I have never swum at high altitude, so I have no idea how my body will react when I compete at the 2019 National Senior Games in Albuquerque. The meet is over a year from now, so I have plenty of time to prepare. How should I train for it when I currently live and train at near-sea level elevation? The difference in elevation between here and there is about 4,300 feet. The events I will be competing in will be: 400 IM, 200 Fly, 200 ***, 200 IM, 100 Fly, and 50 ***.
I am 56 years old, swim six days/week (averaging a total of 12-13,000 yds./wk; I trade off heavier days with lighter days), and do various forms of dryland after each swim (yoga, weights, Theraband exercises, etc.).
Thanks!
:)
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 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.
