I made a discovery today: Running up 2,200 stairs hurts. A lot. I’m not sure why, but today’s stair workout was significantly more difficult than last week’s. I was already struggling by the time I made my third trip up. Only 17 to go… That made it worse. I started to focus on the “landmarks” and they became a kind of mantra: King Cobra can, landing, dirty napkin, orange graffiti, landing, black graffiti, light stair, top… I was hugging the handrail on my trips down and having to go pretty slow, not because I was being lazy, but because my legs were shaking so bad it was tough to not fall. There were lots of people out and they were unusually friendly. An old man stopped to tell me, I wish I could still do that. It’s been a long time. I smiled. Some little kids waved as I passed. I got head nods and smiles, and even a Buenos tardes. The 20th trip sort of snuck up on me. I found it was easier to keep going without thinking of how many were left, so I hadn’t really been paying attention to my watch. So, when I looked at it for the first time in a while and saw I was already done with the last set, I was very pleasantly surprised. I’d just run up the equivalent of 120 flights of stairs. Sigh of relief that it was over. I stumbled back down to the bottom, then tried to start running. My legs were like noodles again. I slowly transitioned back into running on flat ground and, after some struggling, got the pace under 9:00/mile. A couple miles later, after making a right onto Malcolm X, I saw the Empire State Building towering off in the distance and it all suddenly seemed worthwhile. Six more days.
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Stairs III8 comments to Stairs III |
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Wouldn’t have anything to do with your Half a couple days ago, would it? Nah… ::rollseyes::
Hahaha. Oh yeah, I forgot about that.
How could you forget about a PB? ;) Nice looking set of stairs.
In the Empire State there are going to be lots of landings, and (I think) there are not that many steps between landings. Have you researched technique? I know some people run two steps for a while, then one, then walk. Others stick to a HR and steady pace. Others alternate running a flight/walking a flight.
I know overtaking is very difficult as runners hug the inside handrail.. getting to the door fast then settling into your pace could pay off.
I haven’t thought about technique too much. I imagine the landings will help. As for the single/double/walking thing, I’ve found in training that I do best with the singles. I have a feeling I could make it pretty far up without having to slow to a walk as long as I don’t start out too fast and try the doubles.
The start definitely worries me. I keep hearing from everyone how important it is to get ahead of the pack early. I’ll have to make sure to get to the race early and get a good starting spot.
How many “run” this? Are people released in waves or is it all at once? Seems like it could be crowded. What if you get boxed in behind someone? What? WHAT?
I don’t have good answers to all those questions. I’ll know more on Tuesday. From what I understand, there is the main race (which I’m part of) and then a couple prelimanary/special event races before/after. In the main one, there were 210 “runners” last year: http://web2.nyrrc.org/cgi-bin/htmlos.exe/83307.2.268781395900032344 They keep it such a small number of people because of crowding issues, but I keep hearing horror stories of people getting stuck behind other, slower people (or doorframes).
DO NOT get stuck behind someone slow. You’re too good for that. ;)
“legs like noodles.” love it.
RJR, how cool are you to be participating in this legendary event?
And how motivating for you to see the Empire State Building as you made your way home after 120 flights of steps?
Wish I could be there to spectate for you & Elyssa!