This has been an unusual winter. With all the snow and cold temperatures, we have been doing most of our long runs on the hills in Barrington, simply because the footing is best there (in those conditions) of all the places we run. That means we're in a little better shape than a normal winter break. Usually winter is a time to relax before ramping up some time in March for spring races, assuming we weren't planning a spring marathon. But this year, there is no marathon on our calendars, and yet Barrington has whipped us into pretty good shape even without having a specific race goal in mind.
At least a 'running race'. About the only competitive event on my calendar for the last couple months has been the Hustle up the Hancock stair climb. I've said in the past that I never really have cared too much for stair climbs, and have never focused on them too much. They are claustrophobic and the air is dry and, well, they hurt. Reluctantly, however, I decided to focus on it a little this year.
That's because the Respiratory Health Association added a 'Media Challenge' last year. They got teams from several media outlets to compete for the best times. Last year ABC-7 won the team title, but I lost the individual race to Mike Adamle. By 6 seconds. So this year, I was hoping to avenge that loss!
Mike (shown in the picture with RHA President Joel Africk) is an incredible athlete. He's well known as a former Northwestern University, and Chicago Bears, running back. And more recently he's done Ironman triathlons, and marathons. Oh, and he's about 12 years older than me. I've always been an admirer of Mike as an athlete. But I still wanted to beat him this year.
I never trained specifically for the stair climb, but I had it in mind during my runs recently. I thought about different strategies, and made vows to myself to push it up the stairs, not easing up until the top.
Unfortunately, I didn't vow to taper before the climb. The hills in Barrington weren't the best way to rest up for the climb the next day. And going to a fundraising event the night before where wine was being served in abundance probably wasn't a good idea either. But that's the way it goes.
So suffice to say, I was not really at my peak for the start, but still hoping to do well. I quickly realized that my goal of pushing it all the way sounded good but was not as easy to accomplish after you're 30 floors up, completely cashed out, and staring at another 60 or so.
I looked at my watch on about the 80th floor and realized I was not even going to beat my 
time from the year before and that means beating Mike was a real longshot. I was also worried about letting down my ABC-7 teammates, Steve Dolinsky and Ben Bradley. Well, I guess they must have made the course more difficult this year, because Mike had a bad day too. I did end up a little faster than him, and actually barely held off Katie McCall from CBS-2 to win the individual media honors.
As for our team, we're still waiting to hear the final results. But the results for all the climbers are posted at http://www.lungchicago.org . And my friend Joe Spencer took thousands of pictures for the Respiratory Health Association, and he has posted those pictures on his company website: http://www.theremodelingstation.com . So check it out.
As for me, I'm going to try to find a race to start concentrating on training for. Enough of these stair climbs for this year! See you on the roads.
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