Friday, February 6, 2009

The Great Everest Challenge

The great Everest challenge is on! The health and wellness team here at work is virtually climbing to the top of Everest. People who wish to participate can do so in teams or individuals in the race to the top. Getting to the summit (29,037 feet) will require going up and down the 7 flights of stairs (131 steps) approximately 334 times.

Since this competition was my brain child this afternoon I was asked to give a motivational introduction to the competition. In that discussion, one of the participants asked “How long would it take you to do the 334 reps?” Well, I opened my big mouth and said I will finish the entire competition in one week from today (next Friday by 12:30PM). To reach my goal in the time allotted I need to complete approximately 50 stair reps a day.

Let me assure you that no matter how good of shape you “think” you are this is a monumental task and one I readily embrace. There is just something about a challenge (especially one that pushes my physical abilities) that really gets me excited!

UPDATE: Managed to get in 20 repetitions up and down the stairs today between 12:40 and 1:40. My energy level felt a little bit low as I had inadvertently forgotten to eat lunch. Planning to do 20 more at my end of the day quitting time to finish statistically strong with 40 total. Stay tuned to see if I make my goal or DIE trying!

8 comments:

  1. Wow! What a challenge!! Good luck!

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  2. Die trying...

    Oh that's just great! Become a follower, and the guy is trying to kill himself.

    What kind of madness is this?

    Make sure you stretch and limber up a bit before you go all Edmund Hillary on those steps. My buddy in New York does 46 flights twice a week, and he's in marathon shape.

    Regards,
    Albert A Rasch
    The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
    Proud Member of Outdoor Bloggers Summit
    Southeast Regional OBS Coordinator

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  3. Good heavens, that's a lot of times up and down those steps. It is good exercise though, and I'm sure you will inspire others. You'll probably sleep like a baby tonight as well.

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  4. Good luck! You can do it, and at least you don't have to worry about the subzero temps, aclimating,or frostbite in the stairwell!!

    I think the kids would laugh if I started that in the house... my stairs have 19 steps... wow, the math to figure the reps hurts my brain! I'll stick to the treadmill!

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  5. You can do it, I know you can. Don't whimper, just stay focused after all you are on a mission. Besides you have inspired countless others including myself and we're behind you, really behind you!

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  6. Thanks all for the encouraging words!

    Right now I am taking a break and getting a bite to eat before I go and hit the stairs this afternoon. I just managed 25 reps (up and dwn) of the 7 stories of steps between 10:30 and 12:00. I actually feel pretty good (except for the fact that my iPod died after about the first 10 minutes)! Went out ice fishing with Dad and Bro yesterday (Sat) so I am slightly behind on hitting my goal, a fact that will be sure to challenge me later in the week. My current total is 65 . . . stay tuned!

    Oh, I should also mention for anyone considering calling lifeline to evacuate me out of the stairwell later this afternoon that I would not embark on a exercise program of this magnitude without knowing my limitations. Over the past decade I have climbed some of the highest mountain peaks in the Americas including Aconcagua (22,843 ft.) in Argentina . . . I am not going to say I am in marathon shape (Albert) but I could probably give the guy a run for his money! :)

    Thanks again for all the comments they really are motivational!

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  7. Just finished my 50 reps! Feeling good (just HUNGRY)! Managed to keep same pace as last 25 (about 1.5 hours) total of 6,650 steps today!

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  8. Are you doing this on my taxpayer time??? lol... plus you may need to figure out how many feet an actual trip to the peak might be and somehow thin the air as you "near" the summit!!!

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