If I croaked on step 9,657 I'd feel real dumb, since the climb is "only" 1088 steps. And I'd miss all the free stuff at Tir Na Nog afterwards (mmmmmm, Guinness for breakfast). I do wonder how some of the folks who don't prepare make it. I do a practice climb on a gym stair mill just about every day (twice some days) and got down to 9 minutes for the first time yesterday. New tactics.