My Workout at the Worst Pool in Los Angeles

I’ve swum laps at a number of city pools around town over the years. I can count five off the top of my head, with my favorite being the pool built for the 1932 Olympics. Most of the pools are pretty easy to get to, but there’s always been a closer one, in my own neighborhood, that has eluded me. It’s called the

The Most Painful Race of my Stair Climbing Career (Los Angeles Fight For Air Climb Race Recap)

This weekend’s Fight For Air Climb in Los Angeles, benefiting the American Lung Association, was the single toughest stair race I’ve ever done. For the first time in my 34-race career, I questioned whether or not I could finish. It was challenging, yes, but also excruciatingly painful and downright frightening.

The morning began wonderfully. I arrived at the event when plenty of time to prepare, warm-up, and stretch. Even though the 63-story Aon Center in downtown Los Angeles is a tall, monolithic structure, I feel quite comfortable racing there. And I should: this was my fifth consecutive year doing this race.

The building and race has a special place in my memory, because

I’m Racing This Weekend Whether I’m Ready Or Not…

…And I’m as ready as I’m going to get!

It’s been a tough couple of weeks, ever since I stopped exercising to let my knee get better. But last night I attended the final stairwell training session in the Aon Center, and I feel pretty good. And exhausted.

I was skeptical about what I’d be able to do in the stairwell without aggravating my knee, but

An Epic Hike To The Highest Point in Los Angeles

Here’s something I don’t do every day: Climb a ladder up a cell tower, rising from the top of a mountain!

Don’t worry, mom, I only climbed 15 feet or so. The tower wasn’t fenced off. I couldn’t resist!

The climb happened at the summit of Mt. Lukens, a place I’ve wanted to go for quite some time. The top of Mt. Lukens is 5,066 above sea level, and it’s technically (and barely) within the

I’m Already Really Flippin’ Excited For My Winter 2016 Stair Race Tour!

It’s only been a few days since my final race of 2015, and I’m already looking ahead to 2016. I binged the other day and signed up for SEVEN races between January and April. One of them will be in a skyscraper I’ve never raced before. Anyone know what building this is?

I’ll share more details in a second, but first: this will likely be my last post until after Christmas. I leave tomorrow night to spend the holiday with my family, but I’ll be back, between Christmas and New Years, with lots to share. Wishing you all the greatest of holidays – and stay healthy! You can easily

A Skinned Knee, A Forgotten Phone, and a Damn Fast Climb (2015 Los Angeles CF Climb Race Recap)

There is nothing more exhilarating than standing on a skyscraper roof, looking for miles in every direction, after a stair climb race. I get the same chills every time, including this past Saturday, when I competed in the Los Angeles CF Climb for the third consecutive year.

It was an eventful, satisfying morning, and one that started on the wrong foot, when I arrived at the race and realized

My FINAL Fundraising Request of 2015… PLUS, I Find Stairs Wherever I Go!

I’m in the home stretch of my 2015 race calendar! I’ve competed in THIRTEEN RACES so far this year – ten stair races, plus three runs (see the full list here). I only have two more left! One is in this towering downtown Los Angeles skyscraper…

…and the other is in the home of the