Yes, I’ve read the earlier threads but I can’t get a sense of whether people will actually bail on this race simply because of altitude. Someone mentioned “altitude sensitivity”; how would you gauge that? I’ve traveled between sea level (Hawaii) and altitude (Denver) for 5 years and never noticed the altitude change. I’m sincerely interested in thoughts on this since $675 is a LOT of money for me. Thanks in advance.
My parent live just outside Reno, NV so this was really tempting for me at first. Coming from Texas, however, as soon as I considered the altitude it was immediately “out”. It’s a bummer, really. I’m sure this will be one of the most beautiful IM races.
Yup, that’s my struggle. Tahoe is truly one of my favorite places on earth but I’m in Seattle and that’s about zero elevation.
Yes, the altitude is going to be terrible!! No one should sign up. :o)
Sign signup is cheap compared to what the hotels are going to cost.
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Why would anyone want to do an “easy” race? Getting the hill work in is my biggest concern. But the challenge and preparing is the fun part. Then I have 17 hours to finish.
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The altitude isn’t an issue to me, but mostly because that’s lower than where I live (Los Alamos, NM; ~7400ft).
Mind you, our local races (run, bike, tri) get people travelling in from all over NM, CO and even AZ. Our local bike race today had folks in from Durango and Flagstaff, both of which are lower than here. I reckon some people will sign up because of the altitude - it brings extra bragging rights! I mean, the Boulder tri series is popular and a lot of people travel for it.
In terms of noticing the altitude – when I moved to NM I came from sea level (East coast Australia), and in Albuquerque (~5500ft) I didn’t notice any difference. Having said that, I didn’t try to run up any hills either. When I came up to Los Alamos the next day I felt fine, but didn’t sleep as well as usual (an effect of altitude). The only time I noticed any significant difference was when I was walking up a steep hill. Exertion was a lot harder, but everyday stuff didn’t really register any change for me. I got over the sleep issues within a few days.
One way to tell how much the altitude is affecting you is to check your RHR. It’ll very likely be higher at altitude. Also, the difference between 0ft and 5500ft is, in my experience, smaller than the difference between 7400ft (town) and 9200ft (the base of our ski hill).
All the more reason to do it now, before it goes the way of IMSG…
I live at sea level. The altitude will probably be the reason I don’t win.
Probably.
All the more reason to do it now, before it goes the way of IMSG…
I live at sea level. The altitude will probably be the reason I don’t win.
Probably.
I like that excuse, can I use it too?
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What your all forgetting about is 95% of all the athletes racing don’t live at altitude so the playing field is almost even for everyone. Also we have so many hotels around the lake & close by from $49.00 cheapo place to 5 star resorts , heck you can even camp if you like so should be able to accommodate everyone!!!
All the more reason to do it now, before it goes the way of IMSG…
I live at sea level. The altitude will probably be the reason I don’t win.
Probably.
Love this. That’s my thinking too (re. IMSG’s fate)
+1
Everyone is in the same boat. Even the guys that live at altitude don’t have an advantage. You can’t train as hard at altitude. As far as my understanding goes it’s a wash between living at altitude and living at sea level for racing unless you can “live high and train low”.
If you can live up at Tahoe and workout on a trainer/treadmill with an oxygen tank then you have an advantage.
It’s not like you can’t “go” up at Tahoe. We just had the Reno Tahoe Odyssey, which had like 300 teams running up in Tahoe. Lots of guys going in the low 5 minute miles on the top teams.
There’s also a marathon up there. I believe they even have three marathons in three days for those who enjoy that sort of things. There are endurance runs all the time. There’s the trans Tahoe race where a team of four or six guys swim across Tahoe.
There’s also an xterra up there, mountain bike races, and the Donner Tri. I’m probably missing 10 more events. OH, and there’s plenty of cross country skiing in the winter and snow shoe racing. Lots of rides around Tahoe…tons and tons of stuff. This isn’t Everest where you’re going to shut down and die.
sooo…
tl;dr - HTFU
Sometimes I get the feeling that 90% of the people that post the “altitude will kill you” posts have never trained or raced at altitude. I grew up and lived most of my life at sea level and did not feel affected at all by the altitude at three of the highest places in the US. I’ve hiked the headwall at Jackson Hole (10,500), Run / cross country ski’d in Flagstaff, AZ (7,000), and swam / bike / run in Lake Tahoe, CA (6200).
I spent more than 48 hours at altitude on all of these trips and never felt debilitated or even affected by the altitude. In lake tahoe I ran the 1500 and 3000 at an all comers track meet and felt I ran as fast as I was capable relative to my fitness.
I’m not doubting the science behind the effects of altitude , I just don’t think it’s as significant as some people make it out to be. If you’re thinking about signing up for this race you should do it because it’s a beautiful place and I don’t think the altitude will be as bad as some people make it out to be.
There is likely a very large genetic component to it. There is a group at univ of colorado looking to map the genes. I have friends that are totally unaffected. My dad and I both feel it. I don’t even enjoy skiing anymore because of AMS. And yes, I live at 5000 ft. I would do Tahoe while living here because I’m at least acclimated. After living at altitude I would not do this race after moving back to sea level. It’s totally personal. If you know you aren’t affected by altitude do it. At least try a training camp up here if you’re unsure would be my recommendation.
Jodi
HTFU. Oxygen is for pussies.
I plan on signing up. I think it will be fun and the altitude will just be more fun. 
I am betting the air will feel positively lousy with oxygen compared to Leadville.
If I’m gonna suck, I’m gonna suck someplace where I can enjoy the view.
for me it isn’t the altitude, it is the wetsuit. I will never do a tri where I’d have to use a wetsuit.
The bike won’t be at all easy and folks are plain gonna suffer on the marathon, much more than at lower elevations. 15 minutes? 30 minutes? Who knows, but time goals need to be thrown out the window (just like at the short-lived IM St. George). Then there’s the chance for genuine fall weather, which could make times even slower (Check the extremes). For these reasons, this race may or may not last … I wish it well.
HTFU. Oxygen is for pussies.
I plan on signing up. I think it will be fun and the altitude will just be more fun.
Agreed. A client and I are signing up tomorrow (his 1st, my 4th) and he told me, “screw the altitude!” I love coaching gung-ho newbies! See you there.
HTFU. Oxygen is for pussies.
I plan on signing up. I think it will be fun and the altitude will just be more fun.
Agreed. A client and I are signing up tomorrow (his 1st, my 4th) and he told me, “screw the altitude!” I love coaching gung-ho newbies! See you there.
I really hope I’m able to sign up.
I set my homepage to the entry tab and got my credit card and USAT number on my computer ready to be copied and pasted. I hope the altitude scared everyone away just long enough so I can sign up. 
for me it isn’t the altitude, it is the wetsuit. I will never do a tri where I’d have to use a wetsuit.
You dont “have to” wear a wetsuit. At that time of the year the water is very swimmable without a wetsuit. I love Tahoe and spend a lot of time swimming up there during summer. I guess it depends on how sensitive you are to the cold water.