Training for meet at high altitude

Short of sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber adjusted to mimic high altitude, there is no way to accelerate acclimatization. Generations of alpinists have tried every imaginable concoction, supplement and training trick. Zero success. It just takes time for the body to increase oxygen carrying capacity. Go to the venue about three weeks early or just accept the suffering and diminished performance.

Short of sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber adjusted to mimic high altitude, there is no way to accelerate acclimatization. Generations of alpinists have tried every imaginable concoction, supplement and training trick. Zero success. It just takes time for the body to increase oxygen carrying capacity. Go to the venue about three weeks early or just accept the suffering and diminished performance. :eek: Well, getting there three weeks early isn't a practical option, so I guess I'll have to settle for resting at the walls during my 200 fly if it gets that bad! Thanks for letting me know, Karl.

I never swam at altitude, but did a few track and field meets up in Colorado. It hurt the distance runners most, the longer the race, the worse you did. I ran a couple 5K races at a minute or more slower than normal. Milers did almost as well as expected, maybe just a few seconds slower. At shorter track distances, 800m and less, there was no degradation. So, figure anything taking less than 3-4 minutes only depletes stored oxygen, but after 4 minutes your oxygen uptake during the event is diminished.

I have read articles in Runner's World about this very topic for runners who live and train near-sea level elevations going to run in events that are at much higher elevations. The medical, and athletic authorities that contributed to that article were pretty much in agreement that if you can't spend several weeks living and training at the altitude you'll be competing...the best thing is to show up right before the event. (i.e. day of/before)..with no particular altitude training at all. Their collective opinion was that you need to spend in the neighborhood of three or more weeks living and training at the altitude before your body begins acclimate to the altitude. In fact, the article said, that spending less time than that at the altitude is actually counterproductive. So, based on all that, I'd say your best bet is to just get there the day of, before, or maybe late two days before at most. Here's an article that pretty much says the same thing as the one I read in RW a few years ago. www.trainingpeaks.com/.../ Dan

So, figure anything taking less than 3-4 minutes only depletes stored oxygen, but after 4 minutes your oxygen uptake during the event is diminished. :afraid:Well, then, I'm screwed for the 400 IM.

Well, then, I'm screwed for the 400 IM. I wouldn't say that. How many of the other swimmers do you think will be from high altitudes? Dan

So, based on all that, I'd say your best bet is to just get there the day of, before, or maybe late two days before at most. Here's an article that pretty much says the same thing as the one I read in RW a few years ago. www.trainingpeaks.com/.../ Dan The end of the article says, " Aim for at least 45 hours prior to race start, and a few days more than that might be better for you." It looks like it contradicts what you say above. If I'm lucky, the 400 IM and 200 Fly will occur later in the multi-day meet!

I wouldn't say that. How many of the other swimmers do you think will be from high altitudes? I have no idea; however, I would imagine the meet would draw a lot of local swimmers and those from surrounding states-- one of which is Colorado, another state with cities at high altitude. I would work on butterfly breathing every stroke cycle and breathing exercises stressing deep belly breaths to maximize what O2 there is. I wasn't aware there is any O2 storage as mentioned above. Plus long distance runners are probably pacing themselves more than most swimmers do so expect the O2 difference to hit swimmers sooner. Not fun. My friends who have swum at ski resorts pools say it hits them immediately. But they are at higher altitudes than you will be swimming at. I already breathe every stroke in fly; however, I don't do breathing exercises. That will be something for me to check into-- thanks. When it's time for the event, bring some ibuprofen for headaches, maybe some canned oxygen too. Not sure what you can do to prep for it a year in advance though. I see people wearing those oxygen-restriction masks at the gym sometimes. My husband and I were joking about the oxygen idea. We thought the least the National Senior Games staff could do is have an oxygen tank available next to each starting block! :bolt: That was the writer's personal experience/opinion. I was referring to a paragraph before that about the recommendations of other resources which concludes: Ok, got it. There are so many differing opinions out there, it's now as clear as mud! I guess First, the premise that you are swimming at high altitude is flawed. It is higher altitude, but not high altitude. A mile high is only considered moderate altitude. Yes you will have some impact above 4000, but if I remember correctly it is about 4800 and really 5000 where the cardiovascular impact really starts to kick in. While it takes a few weeks for acclimatization, doing a week before and doing some light to moderate training is military guideline. The other guideline, which is for the mile range of altitude, is oxygen restricted and hypoxic training in advance. but the lean is more towards restricted oxygen training.. ( get a cap that restricts for a snorkel ). And actually training at the altitude is actually the best way. Since you seem to be concerned.. why don't you find a place to swim that is in the higher altitude and take a weekend road trip.. we don't have the Rockies in the east, but there might be somewhere that at least has altitude. The elevation of Albuquerque is 5,311 feet, so it is likely I will experience that impact you describe. (The difference in altitude between where I live and Albuquerque is about 4,300 ft.) The snorkel idea may be the ticket to developing stronger lungs-- something I could use, since I feel the need to breathe every stroke on both fly and free when I race any distance. Thanks for the idea!

The end of the article says, " Aim for at least 45 hours prior to race start, and a few days more than that might be better for you." It looks like it contradicts what you say above. If I'm lucky, the 400 IM and 200 Fly will occur later in the multi-day meet! I would work on butterfly breathing every stroke cycle and breathing exercises stressing deep belly breaths to maximize what O2 there is. I wasn't aware there is any O2 storage as mentioned above. Plus long distance runners are probably pacing themselves more than most swimmers do so expect the O2 difference to hit swimmers sooner. Not fun. My friends who have swum at ski resorts pools say it hits them immediately. But they are at higher altitudes than you will be swimming at.

Elaine, There is not much you can do to increase the amount of hemoglobin in your system although three weeks is better than nothing. BUT, don't lose hope because this was my experience from 1994. I attended the Breadbasket Zone meet in Denver in 1994. I got there a couple of days in advance - mixed a business trip into the fray. The first 2 practice days absolutely sucked - no other word for it. BUT, come the weekend and the racing - everything from 50s to 500s and I was on track and not slower than at meets in Minnesota (700 ft elevation). I was pleasantly surprised. With a year to plan, the snorkel might help although I would personally opt for training harder instead of restricting your airway. You might try adding an iron supplement in an attempt to increase your hemoglobin and red blood cell count. Normally this is a suggestion for people suffering from anemia (like me), but it might be marginally beneficial in your case. That is my experience. I suspect, you will do just fine. Windrath