Ultra Marathon Runner to Race to the Ren Cen and Participate in the Fight For Air Climb

DETROIT MI (02/05/2013)(readMedia)-- It takes a very dedicated person to run eighteen miles and then climb 70 flights or 1,035 stairs.

Rick Shaffer, 42, is one of those people. Shaffer, who has been an ultra marathoner for six years and a runner for thirty, has decided to make the trek from his home in Southgate, Michigan to the Renaissance Center in Downtown Detroit. The Fight For Air Climb that is being hosted at the Renaissance Center by the American Lung Association on March 3, 2013 is a "vertical road race" that Shaffer is committed to doing along with his run.

Shaffer's love for running began when he was a wrestler in junior high school and had to run as part of his training.

"I've always preferred to be outside," he said.

Even though he is not a fan of the winter time, "the best way to stay motivated," he says, "is to run every day." His training consisted of up to forty-six straight days of running, "even if it is just a mile a day." His ultra marathon career began six years ago, and he has done one a year since. An ultra marathons is any race over twenty-six miles. At the last ultra marathon Shaffer participated in, he endured severe cramping in the last thirty miles of the race; however, his "mind over matter" attitude pushed him to finish. This inspiring outlook has given him motivation to also do the climb at the Renaissance Center.

Doing the climb has become important to Shaffer who said that cancer "runs in his family". His father is a cancer survivor and grandfather suffered from black lung as a result of working in coal mines. Rick will be joined at the climb by his co-workers Robert King and Alaina Arakelian. The three named their climb team Raw Power, which happens to be not only an Iggy and the Stooges song, but Rick's personal motto. To donate to Rick or his team members, go to http://action.lung.org/goto/teamrawpower

The Detroit Fight For Air Climb, now in its seventh year, has participants of all kinds including walkers, firefighters, and First Responders. Participants can choose to do the Elite Full Climb, Full Climb (seventy floors, 1,035 stairs), the Half Climb (forty floors, 585 stairs), the Firefighter Challenge, or the First Responder Challenge.

The America Lung Association is dedicated to reducing the burden of lung disease and improving the air we breathe. It is the leading organization working to save lives, improve lung health, and prevent lung disease.

If you'd like more information regarding Rick Shaffer or the Fight For Air Climb, please contact Jessie Jimenez-Schlicht at (248)784-2018 or jjimenez@midlandlung.org.

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