As an 800 runner would it benefit me to live in Boulder this summer to train?

Here's what I think an 800 runner needs in the Summer, by order of importance

- Stuff to do the other 22+ hours of the day when you're not training

- Cheap and easy access to a good gym with Olympic weights.

- Soft surfaces to run on.

- An all-weather track

- Hills to run on

- Several other things

- Altitude

Meh. 800m is a pretty anaerobic event. Most elites train at sea level.

keep in mind altitude training is more effective for longer races. also understand that altitude training effects wear off after a while. if you were to altitude train all summer, and then run a cross country season, and then go into indoor track season to race 800m thinking the altitude training you did in the summer would help you, you'd be wrong.

Exactly this. Can't underestimate the importance of hills either. Hills are probably by far your best source of "cross training" next to weight training if you're an 800m runner.

manual quote: "800 m is a primarily anaerobic event."

This has become the status quo thought, but hey if you're saying Boulder is high altitude then you'd be wrong. 5000' is still considered low-altitude, but since you didn't say that I'm not saying you're wrong to imply that the poster should not go to altitude for 800 m training. On the other hand, Nick Symmonds goes to altitude once in a while (in Mexico or wherever) for base training. I think if you are an 800 m runner then going to Boulder would be great. If you were a 5k runner you could reap more benefits from being at SOME AMOUNT of elevation, but the reality would be that your first month of base training would be at such a sub-maximal level that you'd lose some fitness. But for 3 months considerable adaptations can be made that would not alter your physiology permanently but my give you a leg up for cross season/base training that would improve your endurance. Plus, if you go there in the future then you're body would adjust quicker to the thinner air. Also the girls in Boulder are pretty eafeeniong hawwwt. Boulder is a really cool hippy town too if you're into that. And you might see some semi-elites up there. My buddy saw Dusty Olson running in the Canyon near his house and I saw Laura Thweat on a run. Also, "did" a workout with Jenny S.' husband.

Where do you live now? How old are you? Are you in a position that you do not need to earn money? Have you been to Boulder before?

Living in Boulder for a summer is an experience I wish I had before I went to college. I lived there after college and loved it. I would definitely do it if I were you.

Currently I live in South Carolina, and I am going to be 22 years old in January. I'm heading into my graduate studies with a full year of eligibility left from red shirting my sophomore year. My Aunt said i could prolly get a job out there and I currently work at Nike so at the very least I could transfer to the store out there. But I have never been to Boulder before either. I just thought it might be a good opportunity for summer training than training in central new york or flat ole south carolina.

Two points:

While, yes, Boulder is "low" altitude, it gives you quick access to 8000+ft environments.

Boulder is far from the cool hippy town it may have been in the 80's. It's foundational ideas and mores still exist, but it's more a progressive suburban sprawl who's core still emanates from a university and rich liberals seeking shelter there. I like Boulder, but its hardly what people seem to want to be (ie. what it used to be).

Flat South Carolina? Are you on the coast? Once you hit Columbia it starts getting lumpy and the upstate has real mountains. But if you can go chill in Boulder you probably should. It's a rad place. Then again, so are Greenville, Asheville, and Brevard.