Mitch M
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Altitude

Blog Entry in Mitch M's Blog (164 Views) (7 Comments)

There is a pretty good chance I'll be heading to the mountains of Colorado in a couple of months for a little vacation.  Escaping the heat sounds better and better every day.

I'm a life-long sea level-er, therefore I have never run at any sort of altitude.  I've heard all the stories about the thin air, etc, etc.

Does anyone have any advice, warnings, recommendations for running at 6,000+ feet? 

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Posted by Mitch M on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 9:09 AM

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Posted by Tamara on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Tamara

Take time to acclimate and hydrate!  Start slower than your norm and gradually add speed and distance (over a period of a 3-5-7 days).  Your body will adjust - but if you go too fast/too soon you will get altitude sickness which includes head ache, nausea and more if you're not careful.  Hydration and time are the keys.  I was at Crested Butte and took a 3-4 days to walk, walk/run then run a 5K.  No problems at 8-9,000 feet!  

Posted by Mitch M on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Mitch M

thanks....that's what I was planning to do.  definitely looking forward to the change of scenery!

Posted by Dave and Claudia ... on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Dave and Claudia Zulejkic

Hey Mitch,

Lucky you....where abouts in colorado are you going.....All of what Tamara said is true....you want to ease into your running....hydration , hydration, hydration.....and enjoy.....your run in one of the greatest settings ever........
cz

Posted by Mitch M on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Mitch M

we're thinking about Durango.....its still up in the air right now

Posted by Sherry Magnus on Friday, June 26, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Sherry Magnus

I've heard taking one aspirin a day for a couple of weeks before you go is helpful for preventing the altitude sickness.  My daughter is in Aspen again this summer, and has not experienced any sickness on her runs.    

Posted by Mitch M on Friday, June 26, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Mitch M

aspirin?  I've never heard that before.....very interesting.

Posted by Michelle Poole on Thursday, July 02, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Michelle Poole

I live in Greeley, COLORADO.  I'm involved with Colorado Running team.  Since I moved here from North Dallas, TX on January 31, 2009, I'm still in the process of collecting to know about running on the mountains.  I also volunteered working at the Rocky Mountain Half-Marathon race a few weeks ago.  I don't run yet until next year (2010) because of knee injury.

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