I was panting really hard on my last set of stairs last evening. Carmen had to push me a little by a little, as if coaxing a young kid who were at the verge of giving up. I was lagging behind her at the mid level. I refused to lift my head to look at the floor number. “Come on, this is the last set” … I picked up my pace, breath harder and step by step went up the stairs … “10 more floors to go” … ouch! You mean we are only at the 20th floor? I talked to myself, and still, I refused to lift my head to confirm that. I now quite understood what is like to breath from a straw. I felt constricted all over my chest, I cannot extend my diaphragm unless I lift my head and lean back. I went on as if like having an asthma attack on the next few floors (if that’s indeed how asthmatic patient felt when suffering from an asthma attack*). I cannot recall how many turns I had done as I refused to count (self denial). Then I felt a breeze entering from the window … it was only then that I was sure I was near the top. I eventually lifted my head, more air gush through the airway that raised my chest, and I spotted a number 28, two more floors to go. What a relieve. The final push was tough, my legs felt jellied. The last set was only the 6th! Darn, I better buck up.

30 storey / Number of sets: 6
Load: 15kg (last set probably 14kg cos I almost finished my 1.5ltrs of water)
Time taken for each set:
Set 1: 7min 40sec
Set 2: 8min 08sec
Set 3: 8min 35sec
Set 4: 9min 15sec
Set 5: 9min 52sec
Set 6: 8min 25sec
Average:  8min 45sec

Mood: I thought I can be stronger since I just came back from climbing Mt Rinjani carrying 13kg load on average during the trek. But I was wrong, obviously! So TIRED!

After completing my 6 sets, and Carmen completed 8 sets

*Note: Asthma attack is typically narrowing of airways that makes it difficult for air to be exhaled (breathed out) from the lungs. When someone is suffering from an asthma attack, allow the patient to lean forward (sort of like a sit-up position with the chest near [but not touching] to the knees) to prevent further resistance to exhaling.