The conventional wisdom is get up a couple weeks early, or get up just before. When racing at altitude, I usually come up 2 days before, get one solid shake-out the day before, then go. With your time (and a possible Nationals win!?), I'd say:

1. Training weekends up high, as many as you can do
2. Get up 10-14 days prior
3. Crush

But emphasize option 1 if 2 doesn't work! Good luck, sounds awesome!

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David Roche
"The Happy Runner" book: https://www.amazon.com/...Longer/dp/1492567647
Coaching: https://swaprunning.com/

there is one school of thought that you sleep high and train low, so you go camp out in those 7000 footers and train where ever. Can a person rent one of those altitude tents?

I did Red Zinger years ago, it started in Boulder and went over 10,000. I got there 2 days before and was screwed before the gun went off, total waste of time and money.

Good article on aerobic performance and altitude.
http://www.joefrielsblog.com/2010/09/altitude-and-aerobic-performance.html

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mikebikefit.com
Facebook: Cordova Bicycle Fitting
F.I.S.T Certified

Here is what you do, it is easy. Go as much as possible to your local 7k area, and do some good, hard workouts. If you have vacation time, go and live there as long as you can. Don't waste your time going right before the race, do it early, with enough time to get back and recover. Whatever benefits you get will still be around with in weeks of a big block. 8k feet is no joke, it will blast you if you are not prepared, or at least be at a mindset that you know what is coming your way.

Forget about how many days this, or that, it is different for everyone, and no way to tell what camp you are in. Just do as much as you possibly can, and then make sure you have a few days to recover..