Well, I made it! All 37 floors of the Bop to the Top, a "run-walk-crawl" up the stairs! Let me tell you, it was quite the experience...
I get to the One America Tower about 8:45AM with my Dad. I turn in my form which basically said that I died or something my parents couldn't sue the race organizers for forcing me to over-exhert my body. (OK, maybe not) I got my bib and chip, #260, and left my running pants, long tech tee and jacket at the gear check. I opted for gloves, running shorts and a short sleeve tech-tee, which is what most of the other racers chose too.
I headed to the restroom, then towards the waiting area for runners. After stretching and warming up I headed back the restroom to eliminate any need during the race. The "Now Serving..." number went from 250 to 300 and I headed towards the start. I was walking next to a guy with the bib #261 wearing the shirt from the Race to the New Year that I did. Coincidence?
The nervousness hit me when I saw that line was very short, only two people in front of me! Then I was on the mat... 3...2...1...GO! And I was off! I wildly stabbed the play button on my iPod Nano to start my 10-minute power song playlist, but it didn't start. I kept flying up the stairs and tried again. This time the songs started right up, much to my relief.
I was taking the steps two at a time using my hands to help haul my body up. Before floor 10 I passed a guy sitting down on one of the landings. He looked exhausted. About floor 10 I had to slow down and start walking up the stairs. I began to run up one floor than walk one; then run one and walk two floors. I came within one floor of passing another guy, but he stayed ahead of me.It was nice and cool in the stairwell from all the open doors, but my lungs were on fire and my legs were screaming and tired. About floor 20 I was breathing as fast I could, but it was getting hotter in the stairwell. I began hearing voices at floor 34, and I thought it was somebody coming behind me, but it wasn't. I powered up the last floors and finished running; my time was 8minutes and 11 seconds (8:11).
At the top I got my chip cut off, grabbed a cup of water and sat down on the floor. I was tired and experiencing some slight dizziness and nausea. After about 10 minutes I got my long sleeve tshirt and got into the elevator line. I had to sit down in the line because I thought I really might throw up. The guy in front of me did the same and when he got up, he must have blacked out for a second because he just walked into a wall and seemed to snap out of it. Once we were in the elevator, I came pretty close to loosing what remained of my breakfast, but I made down to earth. Once I started walking I felt much better.
Well it was a very fun, but tortuous experience, one that I probably will end up repeating. If you have never done a stair climb, I recommend you try at least one.
Here's some pics of the race (I'm not in there).
