I used to really hate the dam stairs.
We are lucky to live close to the amazing Alum Creek Dam in Lewis Center – a place where walking at sunrise with waterfront views provides an instant path to peace, tranquility and calm.
I’ve walked and run at the dam at sunrise with friends for years. It’s been a beautiful part of all our lives, even helping to get us through the pandemic a few years back.
The dam can be accessed from the lower parking lot by a daunting set of almost 100 concrete steps.
Thankfully, there’s also an upper parking lot that makes it possible to skip the stairs. That’s where we’ve always parked in all our years of dam-walking at sunrise.
Until 2023, that is. This spring, the concrete-paved part of the dam and the lower parking lot were blocked off by fences and “under repair” signs. Now, the only way to access the top – and the gorgeous waterfront views – is by taking the dam(n) stairs from the lower lot.
Look. I’m 53 and chubby – I didn’t necessarily love the idea of tackling 100 concrete stairs. But you know what I do love? Those sunrise views from the top. It wasn’t even a question; of course, we would take the stairs.
When we first started taking the stairs on those cool spring mornings, it was tough. We had to pause midway to catch our breath and by the time we reached the top, we had a new meaning for “breathtaking views.”
But it’s July now and we’ve been taking the steps on a regular basis since early May. The dam steps are getting easier. I no longer have any trepidation about the climb. I know I can do it – and that if I need to pause and catch my breath, that’s just fine.
I recently realized that even when the upper dam parking lot opens back up later this year, I’m not going back to skipping the steps. I always want to keep this part of my morning. I’ve come to truly appreciate the stairs!
There’s a great feeling of accomplishment that comes from climbing up 100 concrete steps and then seeing that beautiful lake view at the top. I don’t want to give that up – or the cardiovascular benefits that come with doing it often.
We recently befriended a rather fit gentleman who comes to the dam in the mornings solely to work out on the stairs. He runs up and down them 20 times – a feat that’s even more impressive when I tell you he has a silver head of hair and ten years on me in age.
We stopped to say hi and give him a “Wow, that’s impressive!” one morning and he asked if we wanted to hear his story. He then proceeded to drop our jaws to the floor with his tale of a medical miracle.
He had been doing the dam stairs on a regular basis about three years ago when he started experiencing what he thought was heartburn. He went to two separate doctors who both told him it was nothing – but his gut told him to keep investigating.
A third doctor finally ran a stress test and then rushed him immediately into surgery. He had a “widow maker” – a totally blocked heart. The only reason he was still standing was that all his intense cardio work on the dam stairs had allowed the smaller blood vessels around the outside of the heart to grow and take on the necessary work.
Those dam stairs had literally prevented a fatal heart attack and saved his life!
After hearing our new friend’s story, I’m even more appreciative of the dam steps. From May through October, these concrete steps will always be a welcome part of our sunrise routine.
And now, I have a new goal: by the end of summer, I want to be flying up the steps with no pause to catch my breath in the middle!
When was the last time you tackled a physical obstacle like a long set of stairs? It’s amazingly rewarding – especially if there’s a gorgeous sunrise-over-water view at the top.
I used to go there with Jenna, and she would run up and down them. I watched in awe, and would sit about halfway up. We held her celebration of life after the service there. We tie dyed and did crafts and ate all the food she loved. It’s been almost 27 months and I haven’t been back, but seeing that photo from the top makes me want to try. Thank you for sharing this.
@Georgi, I love that you have such special memories with Jenna there. If you ever want to meet and do the stairs and dam walk at sunrise, I’d love your company!