Runing up and down stairs - good aerobic exercise?

[slackerinabox]

I'm going to be quitting my gym membership soon (money issues) and wondered if running up and down 5 flights of stairs would be an adequate substitute for being on a treadmill/elliptical. How many calories do you think one rep would burn(going up and down a 5 story building)? I know there's not an exact science but an estimate would be awesome.

 

[FoBoT]

yeah, just do it until you are too tired
they always show people running stairs in movies. like in stadiums

 

[Sluggo]

A hell of a lot more calories than the treadmill or elliptical machine at your gym.

I would guess running stairs would be in the 700-800 calorie an hour range, possibly more.

 

[uberman]

I've heard of people injuring themselves on stairclimbers. How about a stationary bike. They should be cheap in the spring or beginning of summer. Look for used. Try a thrift shop.

 

[iamaelephant]

If it wears you out, it's good excercise. Good on you for looking outside the box.

 

[Calin]

You would use about twice the energy you consume - if you have 100kg, and go up stairs 100m (vertical), you need 100,000J of energy. This is some 25,000 calories, or 25Cal. Double this to account for energy losses, and you use 50 Cal. Walking fast (6km/h), and assuming some 300m linear distance, you need 3 minutes. Add 3 minutes of descent for half the energy, and you get 75Cal at 6 minutes, or some 750Cal an hour.
(I don't know how much energy you spend, but this is my estimate)

 

[desy]

I run the 10 stories of stairs at the Arts tower here. Usually see the boxing club coming in and doing the same. Its way harder than treadmill or climbers or eliptical riders especially on the calves!

I still do the machines for convienince but heading into hunting season or planned mountain hikes I do the stairs

 

[vi edit]

How long are you actually working out for?

 

[maximus maximus]

Just be careful.. One of cousins used to do this. One day he slipped and fell down the stairs and had a fractured leg.

Just be careful. Thats all.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
I'm going to be quitting my gym membership soon (money issues) and wondered if running up and down 5 flights of stairs would be an adequate substitute for being on a treadmill/elliptical. How many calories do you think one rep would burn(going up and down a 5 story building)? I know there's not an exact science but an estimate would be awesome.

Very good. Run up but not down. Up is very easy on your body compared to running down.

 

[slackerinabox]

Thanks guys - i'm going to start running up for 15 min (not counting my running down time) then work my way up. Hope I don't trip !

 

[EvilYoda]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
Thanks guys - i'm going to start running up for 15 min (not counting my running down time) then work my way up. Hope I don't trip !

Put some shin guards on, no one'll think you're weird.

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
I'm going to be quitting my gym membership soon (money issues) and wondered if running up and down 5 flights of stairs would be an adequate substitute for being on a treadmill/elliptical. How many calories do you think one rep would burn(going up and down a 5 story building)? I know there's not an exact science but an estimate would be awesome.

Very good. Run up but not down. Up is very easy on your body compared to running down.

Yes, very much so. Running downhill (or down steps) puts a severe pounding on the knees especially.