I've started a trend in the company I work for. Every now and then, I use the stairs instead of the elevator to get to the 12th floor where I work. I do it quite fast too. One of the youger guys was looking for a way to improve his stamina and I suggested him to do the same. He did and told the others about the time it took me to do it. Now, all the young men of the company are competing in order to beat my time (I only measured accurately once) and today, one of them did. I climbed the 12 floors in 1m11s and he did it in 1m02s. All the others aren't able to do it in less than 1m20s.
The one who beat my time ran a half marathon last year and of course, he's just 31 years old. I told him I'd try to retake my title Monday, but I'm not too confident about it. I'll have to run the entire 12 floors and waste no time between each turn (2 per floor). I know I can improve my previous time by at least 6 to 8 seconds because I finished the last three floors walking instead of running when I did 1m11s. I don't know if my heart will allow me to run up to the top though.
If you don't hear about me past Monday, it will probably mean that I'll have died trying. It would be the most appropriated way to resume my existence if it ever happens.
BTW, those running the stairs of the Empire State Building up to the top are nuts. 12 floors is already too much, so the Empire State Building, this is crazy.