The Fight for Air Climb

So a little background on "12 Races in 12 Weeks" - I had taken a look at my schedule and noticed that I had tentatively planned 12 races back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back in 12 weeks, one scheduled after the other. It was overly ambitious normally and especially so because I'm currently going through physical therapy to repair my sprained bottom and my lower left leg from old injuries. My physical therapist laughed when I told him what I wanted to do, and gave me the green light (although... to be fair, he gave me the green light to 4 races in a row. haha)

The Fight for Air Climb  was a vertical race up 51 flights of stairs in one of the tallest buildings in downtown Atlanta - 191 Peachtree Tower. It was a fundraiser for the American Lung Association and each participant had to raise $100 to be able to join. I came across it while looking for more races. It was unusual, unique and sounded like quite a challenge.

I'm not going to lie - it intimidated me greatly and every time I'd see that building, I swore I saw it mocking me, taunting me. I had dinner at the Sundial next to it and every time we'd pass around to see it eye-to-eye, it would just loom before me, bathed in an ominous blue light, almost challenging me. "You can't survive climbing me", it would say.

However, race day came and 600 of us lined up at the bottom, waiting to take on the building - one at a time. It was unusually cold and rainy and we shivered outside. We weren't in a hurry to start the climb, but wanted to get inside to warm up. My friend Jennifer signed up to climb with me and I was thankful to have someone with me.

They let us start 10 seconds between each runner. I let her go first and caught up to her. The first water stop was on level 8 and we were already huffing and puffing by then. She unfortunately started feeling a little sick and needed to stop, although told me to finish for her. 

After the EMT came to escort her back down, I continued. There were 3 more water stops along the way and I stopped at all of them. They had volunteers on random levels to cheer you on and help you keep going. I was wearing my Ironman shirt and they all seemed to like it.

I also made sure to stop on random levels when I felt my breathing and my heart rate speed up. Just 5 to 10 seconds and then I was off again. I saw too many people nearly collapsing in the stairwell, unable to take another step because they kept going and didn't take breaks to regulate their breathing or heart rate. It was musty in there and the air quality wasn't all that great.

The floor seemed to have 4 sets of stairs in between each and then only had two sets of stairs between each the higher I got. They passed quickly, but it was in no way easy.

Finally, we have two more to go. I even said breathlessly to the volunteer, "Only two more?". My legs were screaming, I was running low. They served Powerade at the water stations below and I took one, thinking the sugar would help me. It did not and I felt nauseous for some of the climb after that. So my body was set on two more floors and not a step more.

I hit the 49th floor and there was a time clock and lots of people and cheering. I blinked and imagine I look quite perplexed in the picture they just snapped of me. But....we're at 49... not 51? Two of the floors were in the basement, they explained. That's great... but where are my 51? I was geared up for 51 and ready for 2 more!!! 

Regardless, I had finished - 29 minutes, which included the time waiting for the EMT to come help my friend.  I took a break at the top to enjoy the view... or at least all the view I could see. It was pretty foggy up there and at the top, the taunts and intimidation I had felt from the building faded away into the mist down below. Now when I see the building, I can't help but smile at the sight of my new friend.

Many, many thanks go towards the people who donated to help me accomplish this and to the people who cheered me on. :)