Up we go…
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It’s Monday, and time for yet another installment of climbing the Wells Fargo building staircase. Once again, I rode the train downtown and got checked in at the YMCA, and then headed over to the building to wait in line to get in. But this time, it wasn’t so bad. Sure, I had to wait a long time, but I got to see Michael there for the first time in several years. So we got to spend our time in line talking and catching up.
When it was time to climb, I resolved to try and do a somewhat-brisk pace, but I also resolved not to be checking my watch all the time. I just wanted to see that I made it to 6 1/2 by one minute, and then I wasn’t going to look at it again. So I made 6 1/2 on schedule, and then I just kept going. Mentally, I like to break the climb down into five-floor segments. That helps to distract from just how many floors we are climbing. And I was very pleasantly surprised on 55 when I got there in 9:53. Sure, two years ago I did 8:49, but this is still my fastest so far this year.
After a very slow elevator ride back down, we had to wait in line for another 15 minutes before we could get back in. The second time up, I was aiming for my ‘cruising’ pace of 4 1/2 floors per minute. That would get me to 55 in 11:50 or so. And I was pleased that I managed to go a wee bit faster than that.
After yet another slow elevator ride back down, there was no more line, so we headed up a third time. I didn’t bother timing it. I just wanted to go up at a relaxed pace. And at 43, I stopped to look at the mural on the landing. I’d never noticed before that someone from Gibson, Dunn, & Crutcher had added a bit to the mural. I gather that they occupy a couple of the higher floors in the building, so I guess they just went in there one day and did it.
All in all, it wasn’t a bad stair outing. I still wish it didn’t involve so much standing in line, but we take what we can get in this insane little sport.
