He ran in memory of all who perished in 9-11. Specifically, the frefighters who risked their lives climbing up the stairs of both World Trade Center buildings. Among them firefighter Stephen Siller for whom this race was established, to honor his memory, his legacy.
As for my son taking up this challenge, It could have been him, you know. He too could have died as he was a attending the College of Insurance right next to one of the Towers which was completely destroyed too on that ill fated day in September.
I was besides myself worried sick and anguished as there was no way for me to find out how he was. You see, he would spend hours in one of those Towers. Never knew what it was he did, but he was always inside one of them. When I finally managed to get home which to this day I really do not know how it was I did it. A little remembrance of walking aimlessly whilst sirens were so deafening in my ears. Till this day I get most anxious when I hear them. Recalled sitting then on a boat crossing the Hudson and one way or the other arriving home. My heart was skipping a beat as I turned the knob to open it, but immediately a force inside opened it for me... It was my baby... my baby was home... he had over slept that day... ohhh he used to over sleep always! Oh God, I was so happy... do not recall being so happy as I was on that terrible, most terrible, day. I hugged him so hard and kissed him...kissed him...ohhh I hugged him. My baby was home.
We never ever spoke about this again...
The other he told me-"Mom, can you do me a favor?"
"Sure son," I answered
"Can you please donate some money for a charitable cause"-he said most calmly.
"Sure son," once again I answered.
"I am going to climb One Liberty Tower, all 90 floors!" he said as if nothing
"All 90 floors, are you kidding me?" I was most surprised.
"Sure son, I will." I replied...
Deep inside I knew it would be a piece of cake for him. The kid is an avid cyclist! He rides his bicycle from Up Town Manhattan to New Jersey in a minute! That's how fast he rides. But to go up 90 flights of stairs, was he prepared for this? I tried not to worry as much.
He needed to prove to all he was fine...Last year at this time he was not well...it was difficult....very difficult....he defeated that which was ailing him and now this...
His record was most impressive...and he was not even running, he told me afterwards. Yet, he only completed the climb in 21:11 whilst other people took more than an hour...I say, climbing up 90 floors in that short amount of time in itself is a victorious feat.....
A great win a week before his 33th birthday. He's my hero....
"Mom, I got emotional when I got to the 90th floor as I truly miss the Towers...I just had to do this mom, for all those who died..."
This is my son, runner 1309...
He is my life, runner 1309
He is my reason to be, runner 1309
He is my life, runner 1309
He is my reason to be, runner 1309
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From Tower to Tower....the Climb
