1 2 Warmer How often do you exercise? What is the ideal exercise? Why? Have you tried intensive exercise like fell running (running up hills) or stair climbing? If so, what was it like? If not, why haven t you tried it? Key words Fill the gaps in the sentences using these key words from the text. workout competitor venue endurance far-fetched ascent daunting pacing stairwell solitary 1. A is the area containing the sets of stairs in a building from the bottom to the top level. 2. A is the place where an activity or event takes place. 3. An is a climb upwards, especially up a hill or mountain. 4. A is an occasion when you do physical exercise. 5. If something is described as, it makes you worried because you think that it will be difficult or dangerous to do. 6. is the process of not doing something too quickly so that you have enough energy to complete an activity. 7. A is someone who takes part in a sporting event. 8. A activity is one that you do alone. 9. If something is described as, it is difficult to believe because it is very unlikely. 10. is the ability to continue doing something physically difficult for a long time. 3 Find the information Find the following information in the text as quickly as possible. 1. How many steps were there in the first British vertical mile? 2. How do competitors go back down after reaching the top of the building? 3. What was the winning time for a single ascent? 4. How many steps are there in the Broadgate Tower? 5. How many ascents of the Broadgate Tower are required for the vertical mile? 6. What was the author s reward at the top of the climb?
A step up what is it like tower running up a 35-storey building? More than 100 people took part in an event at the City of London s Broadgate Tower with some brave souls attempting 12 climbs for a vertical mile Richard Nelsson 6 December, 2017 1 Running up a seemingly endless flight of steps in a brightly lit, white-walled stairwell, I felt as if I was trapped in a psychological thriller. Muffled sounds of heavy breathing and disembodied voices drifted down from above, while from behind me, I could hear someone s footsteps getting closer. 2 I was climbing the 877 steps of the 35-storey Broadgate Tower in the City of London, the latest venue for a mass-participation tower-running event. More than 100 of us were making at least one ascent of the skyscraper. 3 Tower running, or stair climbing, is a sport that is gradually becoming established in the UK. It has, over the past decade or so, mainly been associated with charity events, where huge sums are raised by people dragging themselves up landmark buildings. The best-known of these is Vertical Rush, for the housing charity Shelter. It is also a serious sport in its own right, with a national circuit of races as well as a world championship. For many, though, stair climbing simply provides an intense, but enjoyable, cardio workout. 4 The Broadgate Tower Run Up was unique in that it catered for all aspects of the sport. As well as playing host to charity runners and the final run of the Tower Running UK championship, the event offered the chance to attempt the first British vertical mile a daunting 12 climbs (10,000 steps) of the building or a triple climb, a quarterof-a-mile challenge. 5 Taking my first steps into the sport, I opted for the latter. All you need is regular running gear, and Matt Hudson, the founder of the event s organizers, Total Motion, passed on some basic advice: It s all about pacing start off with a fast walk and then run the last few flights. Also, try and run at least two, even three, steps at a time as it halves the distance. 6 Competitors set off at ten-second intervals so there was little bumping into each other, although some teamed up with friends. Stair climbing is largely a solitary, if physically demanding, pastime, with little to look at (most are held in windowless stairwells) and only the sounds of other competitors for company. Some were wearing headphones but I got into the zone by imagining I was out in the mountains, focusing on a peak ahead. Far-fetched perhaps but this spot of urban fell-running got me to the top where I was rewarded with stunning views of London and beyond. 7 Of course, I had two more climbs to make but at least the lift down rubbery legs mean it s the safest means of descent provided a chance to recover. Lift conversations centred around the health benefits of the sport. Adrian Plant, in his 60s, said he found the sport good for building up his core strength and the high intensity complemented his long-distance cycling. 8 Susan Lash, 57, who had travelled from Bloomington, Illinois, to attempt the vertical mile, told me she had been stair climbing for ten years. Knee pain from normal running had led to her making the switch, in part because there is no downward pressure on the lift descent. In fact, stair climbing provides a full-body high-intensity workout with an emphasis on the lower body. It builds endurance but it is essentially the pulling yourself up against gravity that delivers the real benefits. 9 Back on my second climb, it was starting to make sense. With little in the way of visual distraction, I concentrated on ticking off steps and floors, mentally calculating speeds. I completed my third ascent with an average of seven-and-a-half minutes a climb. Sharing the lift down with me was Sophie Biggs, a vertical-miler who, despite having just finished her seventh run, had hardly broken into a sweat (she went on to win the race in 1hr 25min). She explained her technique of pulling on alternate handrails. 10 The elite runners, making a single climb as fast as they could, delivered impressive times, with the winner, Estonia s Rauno Tilts, coming in at 4min 30sec. British champion Mark Sims wasn t far behind but perhaps even more impressive was his eight-year-old daughter doing it in nine minutes. Exemplifying the charity spirit was David Harvey who, with a 20kg pack on his back, completed the vertical mile in less than two hours in a bid to raise money for Student Minds, a mental health charity. Many competitors, though, were happy just to have completed a single climb. Guardian News and Media 2017 First published in The Guardian, 06/12/17
4 Comprehension check Choose the best answer according to the text. 1. Over the past ten years or so, what has tower running or stair climbing mainly been associated with? a. raising money for charity b. world championships c. vertical miles 2. Why is it described as a solitary pastime? a. because you can t usually see other competitors b. because stairwells are windowless c. because there is very little bumping into other competitors 3. What delivers the real physical benefits of tower running? a. the fact that there is a ten-second interval between competitors b. the fact that competitors pull themselves up against gravity c. the fact that they use the lift to go back down 4. Why do competitors use the lift to go back down? a. to avoid bumping into other competitors b. so they can get back down more quickly to run up again c. because their legs are weak after the ascent 5 Find the word Find the following words and phrases in the text. 1. an adjective meaning not easy to hear because it is blocked by something (para 1) 2. a prefix meaning relating to the heart (para 3) 3. a two-word verb phrase meaning be the venue for an event (para 4) 4. a two-word phrasal verb meaning choose (para 5) 5. an adjective meaning very impressive or beautiful (para 6) 6. a four-word verb phrase meaning use a lot of energy or effort (para 9) 7. a verb meaning be a typical example of something (para 10) 8. a noun meaning an attempt (para 10)
6 Phrasal verbs Match the phrasal verbs from the text with their meanings. 1. cater for 2. pass on 3. set off 4. focus on 5. team up with 6. build up a. concentrate on something b. join other people for a particular purpose c. give something to someone d. provide people with something they want or need e. make someone bigger, healthier and stronger f. start a journey or a race 7 Word-building Complete the sentences using the correct form of the word in brackets at the end of each sentence. 1. A voice comes from someone you cannot see. [EMBODY] 2. The flight of steps was endless. [SEEM] 3. Stair climbing is a physically activity. [DEMAND] 4. Stairwells often have no windows so there are no visual. [DISTRACT] 5. Tower running provides an intense but cardio workout. [ENJOY] 6. It is a full-body high- workout. [INTENSE] 8 Discussion Discuss the statements. High-intensity exercise like tower running is bad for you. Everyone should try and keep fit by exercising every day. It s more fun to sit on the sofa and watch other people exercising.
KEY 2 Key words 1. stairwell 2. venue 3. ascent 4. workout 5. daunting 6. pacing 7. competitor 8. solitary 9. far-fetched 10. endurance 3 Find the information 1. 10,000 2. by lift 3. 4 minutes 30 seconds 4. 877 5. 12 6. stunning views of London and beyond 4 Comprehension check 1. a 2. a 3. b 4. c 5 Find the word 1. muffled 2. cardio 3. play host 4. opt for 5. stunning 6. break into a sweat 7. exemplify 8. bid 6 Phrasal verbs 1. d 2. c 3. f 4. a 5. b 6. e 7 Word-building 1. disembodied 2. seemingly 3. demanding 4. distractions 5. enjoyable 6. intensity