I'm in shape...How many???

189 Steps to my destination. 189 steps will get you down but how do you get back up? Today was my first experience with the Santa Monica stairs. Sure I've heard about this place, but stairs are everywhere. Why drive to Santa Monica to run up and down a staircase? Because it's really effing hard, that's why. I consider myself to be in good shape. On a good day I might even go so far as to say great shape. I am not, however in great cardiovascular shape. When I do cardio at the gym I have to break it down into 10 minute sessions, watch TV, listen to music, imagine the people around me naked and I still hate it. I'm not going to make an argument against cardiovascular workouts because I know they benefit a body in so many ways. I will, however, come out and say that I hate them though. As of late I have been trying to kick my workouts into high gear. It seems as though just showing up and doing a little here and there isn't cutting it for me. You could call me somewhat of a junkie. When I was invited to do the stairs I said "sure, why not?". We went on a Saturday morning. Unfortunately this place is no secret, and like most places in LA, it was packed with people. There are two staircases that lead straight down from one road to another. One is made of wood and goes straight down, the other cement and has a zig zag pattern. Our first round was down and up the wood staircase and then looping over to go down the cement ones. Walking down isn't physically hard but it is very disorienting. I had to hold the railing and went down like a slow poke fraidey cat! The rest after that got easier and easier in that regard but I was sweating like a pig and panting like a canine. Down the cement, up the wood, passing people taking it at a slower pace in the middle lane. After we had done 4 rounds we ran down the sidewalk for another maybe 15 minutes and came out to Pacific Coast Hightway right on the coast. I see a staircase the leads straight under the freeway and ask, "what's that?" My running buddy replies, "I think it leads to the beach, you want to go?" Hell yes I want to go! Another staircase and small hallway later we are on the sand. I have to say it was an incredible morning. This is why I live in California. I didn't even mind the 189 steps back up to the car.
-Whitney