I’ve been training for an 8K road race at Virginia Beach (sea level) next month and just found out that I have to spend a few days in Colorado Springs a few days before the race. I will be there Tuesday through Thursday, with the race on Saturday. Even though I usually take it pretty easy the week of a race, will running at high altitude affect my race on Saturday? Or is it mostly mental?
Or should I just stick to the pool while I’m out there?
Thanks,
-Nick
Since you’re coming back down to sea level to race it might make you faster! Good luck there.
It won’t hurt in the least, unless of course you get altitude sickness while you are up there. We notice some of our guests that come from the beaches to 4500ft get a tad sick from the altitude change.
A couple days won’t make a big difference. If you’re “taking it easy” while at altitude it won’t affect you too much.
No, it shouldn’t affect you at all - but irunning might make you feel out of shape and unprepared for your race (just mentally know it probably won’t feel great but it doesn’t really matter). But make sure you drink lots of water while here in Colorado!
i’'ve been at altitude twice in the last month (up from ohio), and oddly enough the swimming was the only part i had issues with, running felt great (could have been because it was now 10 degree too though).
Great advice, thanks everybody. I’ve never ran at high altitude before, so will I feel a major difference, even taking it easy (around 7:15 minute/mile pace)?
-Nick
People are under the misconception that going up to higher altitudes to train will help o2 consumption and ultimatly help you race. This is false. LIVING at high altitudes and training at high altitudes TOGETHER, will absolutly help. Just training will not. Research has shown this. If you do train while you are up there, it will be more difficult because of the lack of 02 in the air. When you come back down, it should not affect your race. This is part of the reason why many olympic athletes have a place in Colorado and why those kenyan runners are so dam quick!
Colorado Springs isn’t high altitude, so don’t worry about it. It may be higher than where you are living, but it’s not “high”. It’s unlikely your body will freak out because you went up to 6000ish feet.
Colorado Springs isn’t high altitude, so don’t worry about it. It may be higher than where you are living, but it’s not “high”. It’s unlikely your body will freak out because you went up to 6000ish feet.
Ok, so I am currently in Colorado Springs and have been since Monday. I will tell you that I could feel a very real difference being up here. I was walking around and felt out of breath for the first 2 days. I went out for a light jog (7:30 pace) and it really felt like I was doing speedwork. Today (Wednesday), I thought my body may have adapted, but when I went to the pool, again it felt like somebody zapped the air out of my lungs.
I drove up Pike’s Peak today and that IS high altitude. Can’t believe those crazy folks that do the Pike’s Peak rally, huge drops if you run off the road.
like others said, you will be fine. Remember to drink like a fish though. It’s a heck of a lot drier out here and you will dehydrate fairly quickly…which could impact your race. FWIW, I moved to Denver in January and it took a solid 7 or 8 weeks to fully adapt.
I’ll go one step further. Being at this altitude the week before your race should actually HELP your performance Saturday.
Yeah, thank goodness I am going home tomorrow.
-Nick
Just FYI to everybody, TRAINING at high altitude has no effect on competition. That is, going up to train, and coming back down to live. However, LIVING at high altitude AND training at high altitude, will have a positive effect. This is why many elite athletes live in places of high altitude. When living at high altitude, your body gets used to the fact that there is less oxygen in the air. When you come down from high altitude for an event, the greater percentage of oxygen will help. This is why all those Kenyan runners are so nasty…
If you don’t believe me, look at the research…I am just stating the facts
search pubmed.gov for any journal article you want. you can at least read the abstract
I’m not arguing against what you said. All I’m saying is that my body definitely felt the difference being at this altitude (it sucked) and that I will be glad to be back at sea level (where it will suck a little less).
That is to be expected. When you are not used to the decreased amount of O2 in the air, your body does suffer a bit, as you have felt. It should go back to normal relatively soon after returning back to home altitude. It won’t hurt your race endurance though.
It won’t hurt your race endurance though.
No, but drinking during St Patrick’s Day will…
Also in agreement that it will help even if you do not fully adjust to altitude.