Fight for Air Climb

Yesterday was my second time completing the Fight for Air Climb. I had to agree with a fellow climber, a woman I crossed paths with at the water station around floor 30, who told one of the volunteers, «every time I do this, I forget how difficult it is.»
Pay $ 25 to register and raise a minimum of $ 100 (for a fabulous cause) and then you are good to go. Oh wait… you also have to climb up 52 floors. (1,197 steps!)
Last year I was approximately 40 pounds heavier and was just getting back into the swing of things exercise-​wise. (I reviewed year one on the ALA page:
) I was excited for take two, now that I’m in better shape. (Needless to say, this year was much easier for me than last year.)
Event communication leading up to the event is excellent and the event volunteers are all very friendly and helpful. I especially appreciated the mini dance party just before entering the stairwell.
Keep in mind, this isn’t a long event (average time is 20 – 25 minutes) but it is challenging. Challenging, but doable. Don’t worry about the crazy fast people (some in full firefighter gear!) running past you. Take the stairs at your own pace, utilize the water stops (every 10 floors or so) and you will feel awesome when you ring the bell at the top. I certainly did!

This was my second year in a row doing the Fight for Air Climb with the fun and fabulous KOFY Crusaders and my experience was even better. The registration tables were moved to the plaza and spectators could head up to wait for us with no complications.
Sure it was a breezy morning but the energetic and hilarious exercise instructor from the Chinatown Y was on hand to lead us through yoga and cardio warmups. As he said, there’s nothing quite like stretching to Barry White“s «Practice What You Preach» surrounded by firefighters.
Along with my Dance Party and KOFY peeps, we took to those 52 floors o f climbing with gusto. I improved my time and raised $ 100 for a great cause.
Then it was party time with my mom and daughter. We were treated to a feast of ice cold water and coconut juice, fruit, pastries, bagels and cream cheese, and hard boiled eggs. The sun was shining so the views were incredible. My mom says she will make sure to have my dad join us next year.
A tradition has begun!

The Ultimate Stairmaster for a Good Cause!
Imagine climbing over 110 flights of stairs with 1197 steps through 52 floors to reach the top of the Bank of America building in the heart of San Francisco’s financial district! The Fight for Air Climb, sponsored by the American Lung Association, is the largest Climb in the nation with thousands participating every year. Firefighters, doctors, fitness buffs and also the average Joe come out for a good cause and brave it all.
It’s more of a mental challenge than a physical one, taking only 20 minutes at a slow walking pace or less than 10 minutes if you are extreme. And when you reach the top, you literally feel like you are in heaven! You are not only rewarded with spectacular views of the city, but you find yourself being part of a greater movement to help fight for clean air for our children and research for a cure for lung diseases like Lung Cancer, Emphysema, and Asthma.
Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women, responsible for more deaths than breast, ovarian, cervical and prostate cancers combined! Each year, about 160,000 people die from lung cancer in the U.S., accounting for more than one in four cancer deaths.
Each year, too many lives are lost to Lung Cancer and other Lung Diseases and this is your chance to climb, raise money and make an impact in their honor.
Now you can breathe a sigh of relief, just for a brief moment, knowing that there are people watching out for your lungs!
I hope to see you again next year!

Great event. Lots of fun. Even with 80 pounds worth of gear…
…Though we don’t have oxygen in our air bottles. This is a common misconception, its regular air. So there is no real advantage, unless the stairs become filled with smoke. But its a great event. Lots a great people come out. Our Fire Department has been doing it for years, and we’ll be doing it again this year too!

This passed Saturday, I ventured to my next active event. I might say it was one the hardest things I’ve struggled on, but made it all the way up 52 floors without stopping.
For those of you who don’t know what Fight for Air Climb is? every year in the city of San Francisco, the American lung association holds a sponsored event for those who fight for healthy lungs and healthy air, you help save lives today and keep America healthy tomorrow. In order to be a participant you would either donate monetary or climb the stairwells of Bank of America.
My job has participated in this event for the last five years and I’ve decided why not join? To train, practiced for a week going up my building everyday four times a day. When I say this was one of the hardest things I’ve struggled on, I felt like my lungs wanted to kick my ass! no not my thighs or my calves. It was so hard to breathe inside and is totally a different kind of struggle compared to running. What made it exciting for me? Firefighters from all over the bay were running right behind us! LOL Even then I thought they cheated because they used their oxygen masks to climb. Props to them for supporting the event.
Reward is priceless!

Last year, a group of friends & I trekked up 52 flights of stairs (1,197 steps) in effort to fundraise and bring awareness to having cleaner air. The American Lung Association started Fight for Air Climb (formerly known as Climb CA) about 4 years ago, challenging recreational activists to climb to the top of the old Bank of America building.
I had SO much fun with my group of friends (go Genetech!) that I decided to climb again THIS year. Who in the right mind would want to willingly climb that many flight of stairs? Well, go ask the 1,500+ climbers who came out this past weekend to take the vertical 5K challenge. And it’s catching on! Los Angeles recently jumped the bandwagon and has been supporting the event at the Aon building in downtown LA for the past 2 years (year three’s climb takes place on 4÷24÷10 — Earth Day).
Whether you climb for bragging rights or in honor of a loved one, the climb is a great way to bond with your friends and wager some friendly competition. If firefighters in full gear and double lung transplant patients can make their way up those 1,197 steps, then you can too! The view from the top of the building is breathtaking and quite rewarding! You can see all of the Bay Area while you munch on some fresh bagels and bubbly mimosas. Oh, did I forget to mention free massages, too?
Check out the website for additional info and pictures from this year’s recent climb!