Charity 'Climb'

[Catrin]

This isn't a charity ride...but I still wanted to mention it in case someone would like to sponsor me. I am participating in the American Lung Association's "Climb For Air" on March 9 in downtown Indianapolis. It is a 35 floor climb (roughly 750 steps). I am doing this for my mother who has had lung cancer twice in the past 14 months.

For more information on the event follow this link (http://www.lung.org/pledge-events/in/indianapolis-climb-fy13/local/event-information.html). Click here for my fundraising page (http://action.lung.org/site/TR/Climb/ALAUM_Upper_Midwest?px=5113265&pg=personal&fr_id=5900).

[Crankin]

Donation sent.

[Catrin]

Donation sent.


Thank you!

[indysteel]

Done and done! I think you just made your goal, too!

[Catrin]

Done and done! I think you just made your goal, too!

Nice, thank you! I've told my friends at church that if I can raise >$300 then I will climb those 35 flights of stairs twice :)

[Possegal]

Nice, thank you! I've told my friends at church that if I can raise >$300 then I will climb those 35 flights of stairs twice :)

Well now that sounds like a challenge for us! :) Donation sent

[Catrin]

Well now that sounds like a challenge for us! :) Donation sent

Thank you! I've given the same challenge to my church as well. I better make certain my legs are up to 70 flights of stairs ;) My wild trainer is my team captain so he will certainly make certain that we are ready :)

[Catrin]

I am $60 away from those 70 flights of stairs rather than 35 - guess I better start focusing on lower body strength and endurance ;)

I greatly appreciate the support - in both donations and encouragement!

[Catrin]

Much to my great surprise, I've actually raised $350 already! That might not sound like much, but I am not a good fundraiser. I've posted on my fundraising page that if I raise $600 that I will climb those steps 3 times, but I don't really expect that to happen. I expect a couple of other friends to make a small donation before the event, but I think that everyone who can/will donate has done so.

I didn't realize just how personal this is until I started raising money for this. So I am climbing for me, my sister, my mother, and everyone else who can't breath as well as they should. It is also time to start taking advantage of the fact that I work on the 19th floor... ;)

[Catrin]

It is official now - I've my packet for Saturday morning :) I raised more than I ever have and it promises to be a good morning!

[indysteel]

Good luck and have fun! Kudos to you for raising so much money!

[Possegal]

Can't wait to hear how it goes. Good luck!

[OakLeaf]

Good luck Catrin and have fun!

[Catrin]

This morning was a lot of fun...in a slightly masochistic kind of way. I decided that I should have a substantial breakfast at least a couple of hours in advance, so I made pumpkin/banana "pancakes" and a couple slices of fresh side. I ate the whole thing :) I love those things, and it is amazing how close they are to actual pancakes even if they are just egg, pumpkin, banana, baking soda and spices. In retrospect I may have over-eaten a bit. I was concerned about my asthma after having problems when we did the test climb in that same building a few weeks back, so I used my inhaler liberally before the event.

Most of my team showed, we were only missing one climber. I had signed up to climb the stairs twice, but after a few minutes rest after my second ascent I decided to climb them a THIRD time. It was a personal challenge to myself and I did it! 105 flights of stairs, 2,304 steps. I found that it was a lot easier on my legs to take the steps two at a time while grabbing both guardrails so my quads didn't have to do all of the work.

I am still waiting on my final times:

1st Climb = 10:12 minutes (ranked 158 out of 706 climbers)
2nd Climb = 12:05 (ranked 52 of those who climbed twice)
3rd??? Still waiting on this one. I am sure it was slower than my second climb, though it was in some ways a little easier. Probably because I was slower ;)

This afternoon my IT bands are both a bit sore. I was naseaus after the 3rd climb and ditched the banana I grabbed after eating half of it. I STILL have some nausea and can't figure out why. I liberally salted my lunch (chicken breast, lettuce, mashed cauliflower) and can't think of what else I might need to do. Electrolyte problem? Wondering if I need to break open an old package of Shot Blocks, though I don't want the sugar...

I managed to raise an even $500, which I am very pleased with, it is the most I've ever raised :) I AM surprised, however, that amount put me in the "top fundraiser" category.


16063

Afterwards a few of us went to an "after climb" party where I gave my token for a free beer to someone who would use it. I wanted water :) I might, however, have a beer this evening. Got a free massage as well. I wanted to ride my bike this afternoon, even for a short time, but my legs are voting against that. I've not been on the bike since just before Christmas so it doesn't seem the best day to get back on, sadly.

[indysteel]

Way to go, Catrin! I bow at your stair climbing feet!!!

[OakLeaf]

Very nice!

[Catrin]

Bummer, they didn't add my 3rd climb to the results. Oh well, I came in 13th quickest in my age group out of 53 women so I can't complain - it doesn't actually matter what the time for that 3rd climb was - it was more of a personal challenge because I knew I could do it. Considering this is the first time I've EVER done anything like this, I am pretty pleased that I landed in the middle of the pack - in the top 1/3 of the overall pack and right in the middle of my team.

I will be foam rolling before bed I think, and no alarm will be set!

[Owlie]

Way to go!

I think you deserve the alarm clock-less rest. :)

[Catrin]

Final results are in, and I got my third time :) Overall, for those who climbed 3 times I was pretty far down the list at 55 out of 61 with a total cumulative time of 35:43 and 14th out of 53 in my age group. It was all for a great cause & I am very glad that I did this.

[indysteel]

Impressive, Catrin! You inspired me to take the stairs today by the way!

[Catrin]

Impressive, Catrin! You inspired me to take the stairs today by the way!

:D good fun!