My Morning Commute

[Tim Kelley]

@jopamora 32976 wrote:

What is this running thing you are all talking about?

I ran stairs this morning. 112 flights for a total elevation gain of 1000+ feet. But don’t worry, I’m heading out to Hains Point this afternoon for some hot laps!

[KelOnWheels]

@jopamora 32976 wrote:

What is this running thing you are all talking about?

It’s horrible. Don’t try it. You get all sweaty and you can’t coast. It’s like riding a fixie!

[KelOnWheels]

@Tim Kelley 32980 wrote:

I ran stairs this morning. 112 flights for a total elevation gain of 1000+ feet. But don’t worry, I’m heading out to Hains Point this afternoon for some hot laps!

I was going to comment on this, but I can’t spell the face I’m making.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Tim Kelley 32980 wrote:

I ran stairs this morning. 112 flights for a total elevation gain of 1000+ feet. But don’t worry, I’m heading out to Hains Point this afternoon for some hot laps!

Leaving your insanity aside…is there a good, public place to run stairs? My first thought, based on my experiences growing up, was to use the grandstands at the high school football fields, but most schools in this area don’t seem to have the types of grandstands that I’m used to.

[dasgeh]

@TwoWheelsDC 32984 wrote:

Leaving your insanity aside…is there a good, public place to run stairs? My first thought, based on my experiences growing up, was to use the grandstands at the high school football fields, but most schools in this area don’t seem to have the types of grandstands that I’m used to.

You could join the masses running the stairs between Rock Creek Parkway and the Lincoln Memorial (north side of the bridge). Just be careful at the top – that is a well-used bike path.

BTW, why do those stairs exist?

[TwoWheelsDC]

@dasgeh 32986 wrote:

You could join the masses running the stairs between Rock Creek Parkway and the Lincoln Memorial (north side of the bridge). Just be careful at the top – that is a well-used bike path.

BTW, why do those stairs exist?

Oh yes, I forgot about those…those would work now, but not once I move to ArlCo later this month…and I actually think I know the answer to your question….I believe those stairs were built with the intent that VIPs (foreign dignitaries and such) would be brought up the Potomac by boat and offloaded there, where they would climb the steps to have a view of the mall and such.

Edit: found the source of my recollection: http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15508/do-you-know-the-other-watergate/

[dasgeh]

@TwoWheelsDC 32988 wrote:

Oh yes, I forgot about those…those would work now, but not once I move to ArlCo later this month…

Thanks. Welcome to Arlington! And contrary to popular belief, Western DC (like those stairs), is really close to Arlington.

Have you seen W&L’s football “stadium”? Would that work for you? I’m pretty sure it’s open to the public

[Tim Kelley]

@TwoWheelsDC 32984 wrote:

Leaving your insanity aside…is there a good, public place to run stairs? My first thought, based on my experiences growing up, was to use the grandstands at the high school football fields, but most schools in this area don’t seem to have the types of grandstands that I’m used to.

The best place to do it is one of the local high rises (office, hotel, residential), if you can find a way in. I live in a condo that has 22 uninterrupted flights of stairs. And some days I do it with a baby on my back: [ATTACH=CONFIG]1815[/ATTACH] (As she gets bigger, I get stronger)

I generally run in the mornings, if you’d like to join us in Ballston… This is the big goal for the stair running season: http://www.themmrf.org/donate-now-take-action/join-an-event/endurance-events/empire-state-run-up.html

[Tim Kelley]

@dasgeh 32994 wrote:

Thanks. Welcome to Arlington! And contrary to popular belief, Western DC (like those stairs), is really close to Arlington.

Have you seen W&L’s football “stadium”? Would that work for you? I’m pretty sure it’s open to the public

W&L is a good outdoor place to do it–it’s not true tower running because you don’t have railings on either side to use your upper body to help out. Sprinting hills is a good alternative too. 41st Street repeats by foot anyone??

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Tim Kelley 32995 wrote:

This is the big goal for the stair running season: http://www.themmrf.org/donate-now-take-action/join-an-event/endurance-events/empire-state-run-up.html

Psh…call me when you’re ready to do the Burj Khalifa

[TwoWheelsDC]

My new house is actually quite a bit farther from the Lincoln than my current place in Capitol Hill…preferably, I could find a place to just jog or ride to, so I could save most of my energy for the stairs. W&L is a good recommendation…I also have the Custis practically in my backyard, right at the hill by Westover Park, so that’s another option.

[Tim Kelley]

@TwoWheelsDC 32999 wrote:

My new house is actually quite a bit farther from the Lincoln than my current place in Capitol Hill…preferably, I could find a place to just jog or ride to, so I could save most of my energy for the stairs. W&L is a good recommendation…I also have the Custis practically in my backyard, right at the hill by Westover Park, so that’s another option.

I’ll meet you, by bike, at the Lincoln stairs sometime if you want a stair running partner.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Tim Kelley 33000 wrote:

I’ll meet you, by bike, at the Lincoln stairs sometime if you want a stair running partner.

If by partner, you mean you’ll carry me on your back like you do with your kid, I’m totally in!

Seriously though, once I get slightly better at this business, I may attempt to try it with company. At this point though, just running up Capitol Hill nearly kills me, and I prefer not to have a hyperventilation-induced seizure in front of anyone I know…

[ShawnoftheDread]

No school for the kids today, so I got to ride all the way in from Annandale. I left at 6:30 for a big change. Now I know why some of you leave so early — it was really nice being out at sunrise.

[Dirt]

@ShawnoftheDread 33103 wrote:

No school for the kids today, so I got to ride all the way in from Annandale. I left at 6:30 for a big change. Now I know why some of you leave so early — it was really nice being out at sunrise.

I headed north to the canal this morning. Lovely morning for it.

Love the section that was redone between Chain Bridge and Lock House 6. Smooth as glass and fun to ride.

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