A while back I was talked into doing the Master the Met Stair Climb challenge in St. Louis. I know that at 260lbs that climbing up 42 flights of stairs is more than just challenging.. it’s pretty darned crazy… just sayin. But it supports the American Lung Association and with Dad recovering from lung cancer, let’s just say it has a near and dear place in my heart. I also love a challenge.
The climb is in March and they have 2 practice climbs. One was Saturday, the other is in one month. I went Saturday as day 1 of my training for this horrible idea. I was feeling apprehensive about it, but I had decided that this time around I was “only” climbing 21 flights of the 42 and it didn’t matter how fast I went, I just needed to complete my goal.
In the lobby, I was told to surrender my keys and they would be waiting for me at Iron Works gym on the 9th floor after I was done. I was reluctant, but I did surrender them. I started my climb. I made it 8 flights and needed a 2 minute rest. Then I stopped for 2 minutes every 2-3 flights of stairs. I really needed some water, but couldn’t exit the stairwell to get it and forgot my bottle in the car. I think I’ll wear my camelbak next month.
Around fl 16 I felt like I was going to vomit and stopped for about 5 minutes to ease my stomach. I could no longer hear the foot steps of the others ahead of me and I was pretty sure everyone else had finished already. It doesn’t matter.. I’m only racing myself.
I carried on. Finally I got to 21 and said I needed to go one more flight.. just so I could say I made it over 1/2 way. 
I got to fl 22 and tried the door.. it was locked! I went up 2 more trying each door.. they were all locked! I grumbled and considered my options. I decided I did not have another day to finish (ok so I exaggerate).
I decided to take my wobbly legs down the stairs. Going down the stairs is considerably easier than going up. It really is just controlled falling. Even still I held on to both rails and guided myself down… thinking the whole time that we should be mastering the met from the top down… that’s something I could get with! I checked each door… When I arrived at the 9th floor–where I was to retrieve my keys– I thought for certain THAT door would be unlocked! sadly no, it wasn’t. I walked back down to the lobby and then rode the elevator back up to the 9th floor where the unthinkable happened.
I walked into the gym where the employee looked at me and said “what are you doing here? ”
“I’m here to pick up my keys”, I replied. “The lady took them from me and said they would be here.”
“ohhhh she left. why did you give her your keys? EVERYONE is already gone. You were STILL climbing. She must have forgotten about you. Who’s idea was it for you to do this? Why would YOU do this?”
In disbelief and trying to maintain my composure while I can barely stand I reply, “I need my keys, they are supposed to be here. What does my signing up for this event have anything to do with why my keys are not here? You better call somebody.”
him: It has everything to do with your keys. You are in no shape to do this event. You have NO BUSINESS doing this.”
me (ready to go bat crap crazy): “look, I just need my keys, and I’m not leaving until I get them. So you need to do something.” Sits down and proceeds to stretch and ignore the rest of his rudeness before I rip his arm off and use it to beat him within an inch of his life. Occasionally glaring at him until he shuts the #@%# up.
him: “I left a message for the owner, she should come back after she realizes she still has your keys. I’m really sorry about this, I was just leaving for the day but I’ll come back later and make sure you’re ok. Do you need to use my phone to call anyone?”
Me (fuming): “No thank you. I’ll be here until she returns my keys.. so maybe I’ll see you on Monday.”
About 15 minutes later I learned that security had my keys and I was off.. never to hear from the boss. I did however take the time to write an angry email to her talking about her employees attitude.
Ok I GET IT..I am really overweight and this would be challenging for even a fit person. I also get that it’s 2 days later and my calves are killing me. But really… it’s none of his business why I’m doing this challenge… and I don’t have to answer to him. Also I already had doubts about if I would be able to do this stair challenge… I was afraid and I didn’t need any naysayers filling me with MORE doubt and negativity… I have enough of all of that on my own.
Now I have more purpose in this challenge… now I have the opportunity to shove it in some random mean guys face that my 260lb body can and will do this challenge.. and I’ll rock it. Screw you mean guy!
P.S. I have belonged to several gyms over my many years alive.. this was the ONLY time that ANYONE has EVER been rude to me at a gym. No one is looking at you, they are busy doing what they need to do to get into shape. Don’t let that negative voice in your own head make you think that people are silently judging you. Just get off your butt and do what you need to do.
