Altitude Preparation?

C.Worthy wrote:

Altitude training masks? Wonder if they actually make a difference [img]http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/titleboxing/ETMSK2-sec.jpg[/img] [img]http://marcmegna.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/training-mask.jpg[/img]

Altitude training masks? Wonder if they actually make a difference

AnimalHungry wrote:

I'll throw in my 2 cents here since I see people trying to adjust to altitude the whole time. Generally, the fitter you are the better...

I'll throw in my 2 cents here since I see people trying to adjust to altitude the whole time. Generally, the fitter you are the better you adjust to altitude. However there's a difference between adjusting to altitude (basically feeling out of breath climbing the stairs) and actual altitude sickness. My buddy runs the oxygen lounge up here in Breckenridge (9,600 ft) and he consistently says there is absolutely no correlation between how fit someone is and whether they get altitude sickness. He's seen 300 lb heifers, whose only exercise is leaning out the window of their cars at the DD drive thru, with superfit kids who have come to race mountain bikes and it's the kids who have the altitude sickness. It sucks, but it's true. No matter how fit you are, if you are pre-disposed to get altitude sickness then you're basically screwed for the first 2-3 days after you come up from sea level.

Simon

disbanded wrote:

A few of my 'healthy' friends from Texas came up to visit and we spent the week in Breckenridge. I had to take 1 of them...

A few of my 'healthy' friends from Texas came up to visit and we spent the week in Breckenridge.

I had to take 1 of them to the Oxygen Bar and it fixed him up real quick. He was having headaches, dizzyness, etc.
A dose of pure oxygen and he was ready to go. Great smoothies too!

TomZ wrote:

Reading some of the posts above I see much of the information I have read over many years. I have learned over a period of 30+...

Reading some of the posts above I see much of the information I have read over many years.

I have learned over a period of 30+ years that altitude has a different effect on young vs old, highly trained vs couch potato and what you do when you arrive at altitude. Being a skier/snowboarder we have traveled to altitude many, many times. The young kids really felt it, the teens not as much and the oldest in our groups always felt it the most. The higher your level of fitness the less overall effect it has.

I train 4-5 days per week and have a very disciplined diet and hydration program but age is catching up to me.

Last winter my 16 yr old son and I skied some backcountry hike in terrain at 12,000 - 13,500 ft elevation. We went pretty hard the first day(it was a powder day) and for one of the first times in my life I felt the effects that night. Elevated resting heart rate, sleeplessness etc. By day four I had recovered fully and felt great but those days in between were tough. We skied each day but not nearly as hard as usual.

Adjusting to 6000 +/- ft elevation is much easier than 12k + but if it were me I would have flown directly to Denver and spent the entire week at altitude to adjust as much as possible. When races are won or lost on the smallest details, it may be the difference between hero and zero.

AnimalHungry wrote:

I'll throw in my 2 cents here since I see people trying to adjust to altitude the whole time. Generally, the fitter you are the better...

I'll throw in my 2 cents here since I see people trying to adjust to altitude the whole time. Generally, the fitter you are the better you adjust to altitude. However there's a difference between adjusting to altitude (basically feeling out of breath climbing the stairs) and actual altitude sickness. My buddy runs the oxygen lounge up here in Breckenridge (9,600 ft) and he consistently says there is absolutely no correlation between how fit someone is and whether they get altitude sickness. He's seen 300 lb heifers, whose only exercise is leaning out the window of their cars at the DD drive thru, with superfit kids who have come to race mountain bikes and it's the kids who have the altitude sickness. It sucks, but it's true. No matter how fit you are, if you are pre-disposed to get altitude sickness then you're basically screwed for the first 2-3 days after you come up from sea level.

Simon