Last month I completed the marathon in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Before I left for the race, I wrote how I believed that the beauty of the Rockies in springtime would help sustain me through the miles. It was more gorgeous and challenging than I had imagined.
First the gorgeous part. From Steamboat Springs we boarded buses for the 26.2 mile trip to a place with a clear view of a mountain meadow near Steamboat Lake framed by snow-covered peaks. The temperature was in the 40’s, and the sun was about to rise. When it did, one could see that the sky was clear. The conditions were nearly perfect. Was the feeling of euphoria a product of taking in the amazing scenery, the anticipation of the race, or early signs of hypoxic stress caused by lack of oxygen?
The course was along mountain highways. It ran over ridges and into valleys. At one point we could look across at the horizon and see the mountain rim some miles away. At another, we were down where the spring thaw rushed by in clear flowing streams. In some places, cattle ranches reminded us of the western frontier, but mostly the scene was dominated by undisturbed nature. It provided the perfect mental escape, just as expected.
Now the challenging part. I live at about 830 feet elevation. The marathon started at about 8200 feet. I arrived the day before the race. There was no time for my cardiovascular system to acclimate to the change in oxygen levels. I knew this would make the day a bit more challenging, but I had no idea to what extent. In the first few miles, things seemed fairly normal. By mile seven, I had to begin slowing down to compensate for the lack of oxygen.
The symptoms were unique. If I pushed the pace at all, I had trouble remembering any details of stories I was sharing with folks I was running with. I had a feeling of disorientation and loss of equilibrium, so I slowed the pace until I felt normal. As it turns out, I had to continue slowing the pace through the entire run. That’s OK, it allowed me to enjoy the place that much more.
So we have another lesson learned: If you hope to run at a pace anywhere near where you are used to running, when you travel to higher altitude, arrive days ahead. You can do your own research to determine how many days that is, but I can tell you that one is too few.
Even though you can’t predict how your body will react to high altitudes, I can tell you that I was able to rely on my vision, enhanced by my Transitions lenses, to help guide me through the race and take in the scenic surroundings. I can color in the state of Colorado on my marathon map. And I have some incredible memories of the Colorado Rockies in springtime. I call the trip a success.
