One Step at a Time

By Kristina Butcher

This was not my first stair climb. My fist stair competition was back in 2004 at the Mellon Building in Philadelphia. This stair race has been held for the last 20 years to benefit Cystic Fibrosis. I had been asked by Michael Branca to be in a relay with him and Fred Kenney. I said sure, but, I had no idea what i was getting myself into. Our team came in second and i was immediately hooked on this event. It was by far the most challenging athletic event i had ever done.

The following year, 2005 I decided to do the climb solo. I was the first female to make it to the 53rd floor, 1019 steps in 8:48. In 2006 i was not as prepared but was able to find the will to finish 2nd.

This year i felt ready to take a stab at the Big Apple. I was ready to take a bigger challenge and to go to New York City to compete at the Empire State Buildings Run-up. The Empire State Building is 86 floors, 1,576 steps (approximately 1/5 mile). The Empire State Building Run-up is by invitational only through application process by Run-Up performances and other athletic achievements. Therefore, the competitors are from a very elite and diverse group.

I sent in my application and crossed my fingers. I was so excited when i received my Congratulation letter of acceptance. On February 6, 2007 was my first climb up the 86 floors to the Observation Deck of New York’s tallest building.  A total of 201 people finished the 30th annual Run-Up, an event record.  

Athletes came from 13 countries,( Bermuda, Israel, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, Poland, England, China, Austria, Australia, Japan, Singapore) and 11 states. I was the only female in PA. I was the 26th female to finish at a 17:40. A good performance in my mind as a rookie to the Empire.

When asked why you would want to do that? or, What is the desire to climb the building’s 1,576 steps? I respond by referring to a saying i have hanging on my wall that reads -  "Perseverance : the difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge but rather in the lack of will."  Also, the thought of climbing that far up in elevation makes me think i will be that much closer to my mother who passed away a few years ago.

Another popular question i get is, What goes first your lungs or legs? I would have to say definitely my lungs.  The dry air in those stairwells becomes overwhelming. When you feel as though you can not breath the run becomes a mental run which than takes a lot of concentration to pull yourself forward without giving up.

The start at the Empire is not like Melon's staggered start but it is a mass start with a short run down the corridor into the stairwell. You literally feel like a large group of cattle running down a hallway and than are forced into a narrow doorway and up a stairwell. You are literally running on top of others. It was unbelievable; the fight, the survival.

Special thanks to Michael Branca who introduced me to this event; Billy and my sister who supported me this year in training those Manayunk steps and hills.

Next Stair climb is the Mellon Building on February 25th. The money raised will benefit Cystic Fibrosis.

Kristina with medal
after run up. (Zoom in)

Michael at the
start. (Zoom in)

Philadelphia stair-climbing legend Mike Branca finished 68th in a field of more than 200 competitors in the Empire State Stair Climb.  It took Mike just 15:23 to climb up to the top of the building and was his second fastest time in t he competition.

In the process, Mike defeated his rival, arch-nemesis, and fellow paesan Carmelo Gallodoro of Taormina, Italy.  Now Mike is focusing his attention on the Mellon Bank Stair Climb later this month.  He continues to hold his stair-climbing workouts in Manayunk during the week.