National Take the Stairs Day

The month of January is a new start of the year, and it can be a great time to start new habits that can lead to a healthier lifestyle. National Take the Stairs Day is one great way to make a small change that can have a big impact!

History of National Take the Stairs Day

The first National Take the Stairs Day occurred in 2016 and it has been celebrated each year ever since. Supported by the American Lung Association (ALA), this day is part of an effort to help people have healthier lungs and bodies. Chapters of the ALA in various states throughout the US promote National Take the Stairs Day with events and activities that support lung health.

One of the activities encouraged by the American Lung Association on National Take the Stairs Day is to register to participate in one of their fund-raising events, the Fight for Air Climb. These charity events take place in areas all over the US where participants climb stairs in some of the most popular skyscrapers in the country.

With 42 different versions of the Fight for Air Climb, it’s a great way to participate in a community event that is good for the participant’s physical health and it also helps support a good cause – lung health. Participants can climb stairs in cool places such as San Francisco, CA; Dallas, TX; Providence, RI; or New York, NY. Some of these events may also offer discounts on fees in honor of National Take the Stairs Day.

Get starting training for one of these events by creating a new habit in celebration of National Take the Stairs Day!

How to Celebrate National Take the Stairs Day

National Take the Stairs Day offers a ton of fun options for enjoying the celebration of this day – and much more throughout the year. Get started with some of these ideas:

Take The Stairs!

Of course, the first order of business on National Take the Stairs Day is to forgo the elevator and get moving up those stairs. Some people are so accustomed to taking the elevator in their office buildings that they aren’t even sure where the staircase is. So this is just the right time to find out!

Leave those people behind who are just standing there waiting for a lift up the elevator, open the door to the staircase, and get started on one small way to live a much healthier life.

Create a Stair-Climbing Challenge

Excited to see those stairwells at work full of people celebrating National Take the Stairs Day? Then organize an event to get the word out and raise awareness for the day! Use the official day as a kickoff for a month-long or even year-long campaign to make the workplace a healthier place where everyone takes the stairs.

Print flyers to post in the breakroom or make a signup sheet to get people to commit to participating in National Take the Stairs Day. Then, on the kickoff day, don’t forget to post a sign in front of the elevator that reminds participants to head on over to that stairwell in order to keep their commitment. And don’t forget to offer prizes and incentives to motivate the people!

Download a Step Counter App

Get into the groove of National Take the Stairs Day by downloading an app on your smartphone that will help keep track of the number of stairs that have been climbed each day. But what is the right number of stairs to climb each day?

According to the American Heart Association, a person needs approximately 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, every week in order to maintain their current weight or start losing weight. These goals can be completed by climbing just ten flights of stairs every day.

So get out that step counter and get climbing!

Commit to the Empire State Building Run Up (ESBRU)

One cool way to join in on the fun of National Take the Stairs Day, and get an amazing workout at the same time, is to commit to the Empire State Building Run Up. In the world’s original and most famous tower race, participants can take this iconic tower’s 86 flights of stairs, which equals 1576 steps or approximately 1/4 mile.

First taking place in 1978, the inaugural tower run was won by Gary Muhrcke, who was also the first winner of the New York City Marathon in 1970. The fastest runners usually take about 10 minutes for the climb and then finish off with a scenic run around the observation deck which has an amazing view of New York City.
The annual Empire State Building Run Up race typically takes place in the month of October and requires registration for the limited spaces available to join in on the run.