Does anyone know of a link (or maybe just know) about converting 1/2 marathon times from altitude to a projected time at sea-level? More specifically the altitude of 6512 feet :)
Thanks!
Does anyone know of a link (or maybe just know) about converting 1/2 marathon times from altitude to a projected time at sea-level? More specifically the altitude of 6512 feet :)
Thanks!
A very rough calculation at a mile above sea level is to take 97% of the actual time for a sea-level conversion. Two seconds per lap (as if though the race were on a track) seems a good rule of thumb for races two miles and above. Of course, you would need to allow for a greater conversion at your altitude. Do a search on letsrun, because calculators and tables have been provided many times before.
This online calculator has a good altitude coversion function:
Thanks so far for the info. I checked out the 'calculator' and it assumes that you ran your race at sea level and want to convert to an alititude time...not the other way around, which is a bummer...
that link is way false. Go to the NCAA Handbook and download the altitude conversions. those are accurate and tested by professionals. if you need conversion for specific area, let me know where you ran the race, and your distance and time, i'll get it to you.
COgal wrote:
Thanks so far for the info. I checked out the 'calculator' and it assumes that you ran your race at sea level and want to convert to an alititude time...not the other way around, which is a bummer...
You might want to check out the calculator again. You enter distance, time, check the fifth button down and enter the altitude of your actual race, click "go" at the bottom, and it returns "equivalent performance" for 1000 ft altitude increments from sea level to 10k ft.
I can't comment on the validity of the calculation, but I think it does what you want.
Why can't COgal do this? You have access to that sort of stuff no? Just curious.
I can do it, and I will. I was just looking in the wrong spots. I was looking in usatf.com and couldn't find anything there. Didn't think about the NCAA stuff, and google was pretty worthless.. Anyways, do you think I would even post my 1/2 marathon time on here for all of you to poke fun of?? I've seen what happens then...haha
The NCAA handbook is a little misleading it's actually converting a specific time, its not supplying a formula so that you can convert your time. That being said, you can calculate the formula by dividing the seconds they allow for the altitude adjustment by the qualifying time and get an adjustment %. The other problem is it only supplies times up to 10k. I haven't looked but maybe there's a NAIA book with conversions for the half and marathon.
Adding 2 seconds a minute is about right for Boulder. So maybe 2.2 seconds a minute for 6,500 feet. It varies, some people are better suited to running at altitude than others. I know runners who are 120 seconds off their sea-level 10K PRs, othes are under 60 seconds off their 10K prs at altitude.