Stair Climbing Resumes...

Well, it's been 4 months since I participated in the Big Climb, in which I raced up 1,311 steps, or 69 floors at the Columbia Tower in Seattle in just 13 minutes.  I trained hard for 3 months, climbing real stairs and doing redline training.  In October, I will be tackling another stair climb- the LONGEST STAIR CLIMB IN THE WORLD- at 180 floors. The Fight for Air Climb will take place in Bellevue and I will be traveling up a total of 4 staircases in 2 towers.  Instead of going for speed this time, I just want to FINISH!  I haven't been very motivated to start training again, but once I get back home to Olympia I will be hitting the gym several times per week.  In addition to high intensity training, I will also be working on my arms.  I didn't focus on my arms much last time, but I found that strong arms would be a valuable asset for a stair climber.  By the end of my race last time, my arms were just as, if not more, worn out than my legs.  This is due to having to use specific hand-railing techniques (to pull oneself up while double-stepping and turning corners between flights) throughout the race.  As soon as I get signed up, I will be calling for donations of support!  The Fight for Air Climb will be raising money for lung cancer.

If you don't know much about the sport of stair climbing, you have no idea how intense this sport actually is.  Watch this video of my friend/trainer PJ, an internationally known in the world of stair climbing as one of the top stair climbers in the world:

Click here for video:

http://vimeo.com/21263268

Don't run up stairs in flip flops.

This morning on my way to physics, I was trotting right up the stairs, happy as can be that it was my final day of class...  All of a sudden the front edge of my flip flop caught on the edge of the next step, causing me to stub my toe on the step.  Hard.  I didn't make a sound, I was rather hoping no one just heard the huge SLAP! my flip flop made on the step.  Luckily, I did not fall at all!  I looked at my toe, feeling woozy when I saw there was a mark showing where the nail had bent back about a third of the way up my nail.  I HATE the thought of my nails bending back, ripping, or having to be removed. I proceeded on to class (muttering in my head about the pain), and when I got there, the usual, "good morning Millie" from my classmate was returned with a pained grimace on my face, "good morning........."  I wanted to go about my business like I usually do when I get hurt.  I never think to take care of myself when I get hurt and would rather just brush it off because it could have been a lot worse than it really is.  However, my classmates were amazingly helpful, retrieving bags of ice, towels to dry the blood (by that time my toe was bleeding), and arranging a chair for me to put my foot up on.  On one hand I was surprised that people I haven't known for THAT long would be so helpful, but on the other hand, these people have been pretty amazing in all aspects in the time that I've known them.  One of the TA's went and got a really old-school metal first aid kit and I fashioned my own bandage for my toe.  Later, Alecia gave me some stickers to put on it and now my toe looks quite happy again.  Here's the gory mess in the morning:

Thanks, friends, for taking care of me today! :)

Seattle Parks (and some amazing friendships)

During my time here in Seattle, I have grown quite fond of Lincoln Park, which is in West Seattle.  I usually walk down there in about 20 minutes and get to tackle the 367 stairs back up to the top of the hill in returning home.  I enjoy the beautiful view of the water and fit in a mini-workout.  Here are some pics taken at Lincoln Park.

My great friend Allie, or Alberto as I like to call her.  Alberto, I'm so glad we met up a couple times while I was living up here.  I have no other friend that is quite like you.  Your sense of humor is one of a kind!  Love you BBP!

This is the closest I've come to feeling like I'm on a tropical beach!

Love the view from here.

I was also introduced to a new park by my friend Liz, called Carkeek Park in North Seattle.  It has walking trails, beach access, picnic tables, grass fields, and bubble entertainers. :)

We were more fascinated by these ginormous bubbles than any of the kids were.  We were not very happy with all of the kids who would run up and pop them.  Silly kids.

Posing with a bubble!

Lizziedonutface, you're an amazing friend!  Even though we have both changed a ton since 7th grade, we haven't lost that connection!  Love you tons!  You make my abs hurt from laughing all the time :)

More than the beaches, I love the friendships I have strengthened while here in Seattle with Liz & Allie... on top of strengthening those friendships, I am quite fond of the new friends I have made in the Summer Physics Institute.  They will be what keeps me coming back to the UW in future summers.  Alecia, Jason, Jason, Bailey, Holly, Sara... you are all fantastic, supportive, intelligent, and accepting friends and I know our friendships won't stop at the end of this quarter.  You made my summer experience of classes tons better than I was expecting!! =]