Run the Republic

It took a while to get the photographer to cough up these pictures so this post is not exactly real-time. Turns out one of my workmates organized a team for a fundraising event sponsored by the American Lung Association. The event required participants to "run" up 53 flights of stairs to reach the top of the Republic building in downtown Denver. It was chosen because it is the highest skyscraper in the city.

I use the term run lightly since not many people are actually running past the 3rd or 4th floor, and it becomes strictly an exercise in survival. You would think that the American Lung Assc. would choose something that would be good for your lungs, but I can say with certainty that I nearly coughed up a lung upon reaching the finishing line. I think they were pumping in extra cold outside air into the stairwell, and coupled with the exertion my bronchial tubes must have gotten over stressed. I wasn't alone...it sounded like a TB ward up there.

Being the oldest team member (by a number of years), and in keeping with the current political spin-doctoring on TV, I felt it was my obligation to set a low expectation of my personal performance. Consequently, my goal was to arrive at the finish line ahead of the guy with the kid in the backpack. Mission accomplished...(but not by much). Ok so I did get to start ahead of him, but Cathy and I both finished in a little over 14 minutes beating the 15+ minute average time for all participants. When asked about the rumor that Cathy beat my time by 6 seconds my official response is "No comment".