Call this the "expansion pack" as it really is a week plus 2 days of workouts! I wanted to make sure I was able to re-cap the workouts from our Colorado trip. As you might imagine, I have quite a few pictures to share with you! I can safely say my run in Boulder is one of the top 3 most beautiful runs I ever did! (A more thorough Colorado re-cap is forthcoming. I am still getting my pictures together and all that jazz.)
Pennsylvania: (Elevation: 423 ft)
Thursday- REST. It was so hot and I had so much to do, so I took an impromptu rest day!
Friday- Super early morning run. I was out the door by 4:50am. 5 miles @ 7:59 pace- fresh legs!
Saturday- Upper body strength workout, 20 min. HIIT on arc trainer
Sunday- 5 mile run @ 8:05 pace
Boulder, CO: ( Elevation: 5,344 ft)
Monday- 6 miles @ 11 min pace. Altitude is no joke.
Denver, CO: ( Elevation: 5,280 ft)
Tuesday- 4 mile FLAT run @ 8:20 pace. I was not huffing and puffing- I think it helped that I wasn't running UP A MOUNTAIN! Also, a 2 hour hike on the foothills at Matthew Winters Park. (And a very short upper body workout in the hotel gym that is barely worth mentioning.)
Foothills!
Conifer, CO: ( Elevation: 8,277 ft)
Denver, CO: ( Elevation: 5,280 ft)
Thursday- Hotel treadmill run. 4 miles @ 8:27 pace. It was too hot out and I was too tired from the tour of Mile High Stadium to want to venture outside and do anything more strenuous. It was all about the a/c.
Friday- Rest! If you count traveling, delayed flights, and near missed connections as REST. My butt cheeks were so clenched. I did the butt cheek workout that day!
Pros: Um, did you see the pictures?
Cons: Altitude people, ALTITUDE!!!! That 6 mile run I did in Boulder at an 11 min pace? I just could NOT get air in my lungs. I took deep breaths but... nothing. I would run for a quarter mile and then have to walk to catch my breath. I did that most of the way. My lungs felt like I was running a 6 minute pace. It was crazy! My flat runs were much easier but anything involving an incline- even just hiking, was more strenuous. Colorado was beautiful but EXHAUSTING.
Did you ever workout somewhere that elevation was a factor?
Tell me about one of your most beautiful runs!
Wow, that's crazy! I always wondered how altitude running felt. Now I can at least get an idea from your post. Insanely beautiful pictures by the way!
ReplyDeleteFor me, it was like taking a deep breath but your lungs only filled up 1/4 of the way. Soooooo weird!
DeleteI give you major props for running that much when you were out here! I have been here 2.5 years and STILL bitch about the altitude. I did a goal pace workout yesterday but I HAD to do it on flats. I'm honestly not sure how to train out here because it feels just like you said. You breathe in but it's like you aren't filling your lungs. And it BURNS.
ReplyDeleteI felt very unfit out there, it was frustrating. I'm going for my first at sea level run today and hope I feel like myself again! I thought it takes about 2 years to adjust to the altitude??? Or do you never fully adjust??? I think if you are training on flats, you will still be ready for any hills you encounter at MCM due to the altitude!
DeleteOh my gosh, the scenery is beautiful! I am so, so happy I found your blog considering you're from PA. :o) I think you live around where I went to college! Such a small world! I've never run in altitude but I have been reading so much about it lately. I would probably have to crawl. Lol
ReplyDeleteAre you from PA? Where did you go to college? Altitude is crazy! I have to admit I sort of thought, "Oh it won't affect me, I'm in shape." Haha yeah right!
DeleteI was wondering if you were going to mention the altitude in your workout summary. It's crazy what a difference that makes, huh? It really makes even walking stairs challenging! Also the sun feels more blazing in co. too. When I was there in March I felt like I was going to spontaneously combust because the sun was so intense. Looks so beautiful though!
ReplyDeleteYes to the stairs! I just felt lethargic overall while I was there.
DeleteI'm spoiled with my 0 ft elevation. I cannot even imagine running at an altitude like that. A friend of mine is spending some time in Arizona this summer at 7,000 feet and when they tell me that they are going running, I just wish them luck and thank goodness I'm not them! Your pictures are stunning. I can't wait to read the recap.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely was tough! I wish your friends luck as well. :)
DeleteIf I could quit my job and be a roaming nomad I would definitely spend lots of time in Colorado. It seems like such an awesome place for running once you acclimate to the altitude. I know exactly what you mean about your lungs ... when we went to Seattle I felt the same thing just hiking. I dramatically told Adam that I was starting to black out near the top of Mount Si, but really I was only half joking.
ReplyDeleteI bet Paul loved the tour of Mile High! That sounds really fun!
He did, and I liked it a lot too! It was really interesting to learn about the facility!
DeleteI have never been to Montana... now I want to google pictures and see what it's like up there! Don't worry, more pictures are a-comin' tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed your time here, even if the altitude was rough on you. Isn't Conifer pretty? I keep trying to get J to move there, but noooo. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was super pretty :) Paul said it was the best place he has ever disc golfed and nothing will probably ever top it!
DeleteI haven't been to CO in soooo long...you're making me miss it!!!
ReplyDeleteWhere did you visit?
DeleteI am going to be in the Alps in a couple of weeks and not looking forward to running in altitude.
ReplyDeleteWow that should be an AWESOME trip. :)
DeleteWow - between the altitude and the climbing, you had some serious work!!!!
ReplyDeleteI know! It was beautiful but I'm glad to be back at sea level!
DeleteI've never run at any major altitude so I can't even imagine! Pictures look incredible though, and I'm sure you'll be killing your runs back at home.
ReplyDeleteI hope so!
DeleteWow, I had no idea the altitude effected runners that bad. Luckily PA is the highest altitude I have run so far since many of my runs are here or at sea level in VA beach! Can't wait to hear how you spent your (non running-hiking) time!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if it affects everyone the same but it definitely kicked my ass!
Delete