Five reasons to try stair climbing

You’ve probably read one or two health articles that advise you to take the stairs as an easy way to sneak more activity into your day. As runners, we may scoff at the idea of one extra flight of stairs giving us the edge. Many of us fall into the category of those that walk up escalators. However, stair climbing may be the edge that is missing from your training program. The key: not just one flight. Here are our top five reasons why you should give stair climbing a try.

1)   Convenience

You can find a set of stairs pretty much anywhere, which makes this a great workout option for those travelling or without a gym membership.

2)   Calorie burn

Running stairs burns more calories than regular running. Incorporating stairs into your training plan is a good idea for runners looking to lose a few pounds.

3)   Cardio and strength combined

Stair climbing utilizes the same muscles as squats and lunges, but also has an added cardio boost. The movement forces you to engage stabilizers, such as the gluteus medius, more than you would during a run, improving overall leg strength.

4)   Competition

You can sign up for a race! The Canada Life CN Tower Climb is Canada’s most renowned stair climbing race, attracting 4,000 participants this past year. New York City’s Empire State Building Run Up serves as a destination race option.

5)   Camaraderie

Stair climbing provides the perfect opportunity for friends who may not be of the same athletic ability, to work out together. Unlike running, where someone must either speed up or slow down for a friend of a different fitness level, stair climbing allows for two people to go their own speeds, yet stay in the same vicinity as one another. Plus, that you can drag out the friend who always uses not having a gym membership as their excuse.