There's no way to train at altitude living at 2,000' and training mostly between 2,000'-5,000'. But, since I know what it feels like to do the Zombie from A-Frame to Summit on Pikes Peak I know how to make myself feel like that Zombie even at 3,000'.
After 75 moderate minutes and 2,000' of vert I took Tima to the car and jogged the 1/2 mile to my favorite 440' hill to punish that thing like Oprah punishes her toilet on every last Friday in November (sorry, I'm writing under the influence of endorphines). The purpose of the 5 reps on this hill was to simulate what I will feel like in June when I'm suffering somewhere between 13,000'-14,000', nauseous and hardly able to move. The first 2 reps I went hard and felt strong. No holding back on these, I wanted to have nothing left for the 5th rep. About halfway through the 3rd rep I could feel myself morphing from Oprah to her toilet, this was getting ugly. By the end of the 4th rep I was Oprah's toilet. Mission accomplished! Now all I had to do was one more rep, I'd been averaging about 7:45 on the first 4 so I thought "what's another 8-9 minutes of feeling nauseous - I better get used to it." I started out hard, red-lining, then pulled back just enough to hold on for the next 6-7 minutes. As the nausea set in I just kept calling myself an idiot, asking "what the hell was I thinking?" The moment I hit the top of the climb I hit the ground. I laid on my back spinning and caughing for a minute or 2 before I got up and jogged back down. On the way back down I was grinning and wondering if what I just did was good training. But, I didn't care - I just loved that I knew I'd suffer and still went through with it. I may not have been anywhere near 13,000', but I sure felt like I was.
3 days ago
You can simulate altitude (mildly) by over dressing. And I mean 3 layers of thermal gear, hats, gloves and on a treadmill. What happens is your body is forced to move blood to your skin for cooling which deprives muscles, organs and brain of blood (oxygen). Very similar to the oxygen deprivation at high altitude.
ReplyDeleteDamn, that sounds hard, but good to know, thanks.
ReplyDeleteWhy the treadmill though?
I was thinking about this post (which you hadn't written yet) on my run yesterday. I thought, he's training like a crazed hill fiend, but what about that altitude? Would suck to be in dynamite shape and then lack that alt. conditioning.
ReplyDeleteTell your wife you need to check the plumbing on your vacation property that's for sale.
Haha! One of us will need to go there for a few days in April - the tennent is moving out. A few days there in April won't make a difference, but it'd be nice to do a few runs up high just to see how much of a difference I'm looking at as far as pacing goes.
ReplyDeleteThe altitude is going to have it's effect on me for sure, but I think I'll be solid for about 2 hours, then the wheels will just fall off. It will be a tough strategy to figure out. If the altitude is going to ruin me after 2 hours, no matter what effort I've been going, then I should just get as much done in 2 hours as possible. But if holding back a little and finishing strong is possible that would be the way to go. I really have no idea with the altitude's effect being an unknown. It might just be best to run by effort just like I run here. Hoping to get some good advice the next few months on this.
The treadmill because it will be hotter and you can hydrate adequately. You'll need at least a liter per hour.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anybody feels good running that last mile. So, just don't worry about it, until you get to it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tim.
ReplyDeleteGood point GZ. People who live at altitude suffer above tree-line all the time.