altitude swimming

Craig- how early can you get there? About 17 years ago I was passing through Durango CO, in my best shape in years (driving to Woodlands Texas for USMS LCNats) & found my motel had a 25meter pool (really!). I tried to do a taper-type workout but my lungs took job action; it was awful, so short of EPO I don't imagine you can do much where you are (other than be that much better than everyone else) short of finding some way to acclimate in advance. Maybe wear drag suits until you leave? Not much help from me I guess, sorry.

OK,whose in the League of Hairy-Chested Swimmers(female division)?

Craig- I have no doubt that you can and will do it. It just might be a little...unpleasant. I will wait for your report on how it went & officially enter your name on the rolls of the League of Hairy-Chested Swimmers (male division) upon completion.

Allen- you must ask any female masters swimmer personally whether she is a member, preferably on deck at a major meet. You will know from the quality and nature of her reply whether she belongs to that august group.

Originally posted by Peter Cruise Craig- I have no doubt that you can and will do it. It just might be a little...unpleasant. I will wait for your report on how it went & officially enter your name on the rolls of the League of Hairy-Chested Swimmers (male division) upon completion. What is really odd is that I'm the only male with hair on my chest, and none of my sisters have hair on their chest either.

There is really no set preparation for going from sea level to altitude. Maybe do some breath control sets to get your lungs ready for the reduced amount of air it will get can help. It takes everyone about three days to fully adjust. I suggest doing light workouts for that time, then working back into your normal groove. But if you're only there for vacation, I'm thinking you might not be there long enough to fully acclimate. I lived in Colorado for five years. I remember the first six months as hell on my lungs. And then it improved. Bottom line: A mile at altitude isn't fun no matter how prepared you are. That's why they allow something like 15 seconds for the adjustment.

I wasa told to do a lot of alternate breahting with a pull bouy. Yesterday I did 4x500 trying to breathe only every 5 strokes. I had to do an extra breathing treatment for my asthma. I still think that I can do this.

Originally posted by craiglll@yahoo.com I wasa told to do a lot of alternate breahting with a pull bouy. Yesterday I did 4x500 trying to breathe only every 5 strokes. I had to do an extra breathing treatment for my asthma. I still think that I can do this. I cannot believe you did this!!!! I've been coaching at high altitude for over nearly 20 years and I have never told anyone to alternate breathe to help adjust to high altitude. If anything you need to breath every stroke to the same side. Man there is no oxygen up here! Your lungs will burn and you won't swim as fast, but think good technique and enjoy your workouts.... I would also adjust your interval times to be a little slower to give you a little more recovery time.....

Growing up I'd swim two summer leagues, the first one here in the South and the second in Denver where my Dad lived. There's only one way to describe that first week in Denver, horribly painful. And that was as a kid.

I live at sea level. My parents live in Frisco, CO, at around 9,000 feet. When I visit, I swim at the Silverthorne Rec Center. The first time I went, I jumped in, swam a 25, flipped . . . and flailed hard to the surface in panic mode gasping for every bit of precious air I could suck in. I remember thinking that I might drown while I was upside down under water. Now when I visit I stick to the kiddie pool and hot tub, and consider that an aerobic workout. You're in for a challenge.