Slow and steady wins the race: tips for CN Tower climbers

By Tristan Harger-Grinling Morris, 13-year-old CN Tower Climber
I have never written anything like this, so I really don’t know where to start. I guess the beginning is as good a place as any, so here goes. I started climbing when I was four-and-a-half years old, but it’s been so long that neither me nor my mom really remember for sure.
What I do remember is my mom saying to me “slow and steady wins the race” and that has really stuck.

Tristan and his Mom, after climbing the CN Tower in 2007. 

In a way it has been a motto for my CN Tower climb history. I never raced to the top, but I always got there. In fact, I would often see some teenager running up from the bottom, only to pass them sitting five flights later, or sometimes even with the First Aid Crew. Often I will end up with a train of people following me up, not because I am slow, but because people are noticing that I have a good pace; I think.
Year by year, as I have done the climb I have seen many things, and I have been pulled over once or twice for an interview by some cameraman about making the climb at the “young” age of 12 (I say 12 because that was my most recent experience). Usually the first thing they say is that they will probably not use the entire interview, and that I should not get my hopes up to be seen on TV. Then I drop the fact that I have been doing this for eight or nine years.

Tristan and his mum get ready to climb in 2009.

I used to be chasing my mom but in more recent years I have been passing her, though I always wait for her to get to the top so we can finish the climb together. I have seen people of all ages sizes and fitness levels get to the top so for anyone new to the climb who is reading this and is unsure about whether they can do it or not I will just say this: If a four year old can do it, so can you.
Just like the tortoise and the hare: slow and steady wins the race. You can go to my fundraising page here.