Health & Fitness
Stillwater Stairs: The Love/Hate Relationship
Who are the [crazy] people who make climbing the Stillwater stairs a part of their regular routine? Try it yourself! If the rush you get at the top doesn't hook you, the views just might.
Ahhh, the Stillwater stairs. Most people who live here know of them; some avoid them, some occassionally use them, and some actually run them for fun. Me, I am part of the latter group. Yes, it's true, I love to run the stairs.
First off, you can't cheat the stairs. No matter what, as you breathlessly
reach the top of the downtown stairs, your heart is thudding and your legs feel
like jello. You can try to slow down or even stop halfway - but that
doesn't erase the challenge. However, it's all worth it when you reach the top and
experience one of the most breathtaking views of the city. You might need a
moment to realize it because you're so preoccupied with willing your legs to
keep standing, but eventually you do, and when you take it all in – wow!
Yes, that stair set is the king daddy of the stair sets, but there are
others to master in the downtown area. Pioneer Park boasts the second most
challenging set, followed by 3rd Street, and finally, Triangle Park. There are a
few other rogue sets around town, but those are the main four.
If you weave your way through all four sets, you will accomplish a
5k. And if you run the 5k my way, you will encounter all the steps going up,
not just down! Give it a try sometime; here's your path:
- Start at the bottom of the Pioneer Park stairs on the north end of downtown, run to the top, weave your way through beautiful Pioneer Park, and follow 2nd Street going south.
- At the corner of 2nd Street and Nelson (near the famed Chilkoot Hill), turn left to jog downhill towards Main, turn right to find the base of the south hill stairs. Climb those bad boys, and continue straight to follow Broadway.
- You will see the charming Triangle Park. Turn right to see a short set of stairs that will take you towards 2nd then 3rd Street. Turn right on 3rd Street and folllow to the fourth and final set of stairs near the intersection of Chestnut. Climb that final set, enjoy the view, and head back down one block to 2nd. Then go north to Pioneer Park.
I promise you - that's a fun 5k!
The average person will burn around 300 calories running a typical 5K, but I bet this route will burn a solid 500. Do that seven times in a week, and you could
shed a pound of fat.
When you try it, notice the signs at the bottom of the stairs. They have recently been adopted by LGN Boot Camp and Anytime Fitness.
This adoption marks the first of its kind - helping our Stillwater treasure become even more beautiful! The crazy LGN boot campers run (I use that word loosely) those stairs almost every Saturday morning year-round - feel free to join in! You might just find that same love/hate relationship that keeps them coming back for a healthy dose of more.
