AP "Chejung Gamryang Sijajae Gyedan Oreugi Chucheon"
Pyeongji Georeumboda 20bae Kallori Somo
Eodiseona Don Andeurineun Choegoui Undong
On April 20, the Vertical Marathon Competition 2024 Skyrun is being held at Lotte World Tower in Seoul. [Photo by Lotte Corporation] [Image source=Yonhap News]
If you are trying to lose weight and looking for new methods, it has been suggested that regular exercise such as climbing stairs or increasing the number of times you climb stairs each day is beneficial.
On the 21st, AP reporter Steven Wade wrote an article-style column stating that stair climbing can be the most effective exercise. According to the article, Lauwi van Houten, Vice President of the International Skyrunning Federation, recommended stair climbing, saying, "Overall, it is true that stair climbing trains the body faster and burns more calories." Several studies show that climbing stairs burns about 20 times more calories than walking on flat ground. Even when going downstairs, about 5 times more calories are burned because muscles work to slow down the body's descent.
Dr. Alberto Minetti, a physiologist and biomechanist at the University of Milan, has conducted extensive research on human locomotion, including stair climbing. Dr. Minetti told AP, "(Stair climbing) is an exercise anyone can do," adding, "There are always stairs nearby. Compared to a gym, it’s free." According to Dr. Minetti, moving 1kg of body weight horizontally by 1 meter consumes 0.5 calories, whereas moving 1kg of body weight vertically on stairs consumes 10 calories. Therefore, it is 20 times the calories burned moving vertically rather than horizontally.
Dr. Minetti emphasized 'speed.' He climbs the stairs in his three-story house in Milan himself. He often takes a few deep breaths before climbing, which makes him feel more refreshed upon reaching the top. Using your arms while climbing stairs gives you more strength.
The article stated that if stair climbing were an Olympic event, Suzy Walsham would have won several gold medals. She has won 10 races at the Empire State Building in New York, officially climbing 1,576 steps. She has claimed titles in over 100 international stair races and was once ranked number one among women in this field. She also won the Eiffel Tower climb five times. While living in Singapore, she climbed a 29-story building 37 times consecutively. It took over 4 hours, and after reaching the top, she took a short break drinking coffee or water before taking the elevator down. This is equivalent to climbing a vertical distance of 3,200 meters. Walsham told AP, "You can spend a lot of money and get a lot, but as you get older, many people find running difficult. Running affects the joints. But stair training is a good alternative."
Japanese athlete Yuri Yoshizumi won the women's division at the Stair Climbing World Championship held last year in Osaka, Japan. She successfully climbed a distance of 285 meters (1,610 steps) in 10 minutes 20.06 seconds. In an email to AP, Yoshizumi recommended stair climbing as "a sport that beginners and the general public can easily access." She said living in a large city like Osaka is especially advantageous. "You can do it in the city too. Just using stairs instead of escalators at subway stations and department stores is a great way to exercise."
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