10000 Steps or Stair Climbing!

Winter seems to have set in at last here in Chicago. I tried going out for some fresh air this morning but it was 11°. I am using my High Step and manual treadmill along with my usual weights workout but I can’t get outside for 10000 steps and I need to move more! A friend has inspired me to get back out for stair climbing! I tend to get tired of it because the stairwell can be stuffy.

Do you live or work in a building with a good stairwell? I have the ultimate at my disposal. I live in a 55 story tower. A couple of summers ago I climbed the stairs every day. It was an amazing workout! I did 53 floors each “lap” of the tower. I started on the second floor (because the lobby is busier) and of course there is no 13th floor so that makes 53 floors of awesome cardio stair climbing. I would take the elevator back down to two from 55 and do it again. My record for the summer was six laps of the tower in one workout session. Whoa, I have set the bar high for myself now!

Stair climbing is a great cardio because your heart rate and breathing will remain elevated even if you slow down. You are continuing to move the same amount of weight as you climb! Getting to the top is fun motivation, especially if you are in a nice tall building!

As I will be unable to get outside consistently for awhile, I’m thinking of stair climbing for the month of February. I’ll think about my challenge goal for the month. Each floor is one flight of 7 stairs and one flight of 6 for 13 per floor. 53 floors will equal 689 stairs per lap of the Tower. How many total stairs or flights should I do for the month? I’ll start stair climbing training over the next couple of weeks.