Check out these training and nutrition tips from our friends at GYMGUYZ!
Also check out the training series created by Fleet Feet:
We’ve also assembled great training tips for Hustle Chicago® stair climb, provided by past climbers.
- Once or twice a week punctuate your workout with a number of higher intensity bursts. This will help condition your body and mind for “the burn.” This type of workout also burns more calories than a moderate workout of the same duration. For example, complete a 10-20 minute warm-up followed by 10 x 1 minute hard & 1 minute easy and a 10-20 minute cool-down.
- Take the stairs at work instead of the elevator.
- Experiment with your clothing, shoes, and accessories before the event. There is nothing worse than finding out your lucky shirt chafes you on floor 35. You may want to try a dissolvable lozenge strip to aid in those dry stairwells.
- Be consistent. Working out 3 or 4 times a week the 4 weeks prior to the event will be much more beneficial than pulling two-a-days the 3 days before.
- Be smart. No one cares if you complete a world record time in practice, Leave something in the tank for the big day.
- Don’t neglect the upper body. Pulling on the handrails with your arms is perfectly acceptable and just as important as pushing with your legs.
- Fuel well. Try to eat some carbs and protein within a half-hour of your workouts. You’ll feel much better in the next workout because you’ve fueled your body for adaptation.
- Stay hydrated. Good hydration practices will speed recovery from workouts and prepare you for your best possible experience on the day of the event.
- Don’t get psyched out. Yes 94 flights (or 52 for that matter) on foot is crazy, but why would you be doing it if it weren’t? You can do it. We believe in you. Somewhere in the first 3rd you’ll start to feel like you’re drowning. Just put your head down and pull with your arms and you’ll be feeling better soon!
Gear Recommendations
- Synthetic or Merino wool socks
- Body Glide!!
- Cough drops or dissolvable lozenge strips
- A tested (not brand new) pair of running shorts
- A tested (not brand new) t-shirt or singlet
- Sweatband/hat/visor
NEW THIS YEAR! All participants receiving their packets by mail must meet their minimum fundraising by the time the packet is shipped. Please see Registration Fees for more details.
Team packets will be shipped 2-3 weeks prior to the event to team captains. Team captains and members must meet their minimum fundraising goal by January 26. The packet of any team member that does not meet the minimum by this date will be held at RHA’s offices and the team member will need to attend Packet Pick-Up or pay for packet to be mailed individually for a $17 fee no later than February 9, 2024.
Individual climbers can do one of two things to get their packets:
1) Pick up climb packets from the Respiratory Health Association office on event weekend. The building is located conveniently in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. Participants may pick up for other individual climbers if you know the correct spelling of their full name and climb category.
1440 W. Washington Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: 312-628-0200
Friday, February 23
10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, February 24
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All climbers must meet their fundraising minimum by Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Any participants who have not met their minimum by this date will have their card provided at the time of registration charged. If a card is not approved, the participant will be required to make a donation to their fundraising page before they are able to receive their packet.
OR
2) Order climb packet to be mailed before the climb (Available soon). Individual packets will be shipped 2-3 weeks prior to the event. There is a $17 fee per packet. Climb packets can be ordered until February 9. Individual climbers who are having their packet mailed must have reached their minimum fundraising goal by February 9.
NOTE: There is no packet pick-up on event day! Individuals who do not pick up their climb packet during the designated packet pick-up times will forfeit their climbing spots.
Although individual participants can’t request specific climb wave times, there a few ways to influence your assigned time.
- Register as a Lung Health Champion – One benefit of committing to raise $1,000 is selecting your climb wave time preference.
- Create a Team – All team members will be assigned to the same wave. Minimum team size is two participants – if you want to climb at the same time as a friend, consider forming a team!
- Register for the Elite Climb – Participants in this division are assigned to the 7:00 a.m. climb wave.
- NEW! During registration, select your preferred time slot. This does not guarantee you will climb during this time. Time slot requests from Lung Health Champions and Team Captains will be prioritized.
We assign climb waves in advance of the event and all are final. With the number of climbers expected, it’s not possible to accommodate individual requests for specific wave times or change times once assignments are made. Your climb wave is shared in your event packet at packet pickup. RHA is not able to provide this information by phone or email.
Want to receive your climb wave time early? Sign up to receive your packet by mail here and your time will be mailed along with your event shirt, bib, and other materials a few weeks prior to the event date.
All Hustle Chicago stair climb participants are assigned to a 15-minute climb wave and start their individual stair climb within that window. You should plan to arrive and be ready to line up one hour ahead of your assigned climb wave.
You and other climbers assigned to your wave will be allowed to line up at the stairwell entrance approximately 15 minutes prior to your wave time. Climbers are then released into the stairwells in intervals to ensure a safe and regulated event.
The Full Climb sponsored by Omron ranges from 7:00 a.m. until approximately 3:00 p.m.
The Half Climb ranges from 8:00 a.m. until approximately 10:00 a.m.
Event capacity is limited and there will be a longer release time between climbers.
