I’ve Been Secretly Training in a Downtown Skyscraper… and I Can Finally Talk About All of It. (Well, Most of It.)

Last Friday was a big day. It was the final day that I could climb the stairs in the 41-story Ernst & Young Building in downtown Los Angeles. I was so sore and exhausted from a good week of workouts that I could only manage two climbs (more on that later), but it felt great. Except for when I laid down after the workout, and it hurt to get up.

I’ve been attending these workouts

A Totally New Stair Race Experience (2017 San Francisco Fight For Air Climb Race Recap)

I’m back from San Francisco, where, for the third year in a row, I competed in the American Lung Association’s Fight For Air Climb. While three-peating here might make me a veteran, this year’s race was new, thanks to a change in venue. This race was held, for the first time, in 101 California, a glass skyscraper that reaches 48 stories into the sky.

101 California isn’t a landmark or a record-holder – it’s currently tied as the city’s 8th-tallest building. In fact, it’s best known as the site of a horrific tragedy

I Raced Up The Tallest Building in Seattle! (Big Climb Race Recap)

It’s a common misconception that the Space Needle, Seattle’s most iconic landmark, is also the tallest thing in town, but that’s not the case, no sir. There are actually six skyscrapers that are taller, with the tallest, Columbia Center, reaching over 300 feet higher than the Space Needle.

On Sunday, I competed in the Big Climb Seattle, a race up 1,357 stairs in the Columbia Center, and it was a momentous occasion, for a couple of reasons:

This Tiny City Has a Great Big Monster of a Stair Race! (Climb Wyndham Race Recap)

I take photos after all of my stair races, but this selfie, taken seconds after crossing the finish line and collapsing onto the carpet, really captures how thoroughly punishing and draining a stair race is. This is after one hour in the stairwell:

(A volunteer gave me the sponge, which had been soaking in ice water, and it really helped cool me down.)

The race was Climb Wyndham, the Fight For Air Climb put on by the American Lung Association of Illinois. You might think an Illinois-based stair climb would be in Chicago, which is quite literally the birthplace of the skyscraper. But you’d be wrong:

My Reaction to the First 2 Episodes of “Missing Richard Simmons.” PLUS, Why I’m Nervous as Hell For This Weekend

The first two episodes of “Missing Richard Simmons” are now available (listen to them here), and they’re straight-up riveting. It’s an eye-opening, poignant look at an enigmatic, fascinating man.

I’m featured, briefly, in both episodes, but believe me, I’d be saying this even if I wasn’t involved. Richard Simmons is a very

My Race Registration Blitz… May I Have Some Money, Pretty Please With Sugar on Top?

Hope everyone had a fun long weekend. I spent most of it stuck on the couch, thanks to my bum foot. I binge-watched every episode of “Stranger Things” (loved it), but I was also productive: I registered for some autumn stair races!

FULL DISCLOSURE: I’m about to humbly ask you to donate money to charity on my behalf for the umpteenth time, so grab your wallet. I need your help so I can compete in three fantastic events… including my first race in an Olympic venue!

An Impressive Return to the Stairwell AND My All-Time Highest National Ranking!

It’s been nearly two months since I’ve raced or trained in a stairwell. After the TOWERthon in June, I was ready for a break. That was my 9th stair race in six months! Now, though, I have to start getting ready for my fall stair races. And that meant… time to get back in the stairwell!

I didn’t waste any time. I returned to Los Angeles on Saturday, and my stair training began