I met my counterpart in staircase work last night when I was about to do the stairs. I live on the 14th floor of my building, and I normally use an isolated freight elevator to go down to the B1 level for my workout. Last night, I hit the "down" button, but the elevator sped past me and went up to the 25th or 26th floor before turning around to catch me. When it dropped back to my level, I knew someone would be in the elevator. It turned out to be a fairly fit, 50-something dude in athletic clothes who was huffing and puffing. Having been in that situation myself, I knew right away he was climbing the stairs and was on his way down for another round. We were both headed down to the B1 level, so I further knew he was doing my exact climb—well, the climb I used to be able to do, from B1 to 26. I'll get back up there eventually.
I've lived in this old building since, oh, 2015, and in all that time, I've never seen anyone but me take the stairs upward. Every single person who's entered the stairwell while I was working out has only ever descended, so meeting someone who, like me, was using the staircase as a workout was a real first. The guy was obviously fit enough to do the B1-26 run at least twice, maybe three times, and I elected to give him his space. I went back to my apartment, farted around on YouTube for a while, then went back to do the stairs in blessed silence.
But now I know there's someone else out there essentially doing the same workout I'm doing. I'm not sure whether I should be proud or creeped out.
Do you find stairwell runs a little bit claustrophobic? I've used the stairwell in our building a few times, and it always feels very claustrophobic to me. The air is also rather stale, and it can get warm in hotter weather.
ReplyDeleteClimbing the stairs isn't the most pleasant experience for me, but it's a great way to keep track of progress since my distance is neatly broken down into floors. For me, the unpleasantness doesn't come from a claustrophobic feeling so much as from the sheer effort of heaving my bulky carcass up those stairs. And yeah, when the real summer heat hits, our building's staircase is going to be miserable. To alleviate that, I do my workout late at night to give the stairwell a few hours to cool down a bit.
ReplyDeleteThings that annoy me on the stairwell: fucking cigarette butts, assorted litter, and the occasional bicycle chained to the staircase's railing. Right at my floor, there's some electrical problem that makes the light at the 14th floor flicker on and off like a buzzing metronome. Slightly less annoying but still annoying: other people barging into the stairwell while I'm working out (not really a problem after 10:30 p.m.).
Some years ago, I would do my workout at around 9:30, and every time I did that, I'd always pass this one girl who was using the 10th-floor part of the stairwell as her private study hall. I can only imagine how horrific I sounded as I ascended the steps toward her, heaving and gasping. I don't see her anymore, but then again, I'm also not working out at the same time every night. Discipline eludes me.
Well, more power to you for having a regimen, at least. I must admit that I've not been as diligent with my morning exercises in the past week or so, mainly due to not sleeping well and getting up a little later than I would like (I suspect it might be a bit of a vicious cycle). I really need to reestablish my discipline as well. At least I have the walk to work and back.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to your 50s.
ReplyDeleteI wish this were a recent thing. But no, I often go through periods where I just don't sleep well. This merely seems to have followed me into my 50s. I just need to snap out of it and will myself to get up early. Easy as pie.
ReplyDeleteYou have my sympathies on that score. I can get up at 5 a.m. with no problem when I'm out walking across the country. But here, in the midst of my everyday grind, it's hard to get up at a single-digit hour.
ReplyDeleteThere's something about being in the great outdoors that makes getting up early easier. But I am pleased to say that I was able to get up at very close to my usual time and get my exercises in this morning. I'm hoping this will start to right the ship.
ReplyDeleteHooray for the return of routine!
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