Her Birthday Party: Doing Stillwater's Main Street Stairs 45 Times

(Julie Bartkey wrote this post. Have a story to tell? Post it to the Stillwater Patch boards!)

Turning 45 is considered a milestone for many, but Stillwater native Sarah Conder Slusher decided to walk miles on stone to celebrate her mid-40 mark. She decided to tackle a new challenge, climbing the Main Street Stairs “one flight for every year of my existence,” said Conder.

Under overcast skies and the occasional rain shower, Conder took her sunny disposition, hot pink- and black-clad athletic body and will-of-steel to the stairs on Saturday, Oct. 5. 

Among the early crowd were her husband, JR Slusher, and good friends Mark and Patty Kamas. Others joined in throughout the day to support, cheer and escort Sarah on her fitness endeavor, and casual observers threw out phrases such as  “Way to go” and “Are you crazy?” throughout the afternoon.

It took three-and-a-half hours to complete the task of climbing up and down 14,130 stairs. Judging from her constant smile and occasional sprints up and down the stairs (even at Flight #44) it didn’t look as if she needed the help, but Conder says she was touched by the support.

Related at Stillwater Patch: 

• Where Past Meets Present: Stillwater's Historic Stairs
• A Trip Back in Time: Stillwater Circa 1880
• Stillwater Stairs: The Love/Hate Relationship
• Gasp, Wheeze, the Stillwater Stairs
• Photo Gallery: Stomping the Stairs for Stillwater Students