Climbing stairs – a fairly simple task for most.
But add in 57 flights of stairs and full firefighting gear and you’ve got yourself a challenge – the Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge, to be exact.
Denare Beach’s Mark Lucas was one of 500 firefighters from across Canada and parts of the US who climbed the stairs of Calgary’s Bow Building on Sunday, May 3.
“It was great, and I can’t wait to do it again next year,” said Lucas, a member of the Denare Beach Fire Department.
Firefighters from across North America helped to raise more than $125,000 for Wellspring Calgary, an organization that provides support to cancer patients and their families.
Lucas contributed just shy of $600 before climbing the 1,204 steps of the Bow Building.
He had hoped to finish the 775 vertical foot climb in 20 minutes, but the challenge was more difficult than he had anticipated.
The Bow Building has the highest elevation point of any building in the world.
“I don’t know if it was the elevation change or what, but I was gassed three quarters of the way up,” said Lucas.
He finished the stair-climb challenge in 31 minutes in full fire gear including a tank, though the competitors did not have to use a breathing apparatus.
“I didn’t make my [goal] time, but I’m pleased that I finished,” he said. “I’m proud of doing it and completing it.”
Though he wasn’t able to prepare for the elevation aspect of the climb, Lucas was able to prepare physically for the event.
He trained using gym equipment and eventually Flin Flon’s 100 Stairs in his full gear to try and mimic the feel of the stairs.
Five months ago Lucas found the event page on Facebook and registered after checking it out.
He was originally on a team of four from Denare Beach, but with the ongoing strike at Hudbay he was left to compete as an individual.
