Canned oxygen use at high-altitude meets. Experience?

Elaine, This product is not going to help you during those races - except to suck on them at the end when you are dying. If you could keep one at each end of the pool and take a hit each length though... I suppose there might be a chance of euphoria from too much oxygen that would mask the build up of carbon dioxide - that could lead to fainting if it was severe enough. Don't waste the money for this product unless you are climbing Mt Everest. :)

I don’t think I’d waste the money on bottled oxygen either. There are some medical articles in the running community I’ve read that say if you can’t spend at least three weeks at your elevated race location that you’re better off getting there the day of, or late the day before the event. The belief is that once your organs begin to acclimate, it negatively impacts your body’s performance. Getting there just before the event doesn’t give your organs time to begin the adjustment, and therefore function more normally as you compete. Dan

Elaine, This product is not going to help you during those races - except to suck on them at the end when you are dying. If you could keep one at each end of the pool and take a hit each length though... I suppose there might be a chance of euphoria from too much oxygen that would mask the build up of carbon dioxide - that could lead to fainting if it was severe enough. Don't waste the money for this product unless you are climbing Mt Everest. :) Ok, that's good to know. I'll give it a miss! I don’t think I’d waste the money on bottled oxygen either. There are some medical articles in the running community I’ve read that say if you can’t spend at least three weeks at your elevated race location that you’re better off getting there the day of, or late the day before the event. The belief is that once your organs begin to acclimate, it negatively impacts your body’s performance. Getting there just before the event doesn’t give your organs time to begin the adjustment, and therefore function more normally as you compete. Dan Darn, I already booked my air! I'm flying Southwest, though, so I will look into what the difference in cost would be flying in on another day. Thanks for the info., Dan.

Elaine, FWIW - way back in 1993, the Breadbasket Zone championship was in Denver (CO). I was living in Minnesota at the time and had a business trip to Denver at the same time as the Meet. I combined the meet with the trip. I got there a couple of days ahead of the meet and did my first swim at altitude on Friday. I was sucking air big time - due to the altitude. My thought was - this is gonna be bad. "Fast forward" one day to Saturday and Sunday. My events were: 50-100-200 Back, 500 Free, 200 IM, and 200 *** (??). I did really well - in all events and I was doing a hard 3,000-3,500 yard warm-up each day. I just focused on exhaling and inhaling and had no shortness of breath or tightness in my chest in any races - especially the 200 Back and 500 Free. So, my recommendation is to accept whatever comes your way, during all of your warm-ups and races focus alot on exhaling and inhaling. Albuquerque is a bit lower in altitude than Denver. Good luck - you'll do great!

Elaine, we're going to be sucking wind no matter what we do at that altitude. :) I think we're just going to have to have fun with it. On a side note, I saw that the 2021 games are in Ft Lauderdale! No altitude and a great outdoor pool!

Elaine, we're going to be sucking wind no matter what we do at that altitude. :) I think we're just going to have to have fun with it. On a side note, I saw that the 2021 games are in Ft Lauderdale! No altitude and a great outdoor pool! Yeah they (the city) finally agreed to spend the money to completely overhaul the Ft. Lauderdale Aquatic Center. it's a shame it comes too late to keep the Hall of Fame Center there, but I am excited that they will be moving YMCA Masters Nationals (and possibly YMCA Nationals) back to Ft. Lauderdale now!

Elaine, we're going to be sucking wind no matter what we do at that altitude. :) I think we're just going to have to have fun with it. On a side note, I saw that the 2021 games are in Ft Lauderdale! No altitude and a great outdoor pool! Oh, that's right! I think you had mentioned before that you are going to Albuquerque. I look forward to meeting you! What events are you swimming?

WRT my above post, I will say this about elevation, and physical activity. I live at sea level in coastal Rhode Island. My wife and I spent a long weekend in Las Vegas last weekend...Thursday early afternoon thru Monday early afternoon. The elevation of Vegas is around 2000+ feet above sea level. During my time there, I were for six mile runs on two seperate day, and on another day a thirty-eight mile bike ride at 3000+ feet elevation out in Red Rock Canyon. When I got back home to sea level in RI, and went on another bike ride the next day...it was like I had a blast of concentrated oxygen. I rode on a usual bike route, but my Strava account told me that I set PRs on several different segments of that course. Maybe I was breathing easier...it surely felt like it. Dan P.S. What happens in Vegas...

"So, my recommendation is to accept whatever comes your way, during all of your warm-ups and races focus alot on exhaling and inhaling. - Good to know, Windrath, thanks! I've been stressing slightly about the altitude as well, but in my head, just going to go with it. Elaine, I'm doing just the four free events. I can't do any other stroke with any efficiency. We'll have to plan to connect while there, right? :)

So, my recommendation is to accept whatever comes your way, during all of your warm-ups and races focus alot on exhaling and inhaling. Good luck - you'll do great! Thanks, Paul! That's great advice, and that will be my focus. Thanks for your "good luck" wishes! :chug: "So, my recommendation is to accept whatever comes your way, during all of your warm-ups and races focus alot on exhaling and inhaling. - Good to know, Windrath, thanks! I've been stressing slightly about the altitude as well, but in my head, just going to go with it. Elaine, I'm doing just the four free events. I can't do any other stroke with any efficiency. We'll have to plan to connect while there, right? :) Ok, Flystorms, you heard what Paul said. When we see each other on deck, our mantra will be, "Remember: INHALE, EXHALE!" I sent you a PM, and, yes, I look forward to connecting with you in ABQ!