Triple Dog Dare Stair Climb

One of the newest attractions to "Downtown in December" was doozy. Folks put down the holiday sweets and picked up their feet for a dare unlike any other.

"A friend of mine and I had an idea to do something different for a race," says John Hildenbrand, Race Director of Little Willie's Triple Dog Dare. "We've got a single dare, a double-dog dare, and a triple-dog dare," he explains.

Oklahomans chose between the three-- run up and down 22 flights of stairs in one building, 53 flights between two buildings, or 69 flights between three buildings.

"Start at one building, go up and down, run across to the other building and run up and down, and run across to the last building and go up and down," says Hildenbrand.

80-percent of the 250-participants chose the hardest challenge, including Don Hart, who's winning a steady fight against lung cancer. "I wrestled in college and we used to climb stadium stairs and that was my extent of stair-climbing," says Hart.

Athletes of all strengths and ages competed, even children. Amanda Stevens participated, along with a group of children she trains for triathalons. "If they can learn this lifestyle at this age, then you know they're going to carry it on throughout the rest of their lives," says Stevens, who holds the world record for the swimming portion of the IronMan.

These folks took the challenge like champs. "It was a blast, it was fun, it was different. There's nothing else like it!" says Hildenbrand, who plans to make it an annual event and already has some twists planned for next year.
Triple Dog Dare Stair Climb

Posted: Saturday, December 1 2012, 11:31 PM CST