The Ultimate Stair Workout

I've been running stairs for the past few months. 7 - 10 repeats sprinting up and walking down. At first my muscles felt like jelly but after a few sessions, started to feel good.

I actually felt pretty good about my progress it until I saw this Ultimate Stair Workout. There are no words to describe the sheer pain that resulted the first time I tried a full set.  Three sets?  OMG...NO!   But it's set to a great tune,AC/DC's Thunderstruck. That helps...for a minute!

Anyway, time to get back at it.   Who's up for a challenge?

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Stairs...this time no injuries

So...after multiple previous attempts of running stairs, I've finally found a way to do it without injuring myself.  And it was right in front of me all the time:  Walking up and down the stairs in our apartment building!

We live in a 10 story building and for the past couple of weeks I've been doing some early morning stair repeats.  Walking mind you...running up stairs caused my previous injuries. I'm up to 4 sets now and have been humbled by the experience.  Climbing stairs is hard! The first time I went out I was completely out of breath after the first set and my legs were rubber.  That was hard to take especially since I'm a long time runner.

I've been combining these stair climbing sessions with my ab workout and while I can barely see a two-pack developing (if I squint in low light), I'm going to stick with it. I have a wager on with Larry Savitch for Reggae Marathon this December and if this is the only time in my life I actually sport defined abs it will be worth it!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Sisyphus and the Art of Running Stairs

Like Sisyphus, running stairs is an exercise in repetition:  Run up, walk down, repeat.  Over and over. Until my quads quiver and my legs feel like jelly.  Ahh...the joys of running!

Sisyphus was the guy who had the unenviable and unending task of pushing a rock up a hill, having it roll down and having to push it back up again. This was punishment for him.  To the people in the nearby apartments who see me running repetitively up and down the stairs early mornings it must look like I too am being punished!

But although running stairs is punishing, I'm not Sisyphus, I'm not being punished.  There is method to my madness of running stairs but 'Shhh...don't tell anyone". You see, in the last two Reggae Runners Challenges (Half Marathon in Toronto a couple of years ago and last year at Reggae Marthon) I took the distinction of coming in last. In both events! And while I put on the 'Happy Face', I was not pleased.  It's been nagging at me all this time. This year at Reggae Marathon December 6 I'm determined to end this tradition. Watch out Dan, Larry, Navin, Deb and anyone else in the Reggae Runners Challenge!  I'm running stairs!!

So far I have managed to elude the foot injuries that previous experiences with running stairs caused: nasty flare-ups of Plantar Fasciitis.  I've had a little twinge in my right knee but a day or so of rest cures that.  The good news is that on my regular runs I'm running faster and more efficiently. I'm able to put in a quick burst of speed and recover quickly.  Nice.

So thanks Sisyphus for the inspiration to keep running stairs.  Last place will be history!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy