F/u running race at altitude

[heybabe]

Screw that! Lol. I posted a week or so ago asking for input about arriving in Colorado. & running a 1/3 marathon race the next morning. I ended up thinking I'd run the race, but take it easy & treat it like a long run.

I'm glad I decided to wait until after this week to sign up! We came to CO on vacation this week & got in early Sunday afternoon. I didnt run Sun. I ran Monday afternoon & it sucked. I felt like crap. I ran yesterday & it was better, but would not have been fun to race. I ran today & finally felt ok.

So I think I'm going to pass on doing the race. I just don't think I will enjoy it. Thanks for giving me the dose of reality I needed to hold off on registering for it!

[Deleted]

My sister passed out on her run one time we were out there. I'd like to head out for a race sometime but her experience really makes me think twice. It's so different out there!

[melodramatic26]

My husband and his friend are working on a project up in Colorado for about 5 weeks now. Dh tries and run at least once a week up there, but it's hard and he's in good shape.

His friend kept talking about running a 1/2 marathon up there. He just did his first 1/2 in April. Dh said he would pass b/c the altitude just doesn't make for a good run. Friend said he didn't think it would be that bad- though he hadn't actually ran up there yet.

They went running together yesterday morning. Friend was really hurting after only 2.5 miles. Altitude is a bitch apparently.

[grk2012]

There are ways to make it easier. We got to CO on a Tuesday and I ran a marathon the following Sunday, with no issues from the altitude. It does take a few days to acclimate (acclimatize?) but doing *nothing* for the first 24 hours--essentially buying oxygen--is the first step. Also, hydrating like a maniac. Aspirin can help with the headaches that are likely, as it's also a blood thinner. I did two short (2mi, 3mi) easy runs between arriving and racing. The second was much easier than the first, and I knew to keep my pace in check. Once you go into oxygen debt at altitude, it's too difficult to come out, so you don't want to get to that point.

[theoriginalbean]

Apparently I'm crazy, because I'm running a marathon out there next month. Not going to lie, I'm scared shitless.