I started swimming again in June after a...um...20-year layoff. I realize that I should expect a pretty big difference between workout times long ago and now, but wondered if I can attribute any of this differenct to the fact that I'm training at 5800 feet. In my USA swimming days, I was at sea level. Does anyone know how to calculate this effect or am I just grasping at straws?
Parents
Former Member
Alphadog,
I live in Denver. After moving here in 2001, I was informed that it would get easier after 3-4 months of workouts. This is crap. It took 8 months just to get to the point where I was not hanging on the walls gasping for air inbetween sets. It took 2 years before I could comfortably get through a workout and not notice the altitude as much.
In my opinion..... there are 3 types of people that struggle with altitude.
1. Old people (i.e. late 30s and over) that grew up at sea level and move to altitude (they have the worst time adusting)
2. Younger people that move to atltitude (teens and twenties) from sea level.
3. Natives to altitude.
Altitude has its advantages and disadvantages. Training at it for for a few weeks and returning to sea level is a more noticeable affect. Constantly living at altitude robs your ability to train closer to race pace.
Your 20 year break is obviously a factor. However, if you have not been working out regularly in the pool at altitude, and you are old you will pay for it another 6 months or so.
Alphadog,
I live in Denver. After moving here in 2001, I was informed that it would get easier after 3-4 months of workouts. This is crap. It took 8 months just to get to the point where I was not hanging on the walls gasping for air inbetween sets. It took 2 years before I could comfortably get through a workout and not notice the altitude as much.
In my opinion..... there are 3 types of people that struggle with altitude.
1. Old people (i.e. late 30s and over) that grew up at sea level and move to altitude (they have the worst time adusting)
2. Younger people that move to atltitude (teens and twenties) from sea level.
3. Natives to altitude.
Altitude has its advantages and disadvantages. Training at it for for a few weeks and returning to sea level is a more noticeable affect. Constantly living at altitude robs your ability to train closer to race pace.
Your 20 year break is obviously a factor. However, if you have not been working out regularly in the pool at altitude, and you are old you will pay for it another 6 months or so.
