When talking about altitude training is there a cut-off point? If so, what's the point where the altitude is not enough to make a difference?
I live in a city which is at 600 ft altitude. So basically its like being at sea-level, not altitude effect.
I am considering moving to a city (do to a job opportunity) which is at 4,500 ft. Is 4,500 ft enough to get any beneficial altitude training effects, or is it too low and basically the same as being at sea level?
4500 ft will slow down your training and race times.
I'm not sure whether that's high enough to get any performance gains, though (upon returning to sea level).
I moved from about 1000 ft elevation to a city with 5500ft and I just ran a 5k a week ago at sea level and set almost a 30 second pr. Cant really say if it was all due to the altitude because I did change my training with more aerobic workouts and less speed stuff and I also hit several high weeks and in general had higher mileage this track season than I did in past. But I would say that when I did go down in altitude I was prepared mentally to run fast and I felt like I could breathe alot easy, which is expected.
The only improvement you'll get from moving to 4500ft won't be due to the altitude. It'll be due to having to run more slowly because you just can't run as fast when you're at 4500 ft.
If you want improvements that are a direct result of the altitude, you'll need to move to 6000ft.
sub 4 dreamer wrote:
The only improvement you'll get from moving to 4500ft won't be due to the altitude. It'll be due to having to run more slowly because you just can't run as fast when you're at 4500 ft.
If you want improvements that are a direct result of the altitude, you'll need to move to 6000ft.
This makes no sense.
What the OP is asking, is SEVERAL MONTHS after coming down from altitude, will he experience a decrease in fitness due to the altitude effect "wearing off". As long as your training is consistent I would guess no, but I'm not really sure.
Unholy Cumulus wrote:
This makes no sense.
What the OP is asking, is SEVERAL MONTHS after coming down from altitude, will he experience a decrease in fitness due to the altitude effect "wearing off". As long as your training is consistent I would guess no, but I'm not really sure.
No, I think you are the one who misinterpreted the question.
Were you looking to reply to this thread instead?
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=2474306Unholy Cumulus wrote:
What the OP is asking, is SEVERAL MONTHS after coming down from altitude, will he experience a decrease in fitness due to the altitude effect "wearing off".
First of all, I think you misinterpreted the question.
Second of all, the answer to that question is "no", because 4500ft is too low to get an "altitude effect".
The effects of altitude don't just abruptly start or switch on/off once you cross a magical threshold. It's a curvilinear effect. As you increase altitude from sea level you reach increasing levels of hypoxia due to decreasing air pressure.
The "rule of thumb" is that you don't notice the effects and don't have the training affects until after around 5000ft. This also is a very individual process. Some will notice a huge difference at say 4-5000ft while for others it may take 7000+ft.
All I know is that at 4500' you get like 4.5 seconds off for altitude in the 1500m. Whenever I come down to race at sea level I feel TONS better and race tons better.
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