94 flights. 1,632 steps. 4,000 competitors. Run4Papa prepares for the 5,164 steps on the Great Wall of China Marathon by Hustling up the Hancock for THE CAUSE.
To see photos, go to: Hustle up the Hancock
Today felt different.
Waking up Sunday morning February 26th, 2012, I was excited, motivated and refreshed for today’s race. Before getting out of bed, I rang Barcelona wishing my studying/traveling abroad sister a Happy 21st. Following the call, I hopped out of bed as my feet hit the hardwood floor with an overwhelming sense of positive energy and optimism.
I was ready to climb.
As is my superstition with all races, the running shirt (race bib attached), shorts, socks, and shoes were all meticulously laid out the night before. I showered (yup routine), grabbed a Gatorade and power bar and walked from Gold Coast toward the Hancock Building on a clear-skied, 40-dgree (no snow I might pleasantly add) with a typical Chicago-an wind hitting my face. Rounding the corner of N. State St and E. Delaware Place comfortably lay the 100-story Hancock Building with its elliptical-shaped plaza out front and the skyscraper’s distinctive X-bracing exterior boldly enticing all racers to enter.
After filming segments for the campaign, I went inside to prepare for the climb. I met two friends-Adam Silver and Kevin Connolly- who were also participating in their first Tower Race along with my parents whom drove from Michigan for moral support. Patiently waiting for our wave to begin, we inched our way near the opening stairwell. My adrenaline was flowing quicker than Wily Coyote chasing the Roadrunner.
Like a wild animal eager to be released from its cage, I saw the race official motion to climb and I was off! During the first 30-flights, I climbed every other step hoping to gain momentum by strategically cutting down the number of overall steps. While hustling up the Hancock, I was grabbing the railing with my left hand in order to take valuable pressure away from my calves. This approach initially felt good until I hit a mini-wall on Floor 30. I was using too much energy and my body was screaming “slow down or I’ll shut you down.”
I listened.
The stairwell started to heat my internal body temperature up and I proceeded to take it step-by-step moving forward. From flights 30 – 40, I kept looking at each floor number as I looped left again and again and again. I refrained from using the railing because I wanted to simulate the Great Wall of China Marathon race (no railings are available on those steps). Upon reaching the 40th floor, I made a conscious decision to keep my head down. Normally when running a half marathon or marathon, I intentionally refuse to watch the clock or view the mile-marker, preferring to feed off the crowd’s intensity and absorb the surrounding scenery along the route. This is a proven psychological tactic (for me) and I stay loyal to these routines. Since there was no clock, no crowd and only a handful of EMS and water stations during this climb, I kept my head down rising flight after flight.
Step, step, step, step, step, step, step, step, floor. Step, step, step, step, step, step, step, step, floor. Step, step, step, step, step, step, step, step, floor. Step, step, step, step, step, step, step, step, floor. Step, step, step, step, step, step, step, step, floor. Step, step, step, step, step, step, step, step, floor.
It wasn’t until I heard someone yell “20 more left!” that my heart started pumping rapidly. I couldn’t believe how quickly the last 34 flights went and my momentum instantly picked up knocking down one flight after another up the Hancock Building. Seemingly minutes later, I heard “2 more flights to go” and proceeded to sprint through the finish line eyeing my parents cheering in the distance. What a pleasure to see those two familiar faces…21 minutes and 18 seconds later!
94 Flights, check. 1,632 steps, check. 1,500 feet up in the air, check. Running in my first ever Tower Race, check. Exhausted, check.
And in case you are wondering, the record time for “Hustle up the Hancock is 9 minutes and 30 seconds if you are looking for a challenge one year from now.
I know my dad is in…
To see more photos, go to: Hustle up the Hancock
94 flights, 1,632 steps, 4,000 competitors and 1500 feet high above the ground is where I intend to be 30 mins or so after this race! I have been greatly looking forward to coming to the Windy City and tackling my first ever Tower Race in preparation for The Great Wall of China Marathon and it’s 5,164 steps along the way.
I think this will be an excellent barometer for where my current level of fitness stands and I am eager to run up this building that has a view spanning 4 states – Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
The Observatory elevators of the John Hancock center travel 94 floors at a top speed of 1800 ft/min (20.5 mph). My hope is to race up these stairs and enjoy a nice cold beverage on the way down…in the elevator!
I look forward to this challenge today and cannot wait to show photos, video highlights and write a story on this wonderful opportunity and experience to run on behalf of my Papa along with all patients and families fighting against PPA…
In the battle of Run4Papa v. Hancock Building, my early predication is MAN shall conquer on this day…
Myself with Dr. Marsel Mesulam, Director of Northwestern CNADC and man who first identified PPA.
Leaving 70 degree weather behind in Charlotte, North Carolina and heading up north to the Windy City of 25 degrees, blistering winds and snow may not sound ideal on paper; however, when such a tremendous group of people come together for a great cause like this one, it’s a no brainer!
The goal? To get a bunch of local Chicago-ans and friends together in one room to support THE CAUSE by raising awareness and funds for the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Center (CNADC), the #1 research facility in the world for PPA research. Thanks to Kevin Connolly and his wonderful team at CNADC, we brought in over 100+ guests for this event. Friends came in the cold to support this journey and our host, Rock Bottom Brewery, did a fantastic job of keeping people’s glasses and bellies full the entire evening.
Not only did this fundraiser bring a hefty amount of money, but we had a multitude of activities taking place throughout including a PPA video (made in my hometown of Charlotte), a silent auction and a raffle featuring prizes local Chicago-ans took full advantage of.
We had the distinct honor of meeting Dr. Marsel Mesulam, the doctor who first identified PPA and Director of the CNADC medical department along with his wife Dr. Sandra Weintraub, a renowned doctor with a PhD in NeuroPsychology . We had the pleasure of meeting patients who had been diagnosed with PPA who were proud of the work being down with this campaign along with their inspirational family members fighting everyday for more awareness and treatment for THE CAUSE. We had friends and family that lived in Chicago show-up as well as people whom have been following this cause from Day 1. I was thrilled to finally meet them in person! On top of that, there were several people who ran The Great Wall of China Half and Full Marathon in attendance. You better believe I was picking their brains for stories, advice and feedback about the run ahead!
Through the diligent work of the CNADC team, 6 amazing packages were assembled for the silent auction. Moreover, a raffle was held at the end of the evening giving away prizes from local Chicago vendors and sponsors.
Lori Gapinski, one of many people attending the event remarked, “Had a wonderful time tonight at the fundraiser. Such good people and all our best to Jason. Thank you for all that you are doing! Good Luck on Sunday and May 19th! We all will be thinking of you as you are doing such a wonderful thing for the people that are suffering with PPA and the loved ones surrounding them.”
You never know how an event is going to come together when you start from scratch, but I think it is fair to say, we were blown away by the turnout and support last night. Without a doubt, the CNADC fundraiser delivered BIG-TIME!
With the fundraiser being a massive success across the board, we can now focus on the race ahead – Hustling up the Hancock building against 4,000 other competitors.
94 Flights. 1,632 steps await. Wouldn’t have it any other way!
To see more photos, go to: Hustle up the Hancock
To watch the speeches, go to: CNADC and Run4Papa Speeches
I am never surprised to see what people are willing to do to push the limits for running a race!
This is what the Jackie Onassis Reservoir looks like on a warm summer’s morning. The colors are magnificent, the surrounding park is breathtaking and the city skyline reflects off the water.
In the novel Marathon Man, the main character muses that, “Whoever invented the reservoir must have done it with him alone in mind. It was without flaw, a perfect lake set in the most unexpected of locations.”
Anyone who has ever run, walked, or stood watching the sun rise or set over the water feels that same way. There’s a sense of space and solitude here, unlike any other part of the Park.
Unfortunately, I did not experience this particular scenery as I took a last minute trip to visit my sister in Manhattan before she jet-setted across the pond to study abroad in the UK. As usual, I stayed with my youngest brother Jared in his apartment and we had another epic weekend in the Big Apple which included many delicious meals, a handful of alcoholic beverages, some shopping at his favorite store UNIQLO, a Knicks game (where one team showed up), and of course, a run for the Run4Papa campaign.
Location: Jacqueline Onassis Reservoir, Manhattan, New York.
Temperature and Time: a brisk 19 degrees (not including the wind-chill), High Noon.
Running attire: beanie for head, scarf for neck, winter coat, two pairs of sweats, socks and running shoes (gloves were a big oversight).
Who wanted to be at Central Park in these conditions: not my brother (but he was a good sport).
What did the reservoir look like in January at eye level? See below.
Without much hesitation, Jared quickly filmed a segment on location and I jogged the couple mile route around the reservoir as my brother patiently waited for my return (his ears getting redder by the minute!). Not surprisingly, there were other people running and even one maniac in shorts and short sleeves! Despite the weather, the scenery was beautiful. The skyline was reflecting off the water and with the many of the tree leaves gone, you could see for miles and miles.
Throughout this journey, I have relished training in a variety of unique weather and terrain elements because it makes you constantly reassess your breathing and pace. Whether it’s a shorter run like this one, or a longer one like trail runs or half marathons, training in a tougher environment helps to minimize running mistakes such as jogging at too quick a pace and fighting through mental walls throughout a given race.
My philosophy has always been and will continue to be: “Running is 80% mental, 20% physical.”
And while my training methods are neither regimented or normal by anyone’s standards, I believe they provide consistent and improving pacing results in every race. A more concerted effort toward maximizing my training runs ultimately leads to less wear and tear on my knees and ankles. Through a strong sense of visualization and will-power, I will continue to put one step in front of the other toward this campaign and every run ahead.
To watch video commentary of this run, go to: Run4Papa Meets Jackie Onassis Reservoir
To see photos, go to: Jackie Onassis Reservoir
Hear what it’s like to run in the freezing cold around a reservoir in New York City’s most famous park!
Read all about running the Jackie Onassis Reservoir: A Reservoir Run
To see photos, go to: Jackie Onassis Reservoir
The film “Aphasia”, the true story of actor Carl McIntyre who, after suffering a massive stroke and losing his ability to read, write and talk, struggles against overwhelming odds to redefine his life.
I had the great pleasure to sit down and meet Jim Gloster (Producer/Writer/Director) and Donna S. Scott (Executive Producer) of the movie “Aphasia” last night at a local bar called Sir Edmund Halley’s in Charlotte, North Carolina. I was referred to these two wonderful people through a Twitter mixer many months back. Everyone at this meeting was telling me to get in touch with Jim and Donna and boy was I pleased to have this opportunity to speak with them about creating more awareness for PPA and Aphasia worldwide.
The movie is based on Jim’s friend of 20+ years named Carl, an actor who suffered a severe stroke on September 15th, 2005. Immediately following the stroke, Carl was virtually unable to speak, a condition know as Aphasia. Jim and Donna along with two other team members created this impactful movie to educate those within the medical community, those unaware of Aphasia’s symptoms, and to help bring a voice to patients and families fighting against this disease day-in & day-out.
More than 100,000 Americans develop Aphasia annually. Aphasia affects about one million Americans, or 1 in 250 people. It is more common than Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. However, most people have still never heard of Aphasia. While the most common cause is a stroke, Aphasia can also result from head injury, brain tumor, or other neurological causes.
In 2008, Carl began making presentations to Speech-Language Pathology classes about his experiences during the stroke and his subsequent recovery process. These engaging presentations also examine Carl’s technique of picture association which enables him to remember specific words.
It is the success of these presentations which sparked the idea for the film project and the development of other presentations. The success of the film “Aphasia” has led to Carl’s new career as a motivational speaker. He has captivated audiences nationwide with his inspiring story.
Both Jim and Donna travel across the United States as well as international locations such as Australia with Carl for speaking engagements where they screen their movie. Following the movie, Carl comes out and speaks to the audience about his story. There is also an ensuing Question and Answer session after his speech.
They have over 30 speaking trips planned in 2012 alone!
This was a tremendous honor to speak with both of these inspirational people who are doing everything in their power to help bring “Aphasia” onto the national stage. I know they will be successful with this project and their future endeavors.
Jim, Donna, and Carl will be showcasing their movie at ReelAbilities: New York’s Disabilities Film Festival on February 12th and 13th: http://newyork.reelabilities.org/films/view/aphasia
Please take a minute to “like“ their Facebook page at AphasiatheMovie
You can also follow them on Twitter @AphasiatheMovie
Lastly, Carl and the film can be booked through carlmcintyre.com.
Here is a very special look at the Carl McIntyre Aphasia Project in it’s infancy before the movie ever got produced. This insightful short was used to get initial donations for the film.
http://aphasiathemovie.com/Aphasia_Project/Documentary.html
Carl McIntyre – actor, husband, father and aphasia patient.
I have just registered for the Rock ‘n Roll half marathon in Washington, D.C. on March 17th, 2012. This is one of several half marathons I intend to run in preparation for the Great Wall of China Marathon in May of 2012. I will be heading out there with my good friend Adam, who will be running his first ever FULL marathon as a precursor to the run in China.
I am pumped to be heading to the nation’s capitol to run alongside the Potomac River, the National Mall and some of the city’s most majestic monuments!
No doubt the atmosphere will be spectacular! If you have any run this race before, please feel free to chime in…
