This past Sunday I Ran the Republic - the Republic Plaza building here in Denver. It is supposedly Denver's tallest building, and we ran from the sub-basement to the 53rd floor - 56 floors total, and 1,098 stairs.
Republic Plaza, Denver (yes, we ran up 56 flights!)
I was roped into this by my friend Irene. I have dragged her through long runs in marathon training, so being co-dependant, I agreed to do this stair climb. For the record, I have run more than 31 miles getting folks across the finish line on a very cold and wet Denver Marathon day, sprinted 5Ks and done just about everything in between, but nothing compared to this event. I have never felt a burn in my lungs as I did Sunday - even when I was exposed to tear gas after the CU/CSU football game at the old Mile High Stadium in the late 90's.
Team Let's Get High(that's me on the left in the skirt)
If this is how someone with lung cancer or COPD feels, then I am all the more thankful I am healthy. I have asthma, but that has always meant I can't breathe after a run. or whatever. I have never really felt a burn as this.
That said, I will totally do this again next year! The team was great - we waited at the finish line until everyone made it up! I did surprisingly well, too - 50th of all the women, 15th in my age group, and I really didn't train for the event. Look for me to drop a minute off my time next year!
The View From the Top!
The overall goal of the event is to raise $300,000 for the American Lung Association. I have a personal goal of raising at least $300 ($500 is my stretch goal), so here I place my shameless plug for donations: please visit my fundraising site and possibly throw me a bone of a donation! If I can get 20 folks to give $10 each, I would hit that $300 goal, as I already have $100. Thanks in advance!
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