Climbing to fitness

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

	V.W.H. Campbell Jr., Post-Gazette Daniel Chew rounds the corner of the stairs leading to the 36th floor of the Cathedral of Learning in the second hour of his quest. Click photo for larger image.

Daniel Chew, 44, of Shadyside, spent Saturday climbing the steps of the Cathedral of Learning on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, aiming to break his personal stair-climbing record. He's a fitness aficionado: When last checked on by the Post-Gazette (Dec. 20, 2006), he announced he was more than halfway toward his lifetime goal of riding a bicycle for 1 million miles.

Fourteen years ago, Mr. Chew climbed the Cathedral's steps 86 times in 12 hours. There are 764 steps between the ground and the 36th floors. Climbing those steps 100 times would be more than 40,000 feet, or 7 miles.

How did he do Saturday? A new personal best: 101 times up in 17 hours, 48 minutes. Three days later, he reported, "My legs are still SORE to the CORE. Very PAINFUL to walk!!!!!"

For people who'd like to try a similar workout, the American Lung Association of Pennsylvania is sponsoring its inaugural stair climb event on Saturday, March 24, at One Oxford Center, Downtown. For more information, call 724-933-6180.