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Stairway to
Heaven
DC at awards ceremony posing with new hardware
Nestled
smack dab in the middle of ‘Super Week’, was this years ‘US
Bank’ building’s Cystic Fibrosis fund raising stair climb in
Milwaukee. The week of Nov 10th – 18th
has been thusly dubbed ‘Super Week’ by the Drivers Club because
of the sheer number of competitions contained within;
1.
Nov. 10th – Iceman
Cometh 27.5 mi MTB race (Traverse City, MI)
2.
Nov. 11th – Sears
Tower ‘Go Vertical’ stair climb (Chicago, IL)
3.
Nov. 15th – US Bank
‘Climb for a Cure’ stair climb (Milwaukee,WI)
4.
Nov. 17th –
Thanksgiving 5k run @ RecPlex (Pleasant Prairie, WI)
5.
Nov. 18th – Turkey
Day Indoor Tri @ RecPlex (Pl. Pr., WI)
 As
if this stair climb being the 3rd event in five days
was not enough pressure for the DC crew, they also headed to
Milwaukee as defending Firefighter (full gear) champions. And,
they upped the ante by simultaneously registering to compete in
the ‘relay team’ event this year also. This reporter shadowed
the three racers throughout this entire evening’s proceedings.
Arriving with plenty of time for pre-registration and packet
pick-up was put in jeopardy by numerous construction projects
and a bad sense of direction. They found the
building by just locating it on the horizon and driving “at
it”. Once inside, it was an adventure finding the basement
starting line. Thank god the race didn’t involve any navigation
skills! (We stepped in, pushed a button and then proceeded to
ride an elevator … NOWHERE!) We did manage to find the start
line, set up ‘camp’ and the team started their pre-race
rituals. This included, but was not limited to; stretching,
fluid loading, lacing, strategizing, fluid unloading, joking,
posing, pinning, and practicing.
The race officials joined the now
crowded starting hallway and announced, “May I have your
attention please!? We are about to begin, if we could have the
relay teams go at the end of the line, right before the
firefighters. All others please self seed yourself in line.”
This news was upsetting to the Drivers Club, as they needed to
complete the relay (each team member running 15 floors) before
heading back downstairs to don their turnout gear so that each
team member could in fact climb the entire
 building
in their turnouts. What to do? Leadoff relay runner Brian
Rummelhart approached the official and they exchanged words.
The substance of that conversation is a mystery, but when asked
Rumme said, “I just told him, ‘I’m on a relay team and I’m
heading up those stairs first… You just try n stop me!” It was
obvious to this reporter that the competitive switch had been
flipped to the ‘ON’ position. This juggernaut was rolling and
there was nothing that could stop it now. They finished their
relay as anticipated, made their way back to the basement,
congratulated each other on what they were quite sure was a
record setting performance in their debut relay effort. More
fluids, some stretching and coughing and it was time to cover up
with 20-25lbs of protective fire fighting gear. As the crowd
thinned
near the starting line there was no one left except FF’s. Some
with air packs, some without. One team stated that their goal
was to climb while ‘hooked up’ to their air packs. A feat,
which if accomplished, would make them the envy of all the
firefighters in attendance. One by one, the Drivers Club team
members disappeared through the doorway. The next time I would
see them would be in the finish room, where climbers were fed
and the awards ceremony would take place.
The post race music was
interrupted and the race organizers voice crackled over the twin
speakers, “Thank you all for coming, I’ve got the results in my
hand” Stacy uttered in a manner that
 brought
a smattering of applause. She started by reading age group
winners (top 3 males & females). As the 35-39 male category was
read, “3rd Place, Brian Rummelhart!” Not even
considering that they might finish in the top three in their
respective age groups, this came as a pleasant surprise. I
remind you, he was dressed in his full turnout gear, including
helmet and finished third behind two guys in running shorts and
tank tops. The next group, 40-44. Third Place, Carl Carlson &
2nd Place Chris Hannes, missing first place by a mere
.5sec. The avalanche of trophies and accolades were just
starting to unfold before my eyes. Next announcement of note,
the ‘relay team’ competition. You guessed it; Drivers Club had
secured 1st place dethroning last years Champs, ‘Team
Chuck Norris’. They offered gracious congrats to the guys
dressed in ‘Pink & Yellow’ as they verbally passed the torch,
“You guys beat us soundly, we give you the title of best relay
team. Nice job!” Upon returning to the DC table, Rumme was
overheard saying, “That’s a line I’m glad I’ll never have to say
to another team.” Meanwhile, someone engaged Hannes in
conversation at a nearby table, “Wow! Guys that must have been
hard.” Hannes response, “If stair climbing were EASY, they’d
call it YOUR MOM!!” I don’t think that 12yr old girl saw that
coming.
Last years Relay Champs pose with
new champs
As the team sat polishing their
awards, they knew they had more trips to center stage before all
was said and done. Stacy had just two more team victories to
declare, and since they were to be bestowed upon the same team,
she combined them this way, “The overall team champions…The
Kenosha Drivers Club, who coincidentally are also our
firefighter team champions. Thus showing their athletic prowess
and total domination of all you people in attendance. Please
join me in congratulating them one
last time this evening, come on up guys.” Carl suggested, “We
should bring all our previous awards and trophies from tonight
up there with us, so they don’t forget that we just won these 3
minutes ago!” “Good idea Carl, that way we can pose for
everyone who wants to take our picture. I just hope my
recovering separated shoulder can handle holding this many
trophies and plaques.” Said a jubilant Chris. Rumme added,
“Next year, we need to remember to bring an empty box to lug all
this cr&# home. I wonder what we could get on Ebay for these
trinkets?”
What started off as a good will
mission to promote fitness and good sportsmanship had taken an
unexpected turn this evening. Success, fame, power; the
three-headed monster that stole my friends from me this cold
November evening in Milwaukee. Rumors have already started,
which involve the Drivers Club and race organizers for the 2008
event.
 Our
independent investigation has uncovered the truth. Yes, it’s
true – Brian Rummelhart did make a request for an ‘appearance
fee’ to get the DC to show up next year. Yes, when told that
race organizers were considering making ALL firefighters compete
with air tanks – Chris said, “that’s awesome, we’ll provide the
plaque for that category. (Then whispered to teammates) We’ll
be winning that and taking it home too!” And Yes, I was
privy to early talks of ‘special’ demands for next year, which
included. M&M’s (green only) to be given to all three team
members in a sealed sport bottle, bottled ‘Spring Water’ served
at 98.3* (so that their bodies wouldn’t have to expend energy
heating up the water as they drank it). Other items included a
FREE parking spot inside the US Bank building itself. A staff,
of no less
than 4 people, to unload DC gear, and to assist with
registration and pre-race preparations. Pre & post race
massages (w/happy endings); music off their MP3’s piped into the
stairwell (so they don’t have to wear those clumsy earbuds
anymore). And lastly, a photographer to be placed every 5
floors to make sure that adequate ‘action shots’ would be
captured for later publishing on this website. They considered
asking for final approval on the T-shirt design for next years
event, then realized that they didn’t want to be ‘Hassled’ over
such mundane details.
One can only imagine how this
week will rap up! Stop out at the RecPlex this weekend and
witness the Circus that is the Kenosha Drivers Club, and see for
yourself!
EVENT RECORDS BROKEN
**Full
Gear Fire Team Kenosha Fire
23.13.7
Old
Record
Kenosha Fire
27:08.2 2006
**Relay Team
Kenosha Drivers Club 4:42.5
Old
Record
Oh-six Pick-Up Sticks 4:46.4 2005
**Full Gear Individual
Chris Hannes
7:22.7
Brian Rummelhart
7:47.7
Carl Carlson
8:03.3
Old Record
Brian Rummelhart
8:38.6 2006
After being banned from the race for winning too much Chris
"smoothes" things
over with race organizer Kelly Salentine
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