A lot of professional athletes train at altitude, so will I benefit from hiking and running at altitude, here in Colorado?  Unfortunately for me, the answer is no, not really. 

Altitude training has been proven as a very effective method for improving athletic performance.  There are however, quite specific altitudes and time periods needed, for training to begin to be beneficial.  I will not meet those criteria, while on vacation in Colorado.

First of all, I am not running at an altitude this is high enough altitude to provide the ideal benefit. I am doing all of my running, close to our vacation accommodation.  The altitude there is between 5,000 and 6,000 feet.   This is not high enough to encourage the physical adaptations that will give performance benefits.  To get the increased red blood cell count, that is the main beneficial physiological change, I would need to workout at altitudes much closer to 7,000 feet or higher.

In addition, I will not be here long enough to see that increased red blood cell count.  It typically takes the body at least four weeks, for any significant adaptation to occur.  I will only be here for two weeks.

So even though I am running at altitude, the benefits of my training, will be similar to those I achieve back home in Pittsburgh.  All this  doesn’t mean that I am not working out.  I had a great fifty minute run along the Big Thompson River Trail this evening, and that still counts towards maintaining my fitness.