"Dude, I think This Whole Town Is High!"

Early in the year when J-Dog and I were bouncing potential races for 2011 around I knew that if we picked races with any elevation at all, it would be beneficial for me to do some training out West with much higher peaks than Nashville's 440ft.  As any of you who read my blog know, TRT would find itself on our plate.  I guess 10k is high... 

So, off to Estes Park Colorado my wife and I went!

Day 1
15.62 mi
Max Elevation: 8533
Ava HR:  139
Day 1 TrainingPeaks Data
My introductory run session to the Rocky Mountains went very well as my lungs and head held strong.  At the time I felt my body was ready to get it on!  Post run my thoughts were; "yeah, I ran well but I've only bean in Co for around 16 hours."  I expected the following days to get progressively harder.  But first, it's coffee time at The Stone Cup!

Day 2
20:03mi
Max Elevation: 9045
Ava HR:  141
Day 2 TrainingPeaks Data
Day two in Estes Park started with me getting a ride from my wife's best friend to the East entrance of the Rocky Mountain State Park.  When I got out of the car I said, "I'll see you in 3.5hrs; that is, if I'm not eaten by some large animal.  As was the case after day one, I was really surprised as I increased time, mileage, and elevation with no noticeable effect on my lungs or head.  I thought...well, this is good!  However, I did notice a general fatigue starting to tap, for a lack of better words, on my "shoulder."
Did someone say Kind Coffee?

Day 3
11.42mi
Max Elevation: 8267
Ava HR:  136
Day 3 TrainingPeaks Data
Day three would be a active recovery run session as I really wanted to get wreaked on day four so as not to forget my time in the Rockies on the plane ride home.  I ran strong and was able to include in the mix 3 x .75mi hill repeats during the run.  Oh did I forget to mention the grade on those repeats were +/- 21% according to my trusty GPS...  As the trip ticked by hour by hour there was not doubt that my body was getting more and more tired.  Reflecting on this fatigue, it's really hard to point to the cause; is it the elevation, or is it the 47+ miles I've rolled in just three days, or even the fact that in three days I could count the number of hours of sleep on 2.5 hands...literally???  This run went well as again my lungs, head, and HR were solid.  Ok, now it's time for a Elk Burger!

Day 4
29.05mi
Max Elevation: 9726
Ava HR:  141
Day Four TrainingPeaks Data
This would be my final dance in Co.  I awoke early Tuesday morning, put my gear on and told Catherine: I'll see you in ~five hours and walked out the door.  This final run would prove to be my strongest the entire trip.  Like the three previous daily runs sessions my lungs, head, and HR were strong.  Something surprising to me was a stronger feeling of energy and strenght for this my longest and highest run.  Hmmm, must have been the Elk Burger...

The long term beneficial effects of four days of training at those altitudes are probably minimal if any.  All the literature I've read in the past along with the many personal opinions I've heard really point to extended training in terms of 4 to 6 weeks of consistency for truly measurable long term fitness.  BUT in terms of confidence, the benefit is immeasurable. I'm now confident I can arrive at a location and trust my body to perform when needed, that is, unless I get eaten by some large animal, or if there's no coffee available...

less talk, more pain