Old Kilcullen conquers the Empire State

Congrats on your five years anniversary of The Diary

I live in NY and it's a great way to follow the news and goings on from home!! Have some news from NY today that you might be interested in. The annual Empire State Building Run Up was on this morning ... consists of running 86 flights of stairs to the top of the Empire State! In a moment of madness I decided to apply for a place (it's invitational only) as it was been held on morning of my birthday.

I was notified three weeks ago that I'd been accepted to run the amateur race. As I was home at time and only 'skyscraper' in Old Kilcullen has no stairs, the only training could I get in was the loop from Old Kilcullen down around Yellow Bog lane and back up to OK, while trying not to slip on black ice (didn't work). But the hill up by Willis's was as tough as any staircase or stairmaster!!!

Started the climb this morning at back of pack, as my only intention was to finish in one piece. It ended up being really slow start -- had to walk the first 18/20 flights before there was room to pass people, but ended up doing pretty well. I completed the climb in under 19 minutes and was the third woman over the finish line; and legs not half as sore as after the hills in Old Kilcullen!!

So, if anyone is over sightseeing in NY and stuck in a two-hour queue to get to the top of the Empire State, check out the stairwell ... it's a lot quicker!!

Frances Brennan (Old Kilcullen).