Wizard
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January 25th, 2012 at 1:48:38 PM permalink
On March 3 I'm climbing the Stratosphere tower stairs as a fund raiser for the American Lung Association. They are asking me to bug my friends for donations, so consider yourself bugged. You can visit my fund raising page for more information. Below is the suggested text they told me to say:

Quote: ALA pitch

Dear Friends,

Soon I will be joining more than thousands of others from around the country in this year's Fight for Air Climbs to raise money for the American Lung Association. I am gathering donations and walking to help fight asthma, lung cancer, COPD and dozens of other lung diseases.

I am asking or your help. By making a contribution on my behalf, you will be helping the American Lung Association provide community based education programs, fight for cleaner air standards and fund life-saving research.

Asthma is the number one cause for school absenteeism and every day in this country at least 10 people die from an asthma attack, thus it is important that we provide disease management education to children when they are 8, 9 or 10 years old. Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer death globally and is woefully under funded when it comes to research, thus is essential that we generate the awareness needed to increase resources for advanced research projects. The average age for American's to start a smoking habit is 14, thus it is critical that we get into the elementary schools and teach children about the dangers of tobacco use early.

My goal is to raise $100 for our cause. Please go to my personal web page and make a $5, $10 or $20 gift. All gifts are fully tax deductible as The American Lung Association is a 501(c)3 organization and is in fact one of the most recognized nationally for proper management of the resources entrusted them since they began in 1904. You will receive a notice in the mail from me thanking you for your gift which you can then use for your tax filing next year. You may also make checks payable to The American Lung Association (my climb team) and mail them to our local office.

Please take a deep breath....and be thankful that you can. Millions of others suffer from lung disease daily and your support makes the every day act of breathing that much easier for many people.

Together we can fight lung disease successfully.

"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
EvenBob
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January 25th, 2012 at 1:52:03 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

On March 3 I'm climbing the Stratosphere tower stairs



As challenging as climbing the Empire State Buildings
stairs? Now there's a climb, 103 floors I think.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
buzzpaff
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January 25th, 2012 at 1:56:19 PM permalink
Anybody remember when one of the early winners of the race up the Empire State building's stairs was found to be a New York fireman on disability ?
Nareed
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January 25th, 2012 at 2:26:51 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

On March 3 I'm climbing the Stratosphere tower stairs as a fund raiser for the American Lung Association. They are asking me to bug my friends for donations, so consider yourself bugged. You can visit my fund raising page for more information.



Would you care to redirect a certain bet, should you win? Or part of it? >;)

But it would be unseemly to merely joke on an honest charitable appeal. So consider this a pledge for an undisclosed amount.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
buzzpaff
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January 25th, 2012 at 2:35:09 PM permalink
In the interest of fairness to the other contestants. will the Wiz be carrying Hot Blonde piggyback during this race ??
buzzpaff
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January 25th, 2012 at 3:08:39 PM permalink
Mike
I tried to donate by sponsoring a participant, but could not bring your name up. Was about to give up before I saw the support
Michael link on the upper right side of the front page. I used it and am assuming just an error on the site ??
Wizard
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January 25th, 2012 at 3:23:22 PM permalink
Quote: buzzpaff

I tried to donate by sponsoring a participant, but could not bring your name up. Was about to give up before I saw the support
Michael link on the upper right side of the front page. I used it and am assuming just an error on the site ??



I don't think you need to bother with that. Here is how do it it.

1. Go to my fund raising page at http://action.lungusa.org/site/TR?px=4782564&pg=personal&fr_id=4550&et=wmAg47FcHsECCiJXL8qwCA&s_tafId=30103.

2. Click on "make a gift." It is under the thermometer.

3. Fill in the requested fields.

Somebody already donated $10 (thanks!). If we get $90 I'll get a free t-shirt! Come on -- I want that shirt.

Quote: Nareed

Would you care to redirect a certain bet, should you win? Or part of it? >;)



I don't know that much about it, but the following day they do it again for the people with the best times in the first heat. I'd be honored to get that far. Remember, I was in the top 12% in the half-marathon for my age group. Let's leave our certain bet alone, as it already has action on the Super Bowl. I'd be open to wagering on this somehow, but don't know what is a reasonable goal.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
buzzpaff
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January 25th, 2012 at 3:25:30 PM permalink
I was the somebody. Just wondered if anybody else might have given up after not finding the right way to donate. Wish it could have been more.
JohnnyQ
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January 25th, 2012 at 6:07:56 PM permalink
FWIW, Wiz's instrux above worked like a charm. Just took a couple of minutes
for a good cause.
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
odiousgambit
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January 26th, 2012 at 4:14:49 AM permalink
%$@#%$... how #$@!$%#$ stupid is it for these places not to use paypal! I could pay with paypal in seconds. I can never understand why something like this won't take paypal. Sometimes I just decline to send money if they are so stupid.

I guess I can't do that to the Wizard.
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!”   She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
NicksGamingStuff
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January 26th, 2012 at 4:23:00 AM permalink
It looks like you got your shirt!
DJTeddyBear
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January 26th, 2012 at 4:53:28 AM permalink
Because I was screwed over, almost simultaneously, by two national charites a couple years ago, I have a huge reluctance to donate to this sort of thing.

Fortunately, the American Lung Association was not one of those charities, and Mike is one of the very few people for whom I would put aside my charity boycott.


Good luck with the climb Mike!
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
Wizard
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January 26th, 2012 at 4:53:40 AM permalink
Quote: NicksGamingStuff

It looks like you got your shirt!



$10 more to go! I need to get to $150 and I'm at $140.

Thanks Nick and to all who donated thus far. There is a rotating screen of those who donated on my fund raising page.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
odiousgambit
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January 26th, 2012 at 6:07:26 AM permalink
Quote: DJTeddyBear

Because I was screwed over, almost simultaneously, by two national charites a couple years ago...!



They can be taken over by the worst kind of people in the world. In your case, care to elaborate?
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!”   She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
DJTeddyBear
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January 26th, 2012 at 6:32:43 AM permalink
I mentioned that just to show that I'm doing this more to support Mike than to support the oganization involved. And that Mike has some pretty heavy influence upon my reluctance to participate and part with cash.

Basically, what I was trying to say is, Mike does a shitload of good stuff for us, not the least of which is running WoV, for free.
It's payback time.

---

The VERY short version of the stories are, I was providing my DJ services for two charity events, for free, because the charities had no budget for entertainment. I didn't want much, just a token payment to cover expenses, etc. A hundred bucks or so. Whatever. With no budget, I'd just do it for free and buy myself a ticket to heaven.

After 5 years of this, and being told there's no budget each time, I found out that other DJs working for these same organizations, WERE getting paid. And without also doing free events. And not some small token payment either.

About a month after that discovery, I get a call from a small, local charity, asking me if I'd do their event. They only had $250 in the budget for a DJ, would that be OK?

I should add that the two big events, that I did for free, were on Saturday nights during wedding season. The local charity that paid, did their event off-season, on a Sunday morning.
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
JohnnyQ
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January 26th, 2012 at 4:26:07 PM permalink
Quote: DJTeddyBear

The VERY short version of the stories are, I was providing my DJ services for two charity events, for free, because the charities had no budget for entertainment.



Silver Lining:

Maybe you did get that advance ticket to heaven.

And even though the other DJ's took a payment,
you should feel good about "sortof donating"
that amount straight to the charity.

Afterall, if they have less overhead, that SHOULD
mean that the whatever money they raised
went toward working on their cause.
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
DJTeddyBear
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January 26th, 2012 at 8:44:55 PM permalink
Johnny -

Yeah, I get all that, and I do agree with what you're saying.

I just don't get how they can hire DJs that are not among the group of DJs that regularly donate DJ services. Got me a bit jaded.

And I'm VERY glad Mike exceeded his goal. After I had donated and posted my story, Mike was stuck at $10 short of the goal all day!



Hey Gang!

I had a reason to boycott, but I donated anyway.

Just because Mike hit his goal doesn't mean he doesn't need/want more donations.

If you haven't donated yet, DO IT! Donate as a way to thank Mike for all he does for us!
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
JohnnyQ
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January 27th, 2012 at 7:24:29 PM permalink
Well oddly enough, I had some slow time at work today
and while organizing my cubicle, I came across an article
in TIME magazine from a while back that was about
Cancer Research charities that had an obscene level
of % devoted to fundraising.

ps: The issue also had an article on INNOVATION which
is why I had the magazine squirreled away in my desk.
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
JohnnyQ
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January 27th, 2012 at 7:28:27 PM permalink
Just checked the Wiz's tally. It's at $ 175, which
beats a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, I suppose.

But I had hoped to see a higher amount. A big # multiplied
by a small donation can add up, although I'd ask the
MATHEXTREMIST to check me on that.

I'm just a little ol' engineer for goodness sakes.
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
Wizard
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January 27th, 2012 at 8:02:15 PM permalink
Thanks for all the latest donations!
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
YoDiceRoll11
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January 27th, 2012 at 9:20:48 PM permalink
If the line for Wiz's finish time is at 90 minutes I'll take the under!
JohnnyQ
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January 28th, 2012 at 8:32:15 PM permalink
Fun fact from the FAQ section of the Lung Assoc website:

- Climbers will climb 1455 steps which equals 108 floors !

Wiz: Where do you train for an event like this ? Do you go
to one of the high rise towers and just find a stairwell ?
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
EvenBob
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January 28th, 2012 at 10:00:04 PM permalink
Quote: JohnnyQ

Climbers will climb 1455 steps which equals 108 floors !



Thats odd because the Empire State Building
has 102 floors and 1860 stair steps.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
Wizard
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January 29th, 2012 at 3:32:31 AM permalink
Quote: JohnnyQ

Wiz: Where do you train for an event like this ? Do you go to one of the high rise towers and just find a stairwell ?



I think I'll hit the stair machine at the gym. When I was training for Mount Shasta and Hood in the summer I would do 300 flights at a time. Note that it is a lot easier to climb a flight on those machines than a real flight. Same with the running machines.

Quote: EvenBob

Thats odd because the Empire State Building has 102 floors and 1860 stair steps.



I agree, there is no way the Stratosphere is 108 stories. If the Empire State Building is 18.24 steps per floor. Using that ratio, the Stratosphere would be 80 floors.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Slowride
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February 7th, 2012 at 12:36:22 PM permalink
Time to bring something good back to the top of the pile. Hope you can raise
more for a good cause.

Chuck
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.....Lazarus Long
boymimbo
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February 9th, 2012 at 10:15:58 AM permalink
I've donated $40 just now, Mike, with an attempted match from my company! Have fun on the climb.
----- You want the truth! You can't handle the truth!
Wizard
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February 9th, 2012 at 10:23:18 AM permalink
Quote: boymimbo

I've donated $40 just now, Mike, with an attempted match from my company! Have fun on the climb.



Thanks! The other day I did 200 flights on the stair machine at the gym to prepare. I want to impress you guys with a good time.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
DJTeddyBear
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February 9th, 2012 at 11:19:57 AM permalink
Quote: Wizard

I agree, there is no way the Stratosphere is 108 stories. If the Empire State Building is 18.24 steps per floor. Using that ratio, the Stratosphere would be 80 floors.

Hmmm....

I think there is a difference between "Story" and "Floor". I.E. Since the stratosphere doesn't have actual floors, they just divide the height by a standard distance between stories - and that standard is probably less than the actual distance in buildings like the Empire State Building.




Just out of curiosity, what are the bail-out options if a climber can't make it?
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
Ayecarumba
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February 9th, 2012 at 11:20:33 AM permalink
If the Wizard gets to $500 in pledges, he gets a sweatshirt too:


Hopefully, the sleeves will be of equal length.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
EvenBob
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February 9th, 2012 at 11:28:54 AM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Thanks! The other day I did 200 flights on the stair machine at the gym to prepare.



Why don't they have stair machines that look
like miniature escalators. It would be a better
workout.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
NicksGamingStuff
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February 9th, 2012 at 12:00:41 PM permalink
Bob they do, go to your gym.
EvenBob
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February 9th, 2012 at 12:06:32 PM permalink
Never seen one before.

"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
Wizard
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February 9th, 2012 at 12:13:51 PM permalink
Let me try to catch up.

The Empire State Building is 1454 feet high and 102 floors. The Stratosphere is 1149 feet high. So, using the same ratio of feet to floors, the Stratosphere would be 80.6 floors high. It wouldn't surprise me if the distance from floor to ceiling in the Empire State Building is not as high as modern buildings. It seems old hotels at least tend to have low ceilings.

About the $500 sweatshirt, let's keep the pledges coming! Seriously, I have all the sweatshirts I need. Now that I've got my t-shirt the pressure is off.

Bob, get with it! I take it you haven't been to a gym in a while (said in a joking way).

Maybe one of the science people on the forum can explain why, but I find climbing those machines easier than real stairs. Same with running machines.

That is a good question about people that quit half way. They must have to walk down. Half way up would not be a good place to have a heart attack.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Ayecarumba
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February 9th, 2012 at 12:28:03 PM permalink
On the "escalator" machines, the treads are moving down, so you don't have to lift your weight the full height of the stair. It is easier than climbing real stairs.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
Nareed
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February 9th, 2012 at 12:47:50 PM permalink
Quote: Ayecarumba

On the "escalator" machines, the treads are moving down, so you don't have to lift your weight the full height of the stair. It is easier than climbing real stairs.



Plus you don't have to turn right every few steps to take the next flight, so you can keep a steadier rhythm on a machine.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
DJTeddyBear
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February 9th, 2012 at 12:54:43 PM permalink
Quote: Ayecarumba

On the "escalator" machines, the treads are moving down, so you don't have to lift your weight the full height of the stair. It is easier than climbing real stairs.

That is a VERY slight advantage, countered by the disadvantage of being on footing that is less steady than a real escalator, and much less steady than stairs.

And although you're not really lifting your weight, all the same muscles are involved in maintaining balance while "climbing." As a result, the workout is very nearly identical to stairs.

It's only if you support some of your weight on the handrails that you aren't getting a full workout.
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
EvenBob
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February 9th, 2012 at 1:27:38 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard


Bob, get with it! I take it you haven't been to a gym in a while



Last gym membership expired in '96 and I
got no plans. If they had these in '96 I
never saw them.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
Ayecarumba
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February 9th, 2012 at 3:56:39 PM permalink
Quote: DJTeddyBear

That is a VERY slight advantage, countered by the disadvantage of being on footing that is less steady than a real escalator, and much less steady than stairs.

And although you're not really lifting your weight, all the same muscles are involved in maintaining balance while "climbing." As a result, the workout is very nearly identical to stairs.

It's only if you support some of your weight on the handrails that you aren't getting a full workout.



I have to disagree. The bulk of the work climbing real stairs is hefting our own body weight. On the machine, the work is mainly lifting the weight of your legs. It is somewhat equvalent to performing squats vs. jogging in place.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
DJTeddyBear
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February 9th, 2012 at 5:38:40 PM permalink
Quote: Ayecarumba

I have to disagree. The bulk of the work climbing real stairs is hefting our own body weight. On the machine, the work is mainly lifting the weight of your legs. It is somewhat equvalent to performing squats vs. jogging in place.

Think so?

Try it on two escalators - maintaining your position on an up escalator, and a down escalator.

I'll bet you say it's easier on the up escalator.
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
JohnnyQ
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February 9th, 2012 at 6:32:20 PM permalink
Quote: DJTeddyBear

Think so?

Try it on two escalators - maintaining your position on an up escalator, and a down escalator.

I'll bet you say it's easier on the up escalator.



There's no escalator where the Wiz is gonna be !

I believe that the difference is in fact the fact that
you have done more work climbing the stairs, the
work being the distance x the weight that you have
moved vertically, ie the Wiz's body weight.
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
Ayecarumba
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February 9th, 2012 at 9:26:31 PM permalink
Quote: DJTeddyBear

Think so?

Try it on two escalators - maintaining your position on an up escalator, and a down escalator.

I'll bet you say it's easier on the up escalator.



I'm not sure I'm following. It is easier to maintain your position on the up escalator... In other words, it is easier to walk backwards while the treads of the escalator move upward (you are facing the correct direction), or it is easier to walk down the same escalator (against what would be the correct flow)?

Think of my assertion this way, is it easier to squat 100 pounds 1,000 times, or walk up 1,000 escalator treads moving down?
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
DJTeddyBear
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February 10th, 2012 at 4:48:55 AM permalink
No. I didn't mean walking backwards.

I meant maintaining position while facing down on the up escalator is easier than maintaining position while facing up on the down escalator. A LOT easier.
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
Doc
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February 10th, 2012 at 6:58:06 AM permalink
I'm making my loop of Louisiana casinos and only have my phone for internet access, so this post may not work right. The Wiz sent a PM asking me to take a look at this thread, so I'll give it a try.

As bizzarre as it may sound, I pretty much agree with both Ayecarumba and DJTeddyBear. Ayecarumba and JohnnyQ are correct that you don't really do any work against gravity unless you lift your weight a net vertical distance, while on the machines you are just trying to maintain position. DJ is correct that you can get a real workout on the machines and that it's easier to hold your own climbing down an up machine.

In my opinion, most of the "work" on a stair machine is expended toward the inefficiency of the process, plus the fact that you don't usually maintain your position -- you lift yourself a fraction of a stair height and then ride down. Gravity shoulld be giving energy back to you as you travel down, but it really goes into the machine rather than rejouvenating you.
DJTeddyBear
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February 10th, 2012 at 7:07:28 AM permalink
Thanks Doc. It makes sense.


For the record, it's been years since I've been on a stairmaster, or went the opposite direction on an escalator for any length of time.

As it happens, the venue where my poker league plays tonight has LONG escalators, and I tend to get there extra early. I.E. I'll have time to kill on empty escalators. I'll report back late tonight about it.
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
Ayecarumba
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February 10th, 2012 at 10:28:34 AM permalink
Quote: DJTeddyBear

Thanks Doc. It makes sense.


For the record, it's been years since I've been on a stairmaster, or went the opposite direction on an escalator for any length of time.

As it happens, the venue where my poker league plays tonight has LONG escalators, and I tend to get there extra early. I.E. I'll have time to kill on empty escalators. I'll report back late tonight about it.



Great, the comparison will be the exertion of walking up a real flight of stairs vs. the same number of steps maintaining your position facing the wrong way on the down escalator. If you have some buddies who can experience both, it would be helpful to get multiple opinions. It would also be fun to see a bunch of people all working out on the escalator. Be safe.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
Ayecarumba
Ayecarumba
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February 10th, 2012 at 12:30:37 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

I don't know that much about it, but the following day they do it again for the people with the best times in the first heat. I'd be honored to get that far. Remember, I was in the top 12% in the half-marathon for my age group. I'd be open to wagering on this somehow, but don't know what is a reasonable goal.



The course is described as 1,455 treads, 108 stories. According to the 2009 article linked below, and the event website FAQ, each flight is approximately 15 feet of vertical. There is a handrail, which I assume you can use.

The competition is limited to 400 participants. The top 50 from the first day will be invited back for a run-off the next day. Individual starts will be staggered every 30 - 45 seconds, and slower traffic should stay on the right to allow passing on the left.

Times will be measured by ankle chip.

No water allowed in the stairwell. And actually, nothing but a fanny pack with keys and wallet will be allowed past the pre-race metal detector.

Read an article (with picture) here.

Last year's winner finished in 7 minutes, 26 seconds. (3.26 stairs/sec) What would be a good finish time for the Wizard?
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
DJTeddyBear
DJTeddyBear
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February 10th, 2012 at 12:59:03 PM permalink
Quote: Ayecarumba

Last year's winner finished in 7 minutes, 26 seconds. (3.26 stairs/sec)

Holy crap!

I'd be shocked if I can get DOWN that fast!
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
Ayecarumba
Ayecarumba
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February 10th, 2012 at 2:43:26 PM permalink
Quote: DJTeddyBear

Holy crap!

I'd be shocked if I can get DOWN that fast!



I guess it's all in the technique.



Please sponsor the Wizard's climb here.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
Wizard
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Wizard
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February 10th, 2012 at 3:14:28 PM permalink
Quote: Ayecarumba

Last year's winner finished in 7 minutes, 26 seconds. (3.26 stairs/sec) What would be a good finish time for the Wizard?



Thanks for that information, good article.

The goal I'll set for myself is one tread (step) per second. That would be 24 minutes and 25 seconds.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
EvenBob
EvenBob
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February 10th, 2012 at 3:38:25 PM permalink
Won't it be too crowded to keep up
a steady pace, unless you're the leader?
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
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