We went to Adele's house. She lives in an apartment building that has 6 floors and a restricted access (1 more flight) to the roof. Lee and the kids took one stairwell and I took the other. The kids mentioned going up 6 times. I said ok. I don't know why Jeremy wore sweatpants - major booboo. He stopped after 9 flights. He said it was too hot and he couldn't breathe in there. Jessie dragged Lee for 12 before giving up. I went to the roof (7 flights) 6 times for a total of 42. Gotta do what I gotta do. It was hot tho up near the roof it was better. It wasn't hard steps either. One flight was 1 flight. No turns. At the top, you turn but you already did 1 flight. Lastnight I had a thought...Maybe it was hotter for them than it was for me because my staircase was closer to outside then theirs. I don't know. This Saturday we will climb at my sisters house. Hate it but need stairs...
Amir decided to go for it and he so far did 40 flights so he really needed at least 40, tho 44 is a better minimum. Jessie and Jeremy were going for 58 flights tho Jessie asked if she could do a little more after that. I said no! Jeremy suggested they do 56 and then she goes again with him trying to catch her. As soon as he catches her, they stop. I said NO! Knowing her, she would do 84 without Jeremy catching her. My goal was 56.
Did my 56 and stopped. Kids did 56 including Amir. Yay...Tho he was all red. He at this point can without a doubt do it. I mean, what's 10 more? Jeremy had a rough time of it. The cold and lack of sleep really got him. He was too dead for Tennis and Swim and felt ashamed. No need to be ashamed I told him, tho I think he should have gone anyway. Jessie, on the other hand...Stairs are her forte without a doubt.
At one point, they dropped Jeremy so they waited for him, while she went down a flight to check on him and then back up. Then, they all looked down and Jeremy's glasses fell. Luckily only 2 flights and they didn't break. Who went down and up? Jessie. She had a total of 59 flights that day...
OK...Will go Chronologically. This weekend was tough and legs are...Well they are. Saturday was a little over 8 miles with Pepe followed by a much slower 4.6 with Adele. Same hills but much slower. OUCH. This was followed by on my feet the whole day at the YMCA and tired legs. Sunday was a Jim/Gail run. Started with Jim, Gail joined us and then I left her. Ran 16.6 and got chafed badly. Quick shower and drive to the last official stairs training. Did 56 flights with DEAD legs. Ouch. Kids, on the other hand? I told them no more than 56. Jessie was tired so she said maybe less. Jeremy woke up at 2:30 due to a cold and could not go back to sleep, so he read. He read 600+ pages, God help him but he was tired. Peer pressure anyone? Amir and Lee did 60 - What? Jeremy decided to do a few more by himself. Jessie informed him that she has to go with him so he did 66 and she did 69. Crazy people.
Today's news? Lee-Jeremy-Jessie-Amir are now officialy team 3Hn1M (3 Hirsch's -n- 1 Moverman). Yay...
66 flights. Where is the damn elevator? Hahaha.
So, my sister (Yael) was told by work that she has to go to South Africa for work. Her husband, Oren, was gonna be Amir's support. Gotta give it to Oren too. When Amir decided to train and we weren't there, Oren went with him. Climbed right with him.
Spoke to Oren on Saturday as to what we are going to do... One option is to pick them up and drive to 30 Rock. Another option was to park near the Movermans and cab it up. Decided that parking was gonna be horrible near 30 rock and to just park near the Moverman and cab it. All decided and all good.
Left the house about 7:15 am toward Manhattan. On the way there Oren called. Change of plans...Drive there/park there. OK.
Drive there was no problem. Parking was a little more worrisome but found a lot. Walking to 30 Rock when I hear my name. Tammi Bryck. Love her...Her kids ran it. Sure they did awesome. I think she said her family team was the #1 fudnraiser. I believe it. She and Hillel are the RD's for the Race to Israel 5K and they fundraise like crazy. Later saw Hillel too.
Not too many people around on the outside but we do see people with shirts and medals so you know you are at the right place. Go in, head downstairs and it's pandemonium. Tons of people. Tons of snacks that are gluten free too which is good for Amir. Both Amir and his Dad have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and must eat a Gluten Free diet. Checked in and got some of our stuff. Jeremy and I already got ours in the mail since we met our fundraising goal before a certain date. Hit the bathrooms and changed clothes.
Got in line. Lee and I got some snacks for later tho she ate a little. We got to the start of the line but they told us that the kids can't start until 9. I left them to a part of the tail-end of the 8:55 group. They waited till 9.
Waiting on line and the couple in front of me is having a grand ol' time. Started speaking to them, can't help myself. Turns out they did this race last year and... Last year they partied until 4 am drinking Jack Daniels and smoking. She was fine but he on the other hand must have looked horrible. Medical stopped him and refused to let him continue. According to him, his blood pressure was 300+. I don't know about that but they let him sign a AMA (Against Medical Advice) form. That's the only way for him to have continued.
So, when I left my guys, I went up the first escalator and walked a hallway until I met those 2. From there we continued walking till the next escalator. Once there, we walked a little more till the official line up to the stairs. I looked over the balcony and saw my guys. YAY! Also saw Karen Larkin and husband John.
Also, behind us on the same floor, I saw a woman who I found her race report online. Maybe I will look her up again. She wears make up at all races. Still, she changed her lifestyle and looks great now. Kudos.
Time to go. Started and passed the woman in front of me. Next up was the man from the couple. Bad timing too. Who does he run into on the stairs? The medic who made him sign the AMA form last year. He wanted to shake his hand as I ran through them screaming sorry. Later, I saw him and apologized...
Comparing this race (30 Rock) and the Fight for Air Climb (1 Penn Plaza), there are some differences.
| 30 Rock | 1 Penn Plaza |
|---|---|
| 66 flights | 55 flights |
| You finish up on the balcony outside. Depending on the weather this can be great or can suck. Beautiful view. | You finish up on a closed floor. Depending on the weather this can be great or can suck. No view except from window. |
| Race capped at 1,500 people. Very well organized. Lots of space to move around. About 1,000+ showed up. | Race had 300+ athletes. Very well organized. Less space to move around. |
| Most flights had 2 parts tho sometimes they had a landing for you to run on - breaks monotony. Mostly Left Turns only except when they broke the monotony and suddenly had a right turn. Very wide stairs. Lots of air. | Each flight had 2 parts. Right Turns only. Enough space for 2 people abreast. |
| Not all flights clearly marked tho every floor was labeled with the top 66 fundraisers. | All flights clearly marked. |
| They had 2 rest stops and they had volunteers on each and every floor. | They had 2 rest stops. |
Bottom line is both races were great and they were the same and they were different. It's the way it is. Any which way there's suffering to be had.
Didn't stop at the rest stops. Continued on and on and on. Got to 66 and wasn't sure where the finish line was. Guy told me just 1 more floor and I went at it. No more holding the rail - just a hard and fast finish. Volunteers started screaming "Marathon Runner! Marathon Runner!". Basically just adding more fuel to the fire. Finished strong on the balcony. Oren was there. Cold but felt good initially. Got my medal and moved to the finish line both to see my guys and also because there was warm air coming out of the stairs.
Waited and waited when suddenly Jeremy appeared. Little later Amir. Little later the girls showed up.
Headed downstairs and got food, our shirts and changed.
And here's the scoop... Boys went first and shot right out of the gate with the girls following. Jessie agreed to stop at rest stops for some water. Jeremy was quick_quick_quick at the rest stops. Lee and Jessie got to the 2nd rest stop and saw Amir looking rather green. Lee tried to get a bag for Amir but no one listened to her and Amir ended up projectiling vomitting all over the floor. I think the (very) late breakfast (he finished as we picked him up), followed by food right before start, followed by a harder than usual push did the trick. Still, after getting checked out by medical, he finished. Gotta give all my guys credit and especially to Amir. Takes a lot to show up at the start. Takes even more to vomit and have that experience and then to go and finish anyway.
Jessie took her medal to school yesterday to show off. Good for her!
This is a race report from that woman I spoke about. The one who changed her life around.
