2014 Run Up Victory Celebration with Sara!
Something just sprang up. I found out that tonight I will be running up the Empire State Building! I will be taking my feet to the stairwell of the iconic New York City landmark, climbing 1,576 steps and 86 flights to the observance deck…all in support of The MMRF (Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation).
The calm before the storm. A mix of emotions, clearly.
Multiple Myeloma is the second most common form of blood cancer and sadly, has one of the lowest five year relative survival rates of all cancers. I was lucky enough to also run this race with The MMRF last year as well, alongside my former SELF magazine colleague Sara. We freaked before the start but killed it by the finish. What a wonderful experience that was. Yes, wonderfully painful.
There is something very special about conquering a challenge while fighting for a worthy cause. You fight your way through the race course, use your heart to fundraise and meet incredible human beings along the way. I’ve done this before with great organizations such as Achilles International and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. If you’re thinking about making a difference in both your life and someone else’s, racing with these fundraising teams is the most rewarding experience you could imagine.
So tonight after 8pm, NYCRuns will blow the horn and let us go one by one up that narrow stairwell. We’ll huff and puff and work our legs and lungs up to the finish line of the 38th annual Empire State Run-Up. Along the way there is at least one water break, which I took full advantage of last year. I remember getting a cramp on floor 40 and still having 46 to go. THAT WAS FUN. We never know what to expect, but we sure know it will be one for the books.
The pros tend to win it in 10 minutes, and they actually RUN it. Most of us average athletes finish between 15-25 minutes and we’re powering up with momentum but it’s not a sprint. I’m only 5ft tall so my mini legs cannot skip a step, so I end up touching each one, which is a lot more work and it’s a heart-beater for sure!
Since training never happened for this race (I would have done some stairs in my building or spent some quality time with the stair master) I must eat clean and healthy today and make sure to pack some power snacks for later since I’ve got a late start. Oh and I am totally wearing my sneakers at work today under the desk. Heels must go! Plus, I might pull off some random, midday stretch sessions in my office. Coworkers are invited to join in!
I look forward to sharing my experience with you tomorrow. In the meantime, if you can, please help by donating to my page for The MMRF. Every bit helps!
Up, up and away,
BForge