs of the John Hancock. I think I did this twice. I was cocky and didn't realized how hard it would be to climb that many stairs since I was a runner. Yep, very hard but doable!

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    1. I love the challenge of taking on the stairs! Yes, I did run eight miles because I knew the climb would be short (though intense). YOLO :-)

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  10. I absolutely love that this organization was able to pivot and make this happen. We have run that take place in our local football stadium, and we run the concourse ramps, which is just crazy, but this is next level for sure.

    Congratulations!

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    1. It was a fun change, though I wish it would have been a bit longer...

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  11. Wow! Kim, you are a BEAST!!! You ran 8 miles before the stair climb? Kudos. I remember reading about this climb from other years and am glad you got to do it again. The T-shirt is really cute. What a great event for a worthy cause.

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    1. It is SUCH a great cause. I’m a huge anti-smoking advocate because it’s done so much damage to so many people’s lives.

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  12. Nice swag, well done!! I have entered a REAL RACE for October, shockingly!

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  13. It sounds like a great alternative to the indoor event! Honestly I cannot imagine running 8 miles before taking on a stair climb - awesome job Kim! I love that you do this event every year - such a great cause!

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    1. In all honesty, if this was the traditional indoor climb, those eight miles would not have happened LOL

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  14. Using the stadium stairs was a great way to make the best of a tough situation. I'm glad you got to do it again.

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    1. I’m glad they were able to make it happen this year!

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  15. Congrats on doing your climb AFTER an 8-mile run! You're a beast! I had never heard of a stair-climb event until I started reading about you doing the Fight for Air Climb. Which do you hope they do next year? Revert back to indoors or stay at the stadium?

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    1. I honestly have no preference on how the Climb is staged next year. The outdoor setting was nice...I just hope they can find a way to make it a bit longer (maybe up & down the same aisles? or go around the stadium and then back?) because it was over and done pretty quickly. BUT, that was not a game-changer...still a fun event!

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  16. Nicely done, especially after an 8 mile run! I have never done a stair climb event nor seen any in my area.

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    1. If this had been the traditional indoor climb (with much more climbing involved), the 8-mile run would not have happened LOL. I'm glad it all worked out getting my run donw well before the climbing.

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