Alberto Lopez

Do you go by a nickname? AO or Bert

Birthdate: 28 April 1980

What is your occupation? A former educator now working at Whole Foods Market

What/when was your first climb? I am not sure, maybe 2009

How many climbs have you completed? About 20

Why/how did you start? My former students were my inspiration. We can see the tallest building, west of the Mississippi (Us Bank Tower in DTLA) from the school playground. At the time, they were in awe of Spiderman. So, I told them that I could climb as Spiderman did. And my stair climbing life began.

Do you have a favorite climb? Why? The AON Los Angeles building because of the difficulty of the stairs and Towerthon San Diego for mentally pushing your body further than you ever have. Plus seeing the same smiley faces brings joy.

Why do you climb? I am not sure why I climb, I just do.

Are there other sports you’re passionate about? Crossfit and trail running.

Did you have injuries or issues you needed to overcome to climb?      Stair climbing has been my physical therapy for my knees. My doctor told me to do lunges and squats to allow the muscles to get stronger. Stair climbing does that for me.

How do you train?      I chose to not have a car. Because of that, I cycle everywhere. I also do crossfit, swim, track endurance and stairs in the building I live at. Only two floors but that happens to work. I am also a volunteer pacer for a local running group, A Runners Circle.

Do you have a special relationship with any of your step-siblings? All of them! I am always at a happy place with every single one of them. Madeline encourage me to be part of a the team (WCL). Jeff Dinkin has always pushed me to be better and quicker in the stairs. Nandor has spiritually conversation with me. I get what I need from all without asking. They just give and I hope I can do the same for them. It’s a positive, competitive, encouraging, helpful group in West Coast Labels

Who inspires you? You do! And so does anyone you come in contact in life. For good or bad, you can always internalize it and make it positive. We get to live this one life, we should be inspired by all.

Eric Leninger

Birthdate: 19 August 1983

Do you have a nickname? Lenny

What is your occupation? Park District HR Manager - former attorney

What/when was your first climb? Hustle Up the Hancock - 2005 (half-climb)

How many climbs have you completed? 64 as of 05/18/2016

Why/how did you start? In college up at Lake Forest there is a 5-floor academic building on campus. One year an on-campus organization held a fundraiser for charity: how many times could you climb up and down the building in 1 hour. Participants were asked to acquire sponsors that would pledge a certain amount for each lap completed. I completed over 50 laps, and raised lots of $$ for the charity (much more than my sponsors thought it would be)! After that, someone suggested I check-out Hustle Up the Hancock. The next month I entered the climb.....earning 2nd over all (half-climb mind you), while carrying my Sony S2 discman. After that I got the climbing bug.

Do you have a favorite climb? Why? I like multi-climbs (either double/triple, or power-hour). There's something about the extended competition, and knowing just how fast you have to go against your competition, that really drives me.

As for buildings.....Oakbrook Terrace Tower is my favorite (the climb has had multiple names over the years). I've lived in the Western Suburbs of Chicago virtually my entire life, and Oakbrook is just a few minutes away. It's a 31-floor building with shallow steps and a narrow stairwell so you can easily reach both rails. I've been a part of the race as it has progressed from a single climb, to the triple, to the power-hour. I've had some very tough races there with some very fast competition....but the 2007 edition is most memorable for me. It was the first year of the triple-climb, and spawned my appreciation for the multi-climb races. On a day where I was expected to (at best) come in 3rd place, I had one of my strongest days in the stairwell and ended-up with the overall victory (my first one in a major race). At the end, I collapsed next to the climber who had worn the #1 bib that day. I did my best to express gratitude and admiration between gasps of air. On the 3rd climb I caught and passed him in the last 2 floors, despite the fact that my legs were total Jell-O. I was in disbelief - did this really just happen? While I was thrilled, I also felt bad and out of place....like I had messed-up the established order. 

Later in the morning that same climber approached me with the #1 bib. He offered it to me saying I had earned it. To this day it hangs on the wall in my house (signed), in the stairwell, directly above the #2 bib I wore that day. 

2 weeks later, that same individual beat me by over a minute at the 10th edition of Hustle Up the Hancock. Throughout the remainder of college (and law school) I hung the #1 bib on my apartment wall right next to the t-shirt from 2007 Hancock. It served as a reminder that I hold close to this day: recognize your accomplishments and rough days....never getting too high or too low. ALWAYS stay humble, because you can always improve. 

The individual named above is Terry Purcell (more on this great individual later).

Least favorite climb? Why? For many years this was Hustle Up the Hancock. It took me many years to "figure-out" the top-half of the building. For a few years I would start-off strong, only to "blow-up" in the final 52 floors. In 2014 I finally figured it out, and then realized that I had some important milestones in that building....so I guess Hancock is no longer my least favorite :-)

Scale the Strat in Vegas isn't my favorite - for the simple reason that I cannot climb with my iPod! Unlike many climbers....I always use music. Sometimes the songs vary, but they are carefully selected to help me focus and concentrate on the specific race at hand.

The Presidential Towers race in Chicago is so much fun....and so much agony. I call it the meat grinder. Even though (as of 2016) I hold the 2 fastest 4-tower climbs there, it isn't an event I look forward to. One year Jesse Berg and I did a 2-person relay...only running 2 buildings makes it a bit more fun!

Are there other sports you're passionate about? In high school I was an average CC and track runner. I also played basketball. I enjoy cycling and swimming too. I do a number of sports/activities in order to remain fit and active, but stairclimbing is the only sport in which I truly focus on competition.

Do you have injuries or issues you need to overcome to climb? The fall of my return to climbing (2013), I was hurt for a couple months after crashing during a 100-mile bike race. In 2011 I strained an intercostal muscle during a climb. Over the years I've had to watch my IT-bands...they can flare-up and cause problems. Every so often (more so in the past couple years), aches and pains can progress into nagging overuse injuries....but (thankfully) nothing terrible.

How do you train? This could be an entire survey itself. I train hard....and a lot :-)

Do you have a special relationship with any of your step-siblings? Legend-> Idol-> Competitor-> Rival-> Friend-> Mentor. Many different interactions here, but they describe how Terry Purcell and I have gotten to know each other better. When I first started climbing, Terry's name was something of a legend. You know, that guy who seems so great that you wonder if he's really real. At 2006 Aon I asked him to take a picture with me, and couldn't believe how nice he was. As I started climbing I thought to myself: "If only 1 day I could get to that level, be in the same league as him...actually compete against him....how cool would that be?!" It took years of hard work and dedication, but slowly my times dropped and became closer to his....close enough that I actually set my sites on beating him. Let's be honest though - the lifetime total in this department is: Eric-1, Terry-EVERY.other.time.we.raced :-) In the last couple years we raced, Terry started becoming somewhat of a coach to me. I've always listened (and thought) I knew exactly what he was saying, but the more time goes on, the more I draw from our conversations...past and present. It's an interesting dynamic between us filled with mutual respect and admiration, but also the fire of pure competition. He's someone I hold in the highest regard...but also someone who brings out my absolute top level of competition. When he retired, I felt that part of my connection to the sport was lost, as there was no-one else on that starting line that I looked forward to racing as much as him. When I returned to the sport after a year off, Terry became a true mentor....helping me understand that life inside the stairwell is applicable to life outside the stairwell too. 

Coming full-circle, I've tried to mentor a few climbers from the next generation as well: Jason Larson, and Bob/Tom Liking. Even though Jason lives a few hours away, he has become one of my best friends. Since we've met, I believe we've stayed at each other's homes nearly a dozen times. The Likings live in the same town as I do, so we train and car-pool together.

Who inspires you? In real-life I draw inspiration from UFC fighter Urijah Faber. Faber is a leader who sets goals, takes chances, and never quits. The "FORM" athletic shorts I often race in are replicas of Urijah's old fight shorts.

I also draw a lot of inspiration from the character Rocky Balboa. A perpetual underdog with an iron will. In ROCKY III his relationship with Apollo Creed changes, as Apollo teaches Rocky what it means to truly be a champion. Inside, I've always considered Terry to be an Apollo-like figure in my life.

Do you have a good luck charm or any superstitions or pre-race rituals? HA - take your pick. Everything from clothing/warm-up gear, songs, jumping into the starting line at the last minute, etc. I always wear 1 white and 1 orange sock as well - representing my Camaro that is white with orange stripes. I don't like climbing in dri-fit or "tech" shirts. I prefer a cotton shirt with sleeves. I've worn many different ones over the years: Illinois Doberman Rescue, DuPont Pioneer, Knight Rider, etc. Since I started racing again in 2013, the most frequent shirt has been the bat breaking through glass - The Dark Knight Rises cover image.

My climb-day breakfast is also a bit unorthodox: Red Bull and Snickers. Yep. You read that correctly.

What's on your iPod during workouts/competitions? All over the board. 3 of the most popular race songs are: Awolnation: Sail, Dragonforce: Through The Fire and Flames, and Kanye West: Stronger.

If we had numbers on our jerseys, what would your number be? 22

What would you like to tell others about yourself and your experience with stair climbing that might inspire them in their lives? Stair climbing has been a big part of my life for many years, and holds many parallels to life outside of climbing/competition. Success isn't easy, and it doesn't come overnight. It's also not defined by anyone other than yourself. Decide what you want to do or what you want to accomplish....and go get it. You might not get there for a while, you might not ever not fully get the intended result, but you will grow along the way and learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible.

Syd Arak

Birthdate: 19 June 1945

What is your occupation? Attorney, Adjunct Law Professor

What/when was your first climb? Bop to the Top in Indianapolis where I live, more than 20 years ago.

How many climbs have you completed? More than 75

Why/how did you start? I was a runner and started doing the Bop to the Top about 1993 as something different, without any special training.  I enjoyed the challenge, realized I was good at this and kept at it every year, but didn't compete in any other climbs until 2004. My girlfriend  climbed stairs at work for exercise and we did some stair workouts together. Stair races were still pretty rare at that time. I told her that I wanted to do the Empire State Building climb, but that it was hard to get into.  She suggested entering the Sears (now Willis) climb since it was the tallest building in the country.  Knowing how hard the 36 floor Bop to the Top is, I thought she was crazy, but we did Sears in 2004, and I've climbed it all 11 years since.

Do you have a favorite climb? Why? ESBRU. As it used to be.  Hard to get into. Relatively small field (about 200 men and less than 100 women). International field. Two mass starts for men and one for women into a narrow doorway and narrow stairs.   Finish outside with sprint around observation deck. Landings every floor that you have to run.  NOT a charity event, but run by NY Road Runners. Different and special.  Not that way anymore. I was fortunate enough to be selected to compete for six years in a row, from 2006-2011.  Piero Dettin from Venice, Italy won my age group every year and was a legend. I could never beat him, but we became good friends and met for lunch every year before ESBRU and Sears in spite of the language barrier.  I finally did beat him and it was a great feeling of accomplishment.

Least favorite climb? Why? They are all painful.  Some climbs are run better than others, and fortunately, the charity climbs have become much more professional over the years.

Why do you climb? The same reason I still run and bike. I'm still competitive and it’s a way to force me to stay in shape and see where I'm at. Although, for a long time, I could track my improvement, and now that my times have started to slip I'm starting to re-evaluate this question, regardless of age group success.  Also, stair climbing does not lead to injury and is a great winter activity. Lastly, and not to be discounted, I've met so many terrific, supportive and interesting people through this sport.

Are there other sports you’re passionate about? Biking

Did you have injuries or issues you needed to overcome to climb? I had significant chronic achilles tendon injuries when running, but nothing from climbing.

How do you train? I believe in high intensity intervals.  I have established a relationship with the security guys in a 36 story building which I try to get to every week or two. Some running, biking and the gym.

Do you have a special relationship with any of your step-siblings?  Lots of wonderful friends among fellow climbers in the US. By forming the West Coast Labels "Team," Mark Trahanovsky created an atmosphere where there's always someone you know at every stair climb, which makes the events about the people as well as the climbs.

Who inspires you? Piero Dettin    

What would you like to tell others about yourself and your experience with stair climbing that might inspire them in their lives?  I've been fortunate enough to have some age group success on a competitive level over the years, which I suppose kept me hooked.  I even was an overall winner in a local American Lung Association triple climb a few years ago. But there's always somebody faster out there to keep me humble. I like to kid that my success is due to the difficulty my age group competitors have getting up the stairs with their walkers and wheelchairs, but that isn't true at all. I'm heartened to see that there are still plenty of competitive "older" people who keep themselves in excellent shape out there.  And, of course, still lots of younger folks to outclimb.

Stair climbing is a great exercise for people of all ages.  Non-impact and easy on your joints (at least on the way up). And it doesn't have to be competitive.

Karen Geninatti

Birthdate: 28 September 1957

What is your occupation? Personal Trainer

What/when was your first climb? 1980

How many climbs have you completed? 50+???

Why/how did you start? I competed in running events - Marathon, 1/2 marathons and 5K's 30 years ago. I then competed in bodybuilding, on the natinal level for 12 years. I was looking for a new way to challenge myself, and certainly found it in tower running.

Do you have a favorite climb? Why? I love them all, but USBank is a favorite. I love the commeraderie, the atmosphere, and the all day party. I get to see so many climbing friends. It is nice that the hotel is so close by and a very well ran event.

Least favorite climb? Why? Hilton, Springfield. Funny, because I have a team of 131 who competes in it. But It is my home turn, and it is so hard to be on top of my game when I have my team to look after. I would rather just be there for my team.

Why do you climb? The challenge. The stair climbing family.

Are there other sports you’re passionate about? Bodybuilding. Bike racing.

Did you have injuries or issues you needed to overcome to climb? No

How do you train? 6 days a week. Approx 3 hrs a day

Do you have a special relationship with any of your step-siblings? definetely

Who inspires you? MARK BLOCK! Many others- David Hanley, Madeleine Ronk, NelsonQuong, Oz Osborn, Syd Arak, Bob Toews, Jason Larson, Josh Duncan, Eric Leninger, Kristin Frey, Tommy Coleman, Alex Workman, Veronica Stocker, Cindy Harris, Jeff Dinkin. Really our whole stair climbing family.

Do you have a good luck charm or any superstitions or pre-race rituals?    Prayer in starting line.    

What's on your iPod during workouts/competitions? Don't use one

Do you have a website or blog for those interested in learning more about you? www.karengonline.com

If we had numbers on our jerseys, what would your number be? 9 or 11

What would you like to tell others about yourself and your experience with stair climbing that might inspire them in their lives? I would tell that that ANYONE can do this. I have seen people climb stais on crutches, one leg, on oxygen, and most inspiring, MARK BLOCK, who climbs stairs after being paralyzed twice in his life and told he would never MOVE again, let alone walk. 

Stan Schwartz

Birthdate:      02 November 1959

What is your occupation? Computer system administrator

What/when was your first climb? April, 2009 - The LA Aon climb 

How many climbs have you completed?  30 or so

Why/how did you start? I thought it would be an interesting physical challenge, and I wanted to get to stand on the roof of the AON building

Do you have a favorite climb? Why?  The San Diego Towerthon. Traditionally, I’ve done better at things that are longer, as opposed to fast sprints.

Least favorite climb? Why?  The San Diego ALA climb. At 34 stories, the building is just too short.

Why do you climb? It’s still an interesting physical challenge. And I’ve got a whole social circle out of doing this crazy sport. So it’s fun to visit and see everyone.  

Are there other sports you’re passionate about? I ride my bike a lot. I’ve been a big cyclist since 1973.

Did you have injuries or issues you needed to overcome to climb?  Not particularly.    

How do you train? Riding my bike, doing practice climbs downtown when I can, and doing stairs at Millikan Library at Caltech.

Do you have a special relationship with any of your step-siblings?      Susan Opas was the one who first told me how to find stair events, so she’s really the reason I got so involved in this crazy sport.  

If we had numbers on our jerseys, what would your number be? I’d go with 101, since I climbed the Wilshire-Figueroa building 101 times in 2013.  

Do you have a website or blog for those interested in learning more about you?   www.1134.org.  The website hasten by turn stair charts of over a dozen skyscrapers.     

I started counting steps in 2012 when I was trying to work out the most efficient stepping patterns to take the minimum number of steps.  The whole idea was to eliminate taking extra steps on the landings while turning. I figured that taking an extra step costs 1/2 second or so, and multiplying that by two landings per floor and 50-75 floors
adds up to some time.

So I worked out a pattern that worked on the Aon building stairs. A single foot on the landing, pivot, and start each flight left foot first. The pattern repeats, and has not wasted steps. So I started doing that in practice, and I started noticing that, while it was efficient, my left leg seemed to be working harder than the right. So I paid attention and noticed that the flights were 11 steps each. That meant doing three doubles with the left leg, and two doubles and a single on the right. So the left leg was working 20% harder than the
right. So then I figured out to just alternate putting the one single step at the beginning or the end of each 11-step flight. That alternates which leg is working harder. So now I do this change every five floors to even out the load on the legs.

So after I started thinking about stepping patterns, I started paying more attention to the step configurations, and I started wondering if the published step counts they had for the buildings were right. I saw that Kevin Crossman had made a detailed chart for the building he works and trains in, so I decided to try making one for the Aon building. I figured this would help with working out the best step patterns for the different sections of the staircase, and also would help for working out split times for pacing. So I walked up slowly on one of the practice nights, and I took detailed notes. And when I made
up the chart, I found that their published count of 1377 was wrong. As it turned out, George Grena later came and reviewed the staircase and found a couple of small errors in my chart.

Leland Jay

Do you go by a nickname?  I write music and have done a couple of tongue-in-cheek rap songs about stair climbing, so Jeff [Dinkin] calls me “LL Stair J.”

Birthdate: 20 December 1968

What is your occupation? Manufactured Home Dealer/Broker

What/when was your first climb? US Bank bldg Los Angeles in 2009

How many climbs have you completed? The Scale the Strat 2015 in Las Vegas was my 20th

Why/how did you start? I was looking for a new sport that didn’t require a lot of time away from my kids. I didn’t want to play golf.

Do you have a favorite climb? Why? I like the 55-story Figueroa at Wilshire climb the best because the steps are only 6.8 inches tall and I notice that my legs don’t fatigue as quickly. The steps are also made of stamped steel, which I love, and that makes them more bouncy. The stairwell is narrow enough for me to use both railings, which is what I prefer as opposed to only using the inside railing. I should also say that Scale the Strat in Las Vegas holds a special place in my heart. A dear friend of mine passed away 2 days before that climb in 2013, so that climb will always have special significance to me as I honor and remember him each year.

Least favorite climb? Why? The AON Los Angeles is technically difficult, and it is difficult for me to establish any sort of rhythm climbing up that building. The steps are big and made of concrete, and the stairwell has only inside railings.

Why do you climb? Well, I don’t play soccer anymore, and running is too hard on me. With stairclimbing, there are many more benefits to my physical and mental health than I could have ever imagined. I also want to live to be 107 years old so I can see the tricentennial of the United States of America.

Are there other sports you’re passionate about? I used to play indoor soccer 2-3x a week in competitive leagues until I was about 40.

Did you have injuries or issues you needed to overcome to climb? I tore my quadricep (rectus femor) muscle playing soccer several years ago and still have substantial scar tissue, but it hasn’t inhibited me from climbing.

How do you train? I go to the gym twice a week for strength and conditioning. I live in Orange County so there aren’t any tall buildings to practice in. There is a 6 story parking garage in my hometown that I run up and down. When I can, I’ll drive to Laguna Beach to train at 1000 steps beach (which is actually 219 steps according to my count). I’ll train on the Jacob’s Ladder, and when the Los Angeles stairclimb events offer practice climbs downtown, I will drive up there to train when I can.

Do you have a special relationship with any of your step-siblings? I just love ‘em all.

Who inspires you? Ned Greene is 70 years old and about my height (5’3”). He did the Willis Tower 103 floors in 17:40. He beat me in the San Diego 20-floor sprint last year with a time of 2:18. He is showing me what can be done at age 70.

Do you have a good luck charm or any superstitions or pre-race rituals? No. I don’t believe in that stuff.

What's on your iPod during workouts/competitions? 100% EDM (electronic dance music). I find that most EDM tunes are around 120bpm so if you are stepping on beats 2 and 4, you’re right around 60bpm which is perfect for my long workouts on the Jacob’s Ladder or jogging in my neighborhood. As a keyboardist, I like that the music is mostly keyboard based. BT, Above & Beyond, Zedd, Mat Zo

Do you have a website or blog for those interested in learning more about you? Just my FB page.

If we had numbers on our jerseys, what would your number be? 4. My number in soccer.

What would you like to tell others about yourself and your experience with stair climbing that might inspire them in their lives? I guess I’d just like to say that the beauty of stairclimbing is that people of all shapes and sizes can excel at this sport. It’s all about power to weight ratio, and there are some girls who are petite (much smaller than me), who are blazing fast and can beat most of the guys. It’s also a sport that you can continue to do later in life, and as Ned Greene has shown, you can be very competitive in your 70s if that’s what you want. 

Maggie Lonergan

Birthdate: 16 September 1988

What is your occupation? Data scientist

What/when was your first climb? Hustle up the Hancock 2012

How many climbs have you completed? 12, I think

Why/how did you start? I started climbing while I was working in intelligence. Due to security requirements we didn't have internet access in the building and we weren't allowed to have cell phones. The weather was awful for a few months which meant going for a quick walk to break up the boredom was out of the picture so I took to hitting the stairs just to get out of the office.

Do you have a favorite climb? Why? I have a deep personal connection with Sears. When I first learned about the climb I was stuck in a rut, hating my job, and knowing that I needed to do something different with my life but unsure of how to go about doing it. I found that the Sears climb coincided with my sister's birthday (she lives in Chicago) and that there were direct flights from ORD to Hong Kong so it made my plans to visit a friend in Hong Kong more realistic. Eventually those plans turned into taking an open ended sabbatical so the climb really marked the start of my year of wandering; I spent the next few months backpacking then eventually quit my intelligence job and took a few months to teach yoga, train for a marathon, and get my personal life together. The next November I was still a little unsettled but I used the climb as a stopping off point before I headed to San Francisco where I wanted to move but had trouble justifying the move when I had no job, had blown nearly all my savings, and had a very good job offer back in DC at a job I could realistically see myself loving. After the climb, I headed to SF for a planned two week vacation, found a job right away, and have been loving the California life ever since. Just before Sears the next year (2014, my third year in a row), I finally went back to DC, my first trip back since I left for my two week CA vacation. I had to tie up some loose ends, say good bye to some folks I feel reasonably sure I'll never see again, and apologize to my friends who felt like I had abandoned them when I just never came home. While the 2014 climb was not my best, it felt like a good conclusion to my DC trip. This climb is brutal and really pushes you to dig deep; it was the first thing that I did on my year long search for self and nicely bookended it as I wrapped things up and fully transitioned into a much more settled down life in SF.

Least favorite climb? Why? I haven't encountered a climb I wouldn't do again.

Why do you climb? I like that it forces you deep into your own body. One of the things that I love about competitive freediving is that you are forced to stay calm and present, otherwise you could drown. As long as you stay calm, you remain in control; any distraction could prove fatal. Climbing is the closest land based activity I have found to this state of forced intense concentration. I can always find the same state while on my bike but it requires a lot of effort to push myself to those limits and to stay there. On the stairs, you only need to focus on the stairs directly in front of you, your breathing, and your heartbeat. If you lose focus on any of those things, you blow up.

Are there other sports you’re passionate about? My primary sport is road [bike] racing but I also love freediving (breath hold diving).

Did you have injuries or issues you needed to overcome to climb? laziness

How do you train? I train almost exclusively on the bike. Living in SF I walk up hills a lot which helps, but it's primarily cycling for my training. Sometimes I'll do breath control work in the pool which I think helps train my respiratory muscles, but is primarily a good psychological training tool to simulate that feeling of not being able to catch your breath while not being able to do so.

Do you have a special relationship with any of your step-siblings? I like to climb with my sister and I'm friends with many of my step-sibs

Who inspires you? My sister tags along on many of my physical adventures. She isn't in the greatest of shape and I know these things (long bike rides, stair climbs, even a half marathon) are really hard for her but she always says yes when I ask if she wants to join.

Do you have a good luck charm or any superstitions or pre-race rituals?  I love a sushi dinner the night before a race, or lox and toast for a pre race breakfast but I don't freak out if I can't get either.

What's on your iPod during workouts/competitions? I don't train with music

Do you have a website or blog for those interested in learning more about you? hiccupingyogi.com

If we had numbers on our jerseys, what would your number be? 19

What would you like to tell others about yourself and your experience with stair climbing that might inspire them in their lives? If you're stuck in a rut you don't necessarily need a full plan to get yourself out of it. Every step you take is important; do things that are challenging to you and eventually you'll have the confidence you need to make big decisions about your life. I remember thinking how dumb that sounded when I was really stuck but by taking almost a year to focus entirely on doing things that scared and challenged me, including many physical challenges like stair climbs, I know that I am so much stronger than before. I now do things that I would've passed on years ago because I was too nervous to do it or unsure of how to proceed. I credit climbing for jump starting that process and recommend it as an easy empowerment tool to anyone who asks.

Scott Stanley

What is your occupation?  Flight Attendant at a major airlines.

What was your first climb?  First climb was the now defunct 70 story CF climb in Dallas, in 2011. 5th place overall.

How many climbs have you completed?  50 to 70 climbs, lost count.

How did you start?  On a whim after training in Krav Maga for about 2 years, Towerrunning sounded interesting.

What is your favorite climb? Why?  Favorite Climb?  The one I win!  

Why do you climb?  I climb, because of the the sheer enjoyment of being able to perform well in a extreme sport!

Are there other sports you're passionate about?  Road cycling

Did you have any injuries you needed to overcome in order to climb?  Yes, extreme problems with my calves hurting at races, found a Doctor of Chiropractics who is an expert in ART, and who is also an elite runner, who helped me get through years of painful calves.

How do you train?  Road cycling, and HIIT workouts

Do you have a special relationship with any of your step-siblings?  I think I have awesome relationships with all my step siblings!!!

Who inspires you?  My parents and my daughter inspire me.

Do you have a good luck charm or any superstitions or pre-race rituals?  I have pre race rituals, nothing weird or out of the ordinary, just what I do to prepare the morning of a race. 

What's on your iPod during workouts and competitions?  No iPod, no music.

Do you have a website or blog for those interested in learning more about you?   Nope, just Facebook.

If we had numbers on our jerseys what would your number be?  My number would be #1  

What would you like to tell others about yourself and your experience with stair climbing that might inspire them in their lives?  Towerrunning or Competitive Stair Climbing, can make you realize that the other challenges in life that we face aren't always has big as we might make them to be!!! It's a great confidence builder!!!

Henry Wigglesworth

Birthdate: 1958     

What is your occupation? Lawyer      

What/when was your first climb? Seattle Big Climb 2001 (?)     

How many climbs have you completed? 15 (?)          

Why/how did you start? My daughter Molly was an infant and I would wear her on my back and climb outdoor stairs near our house in Seattle.  She would sleep while I got an excellent workout and enjoyed a beautiful view of Lake Union.     

Do you have a favorite climb? Why? The Big Climb in Seattle.  Best organized and most people.         

Why do you climb? Because it’s there and I like to suffer.     

Are there other sports you’re passionate about? Latest passion is running the mile.      

Did you have injuries or issues you needed to overcome to climb? No     

How do you train? Since Washington DC has no tall buildings due to height restrictions, I run up the escalators in the Metro.  I know I am in shape if I can run up the one that is descending.  The cops occasionally chase me off .     

Do you have a special relationship with any of your step-siblings?  I had a great rivalry with a Seattle firefighter named Zach Schade.  Zach and I actually tied in one race, and he beat me several times by just one second.  I used to see his name in the results and wonder who he was. When I actually met him, I was a tad disappointed that he was such a nice guy.  That made it very hard to hate him and want to beat him!

Who inspires you? Abebe Bikila, thus I run up stairs barefoot.     

Do you have a good luck charm or any superstitions or pre-race rituals?  Nope.     

What's on your iPod during workouts/competitions? What is an “iPod”?     

Do you have a website or blog for those interested in learning more about you? Not yet.     

If we had numbers on our jerseys, what would your number be? Double zero for license to kill.     

What would you like to tell others about yourself and your experience with stair climbing that might inspire them in their lives? It is the most efficient way to get exercise and the toughest.      

Lisa Zeigel

Do you go by a nickname? Not that I know of, but someone put "MBL" on a t-shirt ("Must Beat Lisa") and in a video so that might be the closest!

Birthdate: 3 May 1958

What is your occupation? Fitness Profession - Program Manager at the Fitness Center at the J. Paul Getty Center L.A.

What/when was your first climb? 2001 US Bank

How many climbs have you completed? About 40.

Why/how did you start? I worked as a program Director for the South Pasadena San-Marino YMCA which is affiliated with the Downtown-Ketchum Y. I kept getting bugged by colleagues to do it so I finally said yes. I went to the practice climbs and while we were doing them in the Wells Fargo building, 9/11 happened. I was certain the event would be canceled, but it wasn't. The climb took on a whole new meaning. In addition, I received a 3rd place age group medal on my first climb, so I was hooked!  

Do you have a favorite climb? Why? US Bank - it was my first and for the longest time I thought it was the only stairclimb race in existence!

Least favorite climb? Why? Stratosphere - I hate the stairwell and I am not a fan of Vegas.

Why do you climb? Keeps me out of trouble - somewhat. Really, it keeps me in great shape, I can spend less time doing stairs with better results than running or other cardio for longer duration. It keeps me mentally focused and probably keeps me young!

Are there other sports you’re passionate about? I was really into tennis once, but now I don't have time for other sports.

Did you have injuries or issues you needed to overcome to climb? Mentally I've been through eating disorders, alcohol addiction; got in lots of trouble as a punk-rocker in my early 20's. Before I started stairclimbing I was just getting over the worst of Fibromyalgia, which was really bad for me in the mid-late 90's.Through diet and stress-management I was able to bring the symptoms down to minimal. Lately I have been battling sleep issues - which is slowly getting better.

How do you train? On stairs as much as possible or stair-machines. I love training on the sand dune in Manhattan Beach. And strength-training, for total body balance, is essential for me.

Do you have a special relationship with any of your step-siblings? To name a few: You (Jane)! Jeannie Rasmussen, Madeleine, Jeff, Stan and Kathleen, David Garcia, Maria Martinez and Javier Santiago, Scott Stanley, Terryl DeBruin and Gary Baker…I could go on. Not only are they friends in stairclimbing, but I have done things outside of the sport with many; they have put me up in their homes, driven me around when I visit from out of town, and I feel like they would do almost anything for me as I would for them. I truly feel like they are family. It's a great feeling to have that in my life.

Who inspires you? All my step-sibs.

Do you have a good luck charm or any superstitions or pre-race rituals?  Perhaps my hot pink/skull print RockTape?

What's on your iPod during workouts/competitions? I can't wear one during most competitive races but during workouts - I listen to anything that's rock n' roll.

Do you have a website or blog for those interested in learning more about you? My FB page.

If we had numbers on our jerseys, what would your number be? 11

What would you like to tell others about yourself and your experience with stair climbing that might inspire them in their lives? It unexpectedly became more than a hobby. Once I saw that I was "ranked" it made me want train harder and do more climbs. But best thing of all it has given me an added incentive to travel and I've been to places I might not have gone to without stair climbing races to particpate in (i.e. Mexico City, Chicago, NYC, Dallas, Seattle). In every new place I meet new people and have exciting adventures that just enrich my life in general.  

I plan to keep stair climbing into my 70's, 80's, and beyond! It would be cool to be in my 90's and still doing it! It keeps me young in mind and body and the social aspect can't be beat. I hope your readers get just as inspired by the sport!