Hustle Chicago FAQ

To ensure the safety of all climbers, volunteers, and building staff, we continue to follow all federal, local, and state public health guidelines around COVID-19. We are taking additional precautions as we return to an indoor venue, including:

• Limited event capacity to allow proper social distancing. Guests will also not be allowed in 360 CHICAGO to allow further social distancing.
• Increased time between climber starts to reduce congestion in stairwells.
• Regarding masks, RHA will follow any local, state, federal, or venue protocols required at the time of the event. There is currently no mask requirement for indoor events, and they will not be required. Participants, volunteers, sponsors, and guests are encouraged to wear a mask in areas at the event where large numbers of people gather – such as the start line, After Party, etc.

We strongly urge all participants, volunteers, sponsors and staff to receive all of the available vaccinations against COVID-19.

Even if you cannot make the in-person climb, you can still help people living with asthma, COPD, lung cancer, COVID-19, and other lung diseases. Sign up for the Hustle Virtual Climb!

Make the fitness challenge a fun part of the virtual experience. Climb on your own in the gym, your basement, or your building’s stairwell. However, there is no requirement to prove you’ve climbed 94 flights on your own. Your key role as a virtual climber is making a difference through fundraising.

You’ll have full access to the RHA Fundraising Toolkit and be able to create a personal fundraising page to help with your efforts. You can qualify for fundraising contests, incentive prizes, and will receive a Virtual Goody Bag on event day! Virtual climbers also receive access to Active Impact, a platform that allows you to track your activity to help you train or catalogue your virtual climb.

Virtual climb fee is $10 and does not require any minimum fundraising.

Virtual climbers who raise $100 or more will receive a Hustle Chicago t-shirt, bib, and commemorative medal.

Register here!

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 starts at 7:00 a.m. with waves typically scheduled through 3:00 p.m.

The Half Climb starts at 8:00 a.m. with waves typically concluding by 10:00 a.m.

To allow for proper social distancing, event capacity is limited and there will be a longer release time between climbers.

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.

We assign climb waves in advance of the event and all are final. With thousands 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.

Team packets will be shipped 2-3 weeks prior to event to team captains.

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 24
10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday, February 25
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

OR

2) Order climb packet to be mailed before the climb here. 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 10.

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.

Check out these training and nutrition tips from our friends at GYMGUYZ!

Also check out the training series created by Fleet Feet:

• Interval Training
• Tempo Workouts & Training Calendar
• Leg Exercises
• 8 Minute Abs
• Technique

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

CTA Bus Routes

We encourage you to consider public transportation due to the number of people present on event day!

CTA’s #151 and 146 bus routes will drop you off directly in front of 875 N. Michigan. Visit transitchicago.com or call 836-7000 (any area code) for CTA travel information.

875 N. MICHIGAN AVE. PARKING

Parking is available exclusively at the 875 N. Michigan Ave. Parking Garage. You may access the garage from the Chestnut or Delaware side of the building. As part of security procedures, uniformed personnel may check vehicles entering the Parking Garage. Please allow extra time for this security check and obey all instructions given by 875 N. Michigan Ave. staff. We suggest leaving your coat and belongings secured in your car. Please note your wave’s start time to ensure you select the correct time parameters for your parking pass.

OTHER OPTIONS

Spot Hero
Save up to 50% when you book a parking spot in advance at a nearby garage.

Bloomingdales Building
Parking garage located at 900 N. Michigan Avenue. Discount available with any purchase, e.g. coffee.

Water Tower Place Valet
Available at the Hilton Chicago Magnificent Mile Suites. Parking rate is $28 up to 2 hours and $36 for 2 – 6 hours.

Nearby Parking Garages

• Park at 100 East Walton
• East of Michigan Avenue on Delaware Street
• West of Michigan Avenue on Delaware Street

All prices are subject to change without notice.

We are excited to partner with the Hilton Chicago Magnificent Mile Suites! Extend your Hustle Chicago stair climb experience and stay pre- or post-event at the official hotel sponsor of Hustle Chicago stair climb. Keep an eye out in event emails for a special discounted rate for climbers!

We are guests of 875 N. Michigan Ave., which houses both businesses and personal residences. Please be courteous to all. Security procedures must be followed and security personnel will be present in all areas. Car and bag checks may be done in the parking garage and other areas and is left up to the discretion of 875 N. Michigan Ave. security.

To ensure everyone’s safety, climbers are not permitted to leave the stairwells unless escorted by security, who will be stationed at 10 floor intervals (approximately). 875 N. Michigan Ave. security will be in radio communication and prepared to assist you in case of an emergency.

Yes! We have several options available to you, all outlined below.

HILTON SUITES – GEAR CHECK

A small-bag gear check is provided at the Hilton Chicago Magnificent Mile Suites, 198 East Delaware – the same convenient location as the Hustle Chicago After Party. While the gear check room is monitored by event volunteers, RHA cannot accept liability for lost items. Bring only necessities and leave valuable items at home.

875 N. MICHIGAN AVE. – COAT CHECK ONLY

A coat-only check is available on the Garden/Concourse level at 875 N. Michigan where you enter line-up for your climb. Space is extremely limited and you will not be able to store tote bags, duffel bags, phones, cameras, keys, etc. There are absolutely no exceptions at coat-only check. If you have small items to store on event day, visit Gear Check at Hilton Suites before coming to 875 N. Michigan Ave.

TIPS & TRICKS FOR YOUR GEAR

• To keep the walkways open and safe for all participants, items cannot be left unattended. Found items will be removed by RHA volunteers and/or security and will not be available for return.
• Use a bag that has unique marks, tags or other identifiable characteristics for easier retrieval from Gear Check.
• Keep checked items and size to a minimum.
• Event photos are provided so you can leave your camera equipment at home.
• Please do not bring other valuables to the event.
• If you park at 875 N. Michigan Ave., leave your gear in your vehicle.
• If you have guests attending the event, consider having your guests hold your small-bag items while you climb.

Yes, we have professional photographers on-site to capture the day. A variety of photo opportunities are provided to capture the climb experience including your individual climb!

Medical assistance is available throughout the entire event.

Medical staff will be on-site for those who may need assistance in various areas including the concourse level, stairwells and at the finish line in 360 CHICAGO. They are easily identified by their red shirts with white print. An ambulance with paramedic staff will also be on site.

Any volunteer can assist you with accessing medical personnel. If you must exit the stairwell in case of an emergency or you are unable to complete the climb, please seek security, volunteer or medical staff for assistance to be properly escorted. Do not exit any floor without 875 N. Michigan Ave. security personnel!