52 Exercises: #48 Killer Steps for a Natural High

Killer Steps hastings street noosa

Now the 52 Exercises Quest is almost over I feel the need to up the ante. There are all kinds of exercises I could do like the high trapeze at Circus Espace orwater-skiing which would both be fun and make great stories.

But although I’m keen to end my challenge with a bang I don’t want to blow the budget. Otherwise an experiment that began to solve an emotional crisis could end with a financial crisis.

Although one of the most common questions people ask me about 52 exercises is if I’m running out of exercises yet that’s not a problem at all. There are so many different exercises to try with at least 10 different types of yoga and every gym offering up to twenty fitness classes so there are enough exercises to keep me going another year if I wanted to.

By far the biggest challenge with doing a different exercise every week for a year is self motivation, so when my fitness trainer friend Jo invites me to climb the 200+  Hastings Street stairs with her one morning I jump at the chance.

killer steps sign

Stair climbing is a boring exercise option but I’m happy to have a friend to do anything with and especially happy someone has invited me to work out with them as it’s usually me doing the motivating.

Jo picks me up at 5.40am and we drive to Hastings Street expecting to meet a group of fit, young, beautiful people all led by my body building nemesis Joel. But they are not there and when I text Joel he says he’s not coming today.

Still we bump into one of his staircase exercisers, a fit, beautiful young woman called Sam who gamely says she will lead us.

The steps are popular, with all manner of people already running or walking up and down them.

Sam tells us to start by walking up the steps two at a time. About half way up the 200 steps I start to wilt but Sam has disappeared round a bend. Eventually we catch up with her at the top and walk back down again.

killer steps jump

The killer step team jumping up the stairs – I managed 10 of these…

Sam has a bouncy high pony tail, short shorts and a vest top. Her body is lithe and lean. She must be in the top 10% of fit people.

Sadly my fitness levels leaked a few months ago around the time of the muddy obstacle race. Since then I’ve put on a few kilos and stopped running. I eat way too much chocolate but I still love my daily beach walks.

While Sam looks hot I look disheveled in my ancient baggy shorts. I started the year with short hair but it’s grown now and I forgot to put it in a ponytail this morning so my hair is already damp with sweat and sticking to my neck. Thankfully unlike in a gym there’s no mirror so I can’t see my bright red face.

It’s grueling exercise but we do the steps five times in total. Skipping, alternating ten jumps and ten lunges (I can only do one set of 10 jumps), running and something else which I’ve forgotten.

killer steps jo

Jo hanging on for dear life on the killer steps

Sam is relentlessly cheerful and encouraging. Jo takes time to ham it up for photos and I keep stopping to rest while pretending to capture the views on my iPhone. Its another beautiful day in Noosa.

When we’re not too out of breath we talk about the most inane stuff like haircuts, allegiance to hairdressers and exercise clothes which I love. We have the kind of girlie chats I’ve been missing but we’re talking while we exercise – or in between sets of killer steps anyway.

The steps really are a killer but they’re effective with good company and motivated women as the spoonful of sugar that helped the medicine go down.

killer steps me

Me suffering from over-exposure

We’ll be back and next time we’ll bring our togs so we ca have a swim in Laguna Bay to wash the sweat away afterwards.

Maybe I don’t need to fly high on the trapeze or do anything spectacular to finish this challenge off. May be the killer steps and some good company are all I need to push me further, bring some team spirit to my life and give me a natural high.

Killer Steps Exercise Review

Cost: $o. Which is good because most of our exercise needs to be free.

Time Exercising: 60 minutes

Calories Burned: 275 cals

Average Heart Rate: 137 bpm.

Peak Heart Rate: 186 bpm.

Fun Factor: 6/10

Fear Factor: 3/10

Post-exercise Glow: 7/10.

killer steps girls

Want killer legs like these ladies? Try taking on the killer steps at Hastings Street in Noosa and check out that view from the top while you’re at it.

That was 48th different exercise I’ve done this year in my quest to try a new exercise each week ——> Check out more stories from the 52 Exercise quest now.

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10 Comments

  1. SnarkyNomad December 4, 2013 at 9:40 am - Reply

    I remember reading about a weight loss summer camp that put the cafeteria at the top of a hill. They had to climb it three times a day. Everybody wins!

    • Annabel Candy December 4, 2013 at 9:50 am - Reply

      Hi Snarky,

      Thanks for being first to comment. That’s funny – I will have words with Tourism Noosa, see if we can get a cafe at the top of our steps – there are heaps of good restaurants at the bottom on Hastings street itself :)

  2. Sam December 5, 2013 at 9:44 am - Reply

    Yes !! love the feeling this gives you, pushing yourself. As I say no pain no gain :() see you need week for another session.

    • Annabel Candy December 5, 2013 at 9:48 am - Reply

      Hi Sam,

      You’re amazing! Thanks again for pushing me to lunge, run and jump up those killer steps. Yes, I’ll see you there again for another session.

  3. Sandra Pawula December 5, 2013 at 12:38 pm - Reply

    5:40 am? Count me out! I think this is a perfect way to end as it’s free and you can do just as much as you can do. What a great experiment!

    • Annabel Candy December 5, 2013 at 8:27 pm - Reply

      Hi Sandra,

      It’s an early start but the heat is brutal later on. I love that it’s free too – I wouldn’t want to pay for that!

  4. Victoria December 5, 2013 at 9:39 pm - Reply

    Hey Annabel,
    This is an amazing type of exercise.I like it.Thanks for sharing.But I think it’s not suitable for overweight persons and heart patients.

  5. Johanna December 6, 2013 at 9:25 am - Reply

    Wow, Annabel! I am in awe of you. All those steps, and the various ways your instructor made you climb them – no wonder you had to hang on for dear life! Not sure that my old knees would take too kindly to it, but I reckon I need to make a concerted effort to get fitter – good on you! And by the way, you look GREAT!

    • Annabel Candy December 6, 2013 at 9:35 am - Reply

      Hi Johanna,

      Thank you :) My thighs ached the day after but nothing too bad.

  6. Susan January 6, 2014 at 3:50 pm - Reply

    This is the first time I am reading this blog and I admit there are amazing articles all around. Whether is it about lifestyle or about introspection, one can find anything here.
    To be honest I am really afraid of running and climbing because of the ankle pain I have. I usually do some cycling to keep myself fit, however it is not that interesting and it lacks fun factor. Great article Annabel.

    Thanks

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