climb the CN tower

I’m going to climb the CN Tower for the United Way on Oct 22. I’ve been climbing my condo stairs sporadically to train, but get tired by the 24th floor. I’m pretty scared I’m not going to make it! I don’t know how people sprint up the stairs to the top in 10 minutes… I figure I’ll have to pump myself full of sugar and get disgustingly hyper before I start in order to have a fighting chance! But it’s been a personal goal of mine since high school, and I can’t wait to reach the top.

I didn’t end up getting a stair climber, it was too expensive. That hasn’t been an excuse for not training though. When I told my parents that I wanted to climb the stairs of the CN Tower they didn’t believe I could do it and said it would take me at least an hour. Since they said that I have been spending between a 1 1/2 to 2 hours daily stepping up and down a stool (while watching an episode of biggest loser.) I wanted to take a picture of me at every floor beside the floor number, now I just want to run up as fast as I can to show them that I’m alot stronger and more fit than they think! My goal is 20 minutes.

Yesterday I decided that I wanted to try to climb the stairs of the CN Tower when I’m there for my vacation. Today I’m going to get a weighted skipping rope and a stair climber. I’m going to train everyday. My goal is to do it in 45 – 60 minutes. As a reward along the way I’m going to stop for a moment and take a picture of me at every floor. That’ll be a lot of pictures but it’ll be proof I did it and it’ll be interesting to see the different shades of red in my face.

I can only think of how hard it is going to be …..
I dont now how to get my self ready for something like this it is going to be a challange

I registered myself for the climb on 18th April. this event is being organized by the WWF and I need to fundraise $75 at least. In case anybody has strong feelings about what the WWF does for our world, please feel free to donate here (even 5 bucks is great):

http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=599299

Thanks

Ro

Me and two friends made the big climb today. Maybe we should’ve sped up b/c it was like a leisurely stroll to be honest. We’d let other ppl run by. But it was a lot of fun, I got to spend time w/ them and ending up 553 metres above Toronto was my reward.

Check out how small things are from the tower.

What makes it even more of an accomplishment, is getting back on the ground, walking away a few bloocks and looking up at the CN Tower…

It’s HUGE…and YOU just climbed it.

Advice for the future: arrive early to avoid long long lines for registration, getting up the tower, getting down the tower in the elevator, and getting your tshirt.

There are 1776 steps and 144 flights of stairs!

Starting to get a little nervous now…only 10 days left until I climb the second tallest building in the world! :S

Me, Beth and Elizabeth will be trekking up the tower on April 19!!!

Already started the “training regimen.” Just 15 mins of exercise bike a day.

Kit Kat did it in Oct, she said it only takes half an hour….even with Asthma!

Much like a mountain, walking to the top of this thing doesn’t make much sense, and unlike a mountain, there is an elevator (granted it costs $20 to use). Now there are some options at the top of the CN Tower that aren’t on top of your typical mountain, there’s a really good restaurant (so I’ve heard), there’s a place where you can buy miniature glass models of the CN Tower, and there’s a bathroom, although on a mountain I guess it’s all bathroom if you really want it to be. Anyways…it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, it’s a challenge, I’m aiming to complete it in a good time, it’s motivation for my workout routine, and it’s something different to do. I’ll be doing it on April 19th.

Climbing the Tower is mostly for kicks, it’s not something that you really must train hard for. I’m in average shape and I made it up there in 23 minutes and 54 seconds. Not only do you help a great cause (albeit: the money I donated went to “registration,” which I hope means to the charity and not just the hired help to run the process), you get a real sense of accomplishment when you stare down and through the glass floor (again, albeit: for whatever precious minutes the organizers allow you). Great fun!

Tips: bring a water bottle. I know they say not to, but most security members do not care. Bring a cheap one in case they do confiscate it. Try hiding it inside your pants/jacket. If you didn’t, however, don’t worry! Most organizations, at least the October 2006 climb, grant you a free water bottle at the top. Also, cellphones and the like can be hidden the same way too.

MOST IMPORTANT TIP: Do not be deceived by the last few flights – they are not finished. After exiting the main staircase, there will be 14 or so more floors – do not slow down like I did.

Lastly, when you are getting your time-ticket for the climb, make sure you get it freshly printed. I got one of the 50 (or so) already printed ones that were sitting on the table. The time was off by minutes, no lie. :(