Coming around on the Coors Field Climb

 

Finishing above the Coors Field forest

Had I not reached out at the last moment, I might have missed my Fight for Air Climb start time. In 2021, I received as late a start as the climb allows. I planned my morning around a similar time.

Since I had not received a time via e-mail, I reached out the day before the Climb. The American Lung Association event coordinator, who was obviously stressed the day before the Denver ALA’s signature event, graciously sent me a link.

There would be no 11:30 start this time – I had to go at 8:50. The schedulers clearly put some solo runners like me into group time slots to fill out each starting time. I didn’t mind, but if I had not checked, I would have rolled up about 11.

Plans for pre-climb breakfast with Tim turned into post-climb brunch.At least everything would finish everything early. 

Not that the course would be any easier at an earlier time. The stadium shadows would hold off the heat for part of the climb, but not nearly enough. A clear May morning would turn hot at some point.

The course follows the staircases of the lower bowl of Coors Field. Nothing could make this run easy with its mix of stairs. All I could do was not look too far ahead. We started on the right field end of the stadium, and wound all the way around to the outfield bleachers. 

Start looking too far ahead, and it feels like a slog. Focus on one row of stairs at a time, and the climb is bearable. Make jokes with the runners passing you, and they will oblige with a chuckle. Just be polite, and the climb goes by in a short time. 

After I crossed the finish line and took a medal, I guzzled a few bottles of water and stared down at the magnificent little forest in left-center field, the various trees of Colorado represented in one spot, with some water features surrounding them. 

 I don’t run long races anymore. But the stair climb has an allure I can’t shake. It’s a fundraiser for the ALA, and you might think COVID-19 would have put lung health on more people’s radars. 

Most importantly, I didn’t have to run in an enclosed staircase. It’s outside and the temperatures didn’t turn oppressive until at least halfway into the climb. 

Hopefully they continue my early start times for future climbs, because I have no intention of stopping as long as I remain mobile enough to knock out 1,100 steps one mile up.