This past weekend a band of twelve brothers gathered to do battle in downtown Milwaukee and even though the outcome wasn't what I had hoped for, I couldn't be prouder to have been amongst them.
Unlike other occasions when our objectives would be to fight fires, help rescue someone from a frozen pond, or assist one another with whatever mother nature threw our way, we would face a formidable foe that would prove to eventually kick our tail in ways we never imagined. I can't speak for anyone else but to be totally honest with you I had an idea it was going to be tough. I was just too naive to think it would really affect me that much.
The adversary I speak of was called Climb Wisconsin and it was put on by the American Lung Association to raise money and awareness for their cause. And appropriately enough this Valentines Day it was held at the US Bank building on Milwaukee's lakefront. All 47 floors, 94 flights, and 1,034 stairs were laid out before us to prove myself wrong and many others like me who think we're in about the best shape of our lives.
The objective was quite simple in theory, just not in a practical sense. Get your carcass, and those of four others in your team, up to the top of a tall building as quickly as you can. The fastest cumulative time wins.
We all arrived there about an hour before our two teams were set to go up, congregating in the atrium with nine other departments who each staked out their own staging areas. When it was announced that our teams were to report to the start, we gathered all of our equipment (turn-out gear and SCBA) and began the trek down to the sub street levels. Unlike the others who had gone before us, the firefighter challenge was to be performed while wearing fifty pounds of gear on your back. We've all worn this stuff a million times before but today it felt oddly heavier than I could remember. At this time a few of the guys were asking me how I talked them into this and honestly I was asking myself the same thing. No problems though, we were all going to run up this thing and laugh about it in about fifteen minutes. Yeah right!
Once downstairs we would eventually stand in line to wait for our turn to begin. Although the line wasn't very long, the minute or so that it took to get to the staring mat felt like an eternity to some of us. Each person is released in ten second intervals and as you get closer you can just feel the amount of adrenalin rising in you. When you finally reach the mat, a five second countdown begins and off you go.
I went last for my team, so I could hear the tempo of which everyone was clanging away on each stair as they would climb. After a couple of flights I felt this was a bit slow for my liking so I began to gradually pass everyone. This proved to be the kiss of death and quickly took me from the front of our pack to the guy laying on the landing that people would have to step over. I heard that little voice in my head telling me to tone it down but my ego was shouting much louder. My ego lost.
When I finally peeled myself off the floor it took every ounce of my energy and even more perseverance than I had to continue. By the twentieth floor I was thinking of excuses to throw the towel in but I just couldn't. I didn't eat bird food for five weeks and train like I did to quit. By about the thirty-sixth floor I went down again and this time I didn't think I was getting up. This was also the time when I noticed that I had a couple of Paramedics following closely behind me and it was a bit annoying and creepy all at the same time. On one hand I'm angry because my ever so proud self is convinced that there's no reason anyone should have to follow ME, and on the other hand I felt like an injured wildebeest being tracked by vultures.
I assured them that I was fine and they eventually backed off and left me to climb on my own but it wasn't long before I had to take a knee and rest again. If it wasn't for a guy from Waukegan Fire who stopped to help me up I wouldn't have done it. At that moment I was about ten floors from the finish with only one floor left in me and I was sure at this time that I had nothing left to go on. He told me to stay on my feet and keep moving, no matter how slowly. I did exactly what he said and several flights later the end finally came. I never got his name but whoever you are brother you were a huge help and I can't thank you enough.
Sweating more than I have ever done, and feeling like my legs were two hundred pounds a piece, I stepped across the finish line and proceeded to find myself a corner to go and die in. I was happy that it was over and a great feeling of accomplishment was in me but you had to look hard to see it. I felt bad for my daughter who was waiting there for me and wanted a nice big smile for the camera but I just couldn't muster one up. I was just happy to be alive at this point.
Although some of us may not have quite met our expectations, to just finish this thing is a monumental task that we can all be proud of. A few of the guys I'm certain are probably extremely satisfied with their accomplishments and in my opinion require the most honorable of mentions.
From Tichigan, the big winner was one Mr. Kyle Kierstead. With a 13:59, he was by far the fastest individual in our group. The little snot didn't have a bead of sweat on him when I finished. But then again he had plenty of time to take a shower and change clothes before most of us reached the top. You definitely earned braggin' rights my friend, congratulations to you!
Second place deservedly enough went to Burt Peterson with a 16:26. That weight vest paid out huge dividends now didn't it? You provided inspiration to all of us more mature gents so you'll have to do this again next year, and maybe we can take the title away from West Allis.
And rounding out our top three is Tommy Nehring with a 19:17. I guess I have to take your smack talk now don't I? By the way, not to belittle any of our boy's accomplishments but those animals at WAFD won the event with an average time of 11:30 per team member. Man do we have our work cut out for us!
Recognition must also be given to The boys at Rochester Fire. Mark and his crew did a fantastic job and finished sixth overall in the competition, beating even the guys from Milwaukee. And this wouldn't be much of a story without Jimmy Nickel. He belongs to the "mature gent" group that I mentioned before and he finished with a time of 19:32. What makes his story unique is that he found himself not able to go on at around the twentieth floor just like many of us but it wasn't from exhaustion, he needed a bathroom and he needed one fast! So he ducked out onto one of the floors and in the dark he found a head, probably choked the thing, (have you seen the size of this guy?) and returned to the competition a couple of pounds lighter and as fresh as a daisy.
Some people!
