Back to the Stairs: Fight for Air Climb 2025 recap

 

There I was, back in the midst of the excitement.

After two months of weekly stair workouts, it was time to test the training at the Fight for Air Climb. This was the 22nd year of the Des Moines venue, and my 12th time participating in the festivities. 

Affiliated with the American Lung Association, the Climb takes part in numerous cities across the United States. The event raises funds for research, education, and advocacy for clean air and lung health. 

Most know this wasn’t my first rodeo on the stairs. 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 in 2020 (when the Climb had to go virtual, leaving me to climb at home on my own stairway). I also climbed the Chicago venue in 2014. If you care to read about the previous Iowa climbs, you can check out the recaps ... 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023,  2024  (you're welcome).

Anyways, I arrived on the scene, the Wellmark YMCA (the hosting site), shortly after 8:00. I grabbed my race packet, and was in line before 8:30

Ready to climb!

When they named this event the Fight for Air Climb, they weren’t kidding!

Hot stairwells. Heavy breathing. Trashed leg muscles. But a finish line like none other. 

There’s much to love and respect about fighting for that air, all for the sake of those who need it most. Many struggle with lung health, and it’s for them that I (and numerous others) return to the stairwells every year. 

Here’s a quick synopsis of what went down…

All participants gather in the staging area in designated waves. The waves have maybe 20 people in them, and are ushered to the first building, via the Des Moines Skywalk. Once there, the climbers are allowed to enter the stairwell in 10-second intervals.

Lining up for entrance to the first building

Building-1, EMC Insurance Companies 

15 floors, 371 steps

After doing this event for the past 12 years, you’d think I’d have the pacing perfected. Ha! Famous last words! I take the steps “by twos” and I used the handrails for extra support. It felt like I was gong moderately easy…but after six or seven floors, I was already feeling winded. Nonetheless, I tried to slow my pace a bit, and made it to the top floor in one piece. I walked around for a minute, then made my way to the elevator for the trip back down to the main floor. 

Building-2, Hub Tower

16 floors, 324 steps

I hadn’t seen any water stations at the top of the first building, so I made sure to grab some as I walked to the second building. I made it to the second building, a few minutes later, and waited my turn to cross the timing mat into the second stairwell. After having started too quickly in the first building, I made a concerted effort to take the steps a little easier in the second building. For me, double-stepping the stairs takes less effort than single-stepping since I’m so tall. That’s all fine and dandy until you catch-up to the climber ahead of you, LOL. Some will let you pass, some will not. I usually ask if I can “slip on by” and most will let me get around them.  

Building-3, Hub Tower (2nd time)

16 floors, 324 steps

In years past, there were four different buildings to climb. This year, though, there were only three buildings, but the “middle” one was climbed twice. A perk, though, was a “fast pass” line that cut the wait short to gain entrance for the second time through. By then, starting the third climb of the morning, I was feeling quite heated and my legs were burning. Also, I was starting to notice more clusters of climbers in the stairwells. Many were falling victim to exhaustion, and were moving much slower as a result.

Building-4, Ruan Center

32 floors, 637 steps

In keeping with tradition, the last building was the tallest one (seriously, this had been the norm every year that I’d participated!). I had learned, though, in all those previous years, this final building always seemed to go quicker than anticipated and didn’t feel as treacherous. Also, there were fans blowing in the stairwells, so it didn’t feel as stuffy as the other buildings. I started with double-stepping the stairs, but eventually switched to single-stepping. I had to pass a few people, and a few passed me, but overall I felt good as I made my way to the final timing mat.

…and done!

Notice the saturated head band?

How did I do? Well, when I left the scene, I was in third place within my age group!

It was doubtful that third place AG would hold over the course of the next several hours. Spoiler: it didn’t, LOL. But, I was still satisfied with finishing in the top nine of my 10-year age group.

Some final thoughts on my 2025 experience:

This was my first year of training exclusively in my new house. Not only did my new stairway come equipped with 15 steps to conquer on each “flight” (my other house’s stairway had 12 steps), but this year I added weights to some of the training workouts. Whether it had much of an impact on my performance is pretty vague, but the training (with the weights) definitely was a nice boost of bonus strength work.  

Oof, it was hot in those stairwells! I’ve had later climb times, when I was climbing with a team, and it was always really heated and stuffy after several hours of people breathing heavy. I hit the stairs around 8:30, only 30 minutes into the event, and it was already crazy steamy on the stairs.

I more than surpassed my personal fundraising goal of $250. I am SO grateful for everyone’s support!

The event shirts are alright, but not great. I like the graphics, but am not fan of cotton shirts. Then again, it’s a rather nonissue for me because I don’t really wear t-shirts anyways.

The medals are identical to those for last year. Again, not a big issue or disappointment, but it would be nice if they actually had the date on the medal itself or at least the ribbon.

A few things worth noting:

**The Fight for Air Climb is a national event, with local venues in numerous cities throughout the US. You can find a nearby Climb by clicking HERE.

**While there are four buildings, participants can elect to climb just one, two or three of them (but they do have to climb them in sequence, and have to climb all four to be eligible for awards). 

**Like with running/walking and road races, you do not need to be in optimum physical condition to participate. There are people of every shape, size, and fitness level climbing the stairs. You can go fast or slow; all four buildings or just one.

**There is a $100 fundraising minimum to participate, so it's pretty neat seeing all of the climbers come together for such a great cause.  

**My fundraising page is still open for a short while; if you'd like to donate to the cause, click HERE

As mentioned, I look forward to this event every year. I don't take my fitness or my health for granted. Climbing all those steps, in honor of those who can't, is a small gesture to encourage fitness (as well as fundraising for the American Lung Association...as this goes to press, there's been over $200,000 raised from the Des Moines event).

Anyways, that’s the nitty gritty of the 2025 Fight for Air Climb. Anyone care to join me in 2026? Have you ever done a fitness-based event that supported a fundraising cause? 

I’m linking this with Zenaida and Jenn for the TuesdayTopics Linkup. 

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