Tower Climbing Stories From Our Members!

So what is it like to actually climb the CN Tower? Is it tough to breath in the tower stairwell? What are the stairs like?

Our members share their most memorable experiences at stair climbing events!

From Rebecca Lui 

On April 17 2010, I walked 1776 stairs in the stairwell of the CN Tower. Why? You see, I have this list – some call it a Bucket List – I call it things I want to do, not before I die, but while I’m still alive. So on a cold Saturday morning, I climbed the world’s tallest tower because it was number 11 on my list, and well, I’m still alive.

I expected the Atrium to be chaotic when I arrived shortly after 9 am but registration only took a few minutes. Perhaps this was because everyone had gotten there before us. It would take another hour in line before getting to the base of the Tower (more time for my heart to pound out of my chest from nervousness and for those passing-out-in-the-stairwell-and-being-carried-down-by-paramedics scenarios to run in my head).

As a first time climber, I didn’t have much of a plan going in. I really just wanted to get to the top in one piece. I took my first break around floor 32. This was a surprise since only 2 weeks earlier, when I began my training; I would reach the 8^th floor of my apartment out of breath and gasp “I’m never going to make it”. My next break came slightly earlier than another 32 floors. This seemed to be a recurring theme as every other break came sooner and sooner as my lungs demanded I stop torturing them if only for a moment. A continuous loop of “keep walking… keep breathing…” played in my head. I stopped looking at the floor numbers at some point as they seemed more taunting than encouraging but before I knew it, the stairwell seemed to be shrinking and I was nearly at the top. No sooner had I heard volunteers shouting to get our time cards ready did a hand appear from above to clock me in at 29:49 minutes – just under my goal of 30 minutes!

Despite the initial exhaustion, I felt somehow lighter and more energized from the climb. I now understood why so many people I saw earlier were leaving the climb with huge grins on their faces. The feeling of accomplishment from setting a goal that seemed so big (or in this case, tall) and achieving it is beyond words. And doing it with 6,400 people, well that’s just priceless!

I haven’t decided if I will do it again now that I’ve crossed number 11 off my list. But if I do, next time will be different because now I know that I can do it. I also know that I want to continue climbing stairs as a part of my exercise routine - maybe just not 1776 in one go.

I look at the Tower a little differently now. Somehow it looks shorter when you’ve conquered its height with just the power of your body. You really appreciate those often taken for granted legs when you realize all the places they can take you: to the store, to the park, and yes, even to the top of the CN Tower. 

From Trevor Folgering:

Race Perspective CN Tower Climb 2010

Well I finished climbing up the CN Tower for the eighth time so far! I have to say it was such an amazing experience! Climbing the tower this year was different then the years gone by as I also had to climb the tower AGAIN because I was part of a the AUUM/Canada StairClimbing Association Group! 

So here is my experience this year! :)

This year I again wanted to be the first one up the tower and have a clear shot up to the top.

I woke up at 3:45 am Saturday morning. It was fun waking up this early! :) I Arrived at the Tower around 5 am, and there was already a line up!!! I started doing a little bit of a warm-up and waking up the body. I actually was caught on video warming up, so I will be posting that when I get that video :)

The Registration process was quick and painless and by 6:08 am I was on my way up the tower.

My strategy this year was to go all out and not stop until I get to the top. I have heard of different racing strategies like start off slower and push harder on as you climb, but I really want to always push my hardest right from the start. I am like the Steve Prefontaine of Stair Racing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQojAJAClIY

So as I neared the halfway mark (Floor 72) I was at 5 minutes and 1 second. When I came up near floor 120 I started to feel the effects of climbing so high so fast. I was close to 10 minutes. By the time I ended at 144 I finished at 11 minutes and 15 seconds.

I was happy with my placing and time, but now I can finish the climb eventually under 10 minutes. I am going to still train hard and push my way toward beating the 10 minute mark.

I believe I might have to switch my nutrition to a more organic diet and eliminating some of the foods that may slow my body down.

I also need to get under 190 lbs so I am lighter and am able to have more explosive power!

My second time was ALOT of fun! I ended up finishing this climb in 15 minutes and 53 seconds. It was a fun climb and I ended up cheering alot of people in and having fun climbing the stairs.

I did a lot of technique training and explosive muscle training as I climbed.

Overall I feel great, my lungs feel a bit weezy, but my legs feel amazing!

My future goal is to climb the CN Tower 24 times in a 24 hour period. I plan to do this in September this year!

Till next time!

Trevor Folgering

From the CN Tower Race 2009

"Well I have finished the CN Tower Climb, My 7th time up, and I feel I gave it my all, but up short in beating my Personal Best. I finished the climb in 12:25 minutes; my PB was 11:33 minutes.

It was a good race up the tower and I am really happy that I finished it, but to be honest I was slightly disappointed.

I have to say by the halfway mark floor 72 I clocked in at 5minutes and 36 seconds. So If I had stayed on pace I would finish in 10:32, but that wasn't the case.

I arrived at the tower around 5:15 am; yes I got up at 4 am! Woohoo! Registration was very easy and we waited in a group many people waiting to be let go and climb the tower.

By around 6:15 am est., the organizers let most people through to climb, we headed up the escalators and outside toward the looming CN Tower.

I ended up sprinting past at least 40-50 people as I wanted to be one of the first climbers to the top.

Before I started I was given a time card with a number punched in, I then started my watch and I was off!

It had been raining in the morning causing the first few floors to be wet, I almost slipped climbing around floors 1 and 2, but kept going, staying on my feet.

I started running up, driving through with the legs and letting my core do a lot of the work. I forget how tough the stairs are. The separation between each step is bigger then most that I have trained on, so I felt that immediately.

I ran to approx, floor 45, which I started to climb, grabbing the railings and driving hard through each leg.

As I got to floor 72 I checked my watch, 5 minutes and 36 seconds, I was on pace to break my PB.

As I continued I noticed I was slowing down. I could feel my lungs burning, my legs felt fine, not that fatigued.

I got to the 120th floor and looked down at my watch, 10 minutes and change. I thought to myself that there would be no beating my PB this year, but to finish strong.

I got to the 144th floor elated yet slightly Disappointed 12:25minutes, nothing close to the PB or the world record I want to beat.

My friends finished closely behind and as they started to calculate their times I noticed that they were all slower then last years.

Interesting..

It was very humid in the stairwell, Anthony my close friend told me. More humid then anytime he has climbed it (14 in total) I also wondered if giving blood affected my performance as well.

I pondered my results and figured there was always next year. As I head out onto the Observation deck I vowed to myself that I will break the 10 minutes mark in April 2010.

So I am happy that I made a great time, but want to do better."

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