Stairway to Fitness!

This week, I am adding stair-climbing to my routine.  Actually, I have been adding it lately, but not on purpose!  For the last few weeks, my husband and I have been staying with different people around the country.  All of them had two story houses.  The thing I could not help noticing was how easily the owners navigated up and down their staircases. I, on the other hand, was having to be careful with my steps, watching carefully, so as not to trip or fall.  In one of the homes, the hosts were at least a decade older than I!

I remember the years when Jack and I lived in a dormitory at SMU while he attended seminary.  Those were the years I became a runner.  I would meet friends from our dorm and we'd run on the track not far from our residence. What I had forgotten, was we lived on the third story for the first year, and the dorm did not have an elevator.  Every day I climbed up and down, carrying two kids, groceries, suitcases, or whatever the day held.

One evening, the weather had been too wet and cold to do my usual run, so I decided to run up and down the stairs for 30 minutes.  It was nighttime, and the darkness had transformed the large windows in the stairwell into mirrors.  I was starting down the stairs, when I was startled by the reflection of these other pair of legs coming down with me. They were lovely legs, well muscled and slim. I turned to see who it was and was shocked!  There was no one else there!  I was looking at my own legs!  I laughed myself silly.  Never in my life had my legs looked like that.

The other benefit I remember from stair-climbing every day is the coordination.  When I was daily running up and down the stairs, I never had to watch my footsteps.  It was an inherent motion.  I think I want that ability back more than the carved legs!  I was feeling so old last weekend as I had to watch each step so carefully.
I hope I can get the coordination back.

I have been reading about climbing for fitness and there are a few points to remember, if you feel like joining me in this challenge.

• Start slowly, there is more stress on the knees going down
• Try two flights and then walk on a flat surface for a minute or two
• Warm up for 5 minutes by walking around the building or floor
• Place your entire foot on the step so you don't damage your Achilles tendon
• Alternate days of climbing with a different exercise to avoid over-use injury
• If you have them, you may want to wear knee braces for a few weeks

Have fun!  I think it is time for me to invest in an ipod.  Music always helps to relieve boredom.  Until I get one I am going to sing, at the top of my lungs!  I am going to pretend I am a kid again.  I hope I don't get arrested for disturbing the peace!  Blessings!