On Monday I went to tackle one of the more grueling workouts I put myself through…the stairs at Nippert Stadium.
With 26 flights of 59 stairs a piece, running up and down the aisles is almost masochistic. Which is why I smiled when I pulled up on my bike and looked out to see a handful of people dispersed amongst the rows, all concentrating on not missing a step. It’s an interesting crowd of mostly college age athletes, with a few gray hairs mixed in. And while one person may be sprinting up and down a set of stairs to work on speed, there are others like me who are there to work on their endurance. I like that mix, and even as we pass by each other, there is an acknowledgement of the work that is taking place.
As for the workout itself, I like to run all the stairs, then do some sprints around the football field. After a break, another set around the stairs and I’m ready to call it a day. Without hitting the top section of the stadium, and depending on whether you run the short rows in the lower part as well, you end up hitting about 3100+ steps over about a mile (according to google earth mind you). It’s the sort of thing that turns your legs to jello, but when they re-solidify you are that much stronger for it.
And riding back down the Vine St. hill on my bike is always fun!
