Running at altitudes

[Bateluer]

I need some opinions on running at elevations. For the last 7 years, I've lived in the Phoenix valley and 95% of my training has been in the valley. During the summer months, from April to nearly September, my motivation for running drops significantly because there aren't anything other than simple 5Ks to run, which are a cake walk even when I slack off with my running.

The Whiskey Row Marathon in Prescott takes place on May 2nd, which puts it right in the middle of my usual 'lull'. I figure I could drive up to Prescott on May 1st, spend the night in a hotel, do the marathon on the 2nd, and drive back to Phoenix after the post run festivities.

My main concern, however, is the elevation. I don't get the opportunity to train at all at any elevations other than whats in the valley area, so relatively low. I know the Whiskey Row Marathon is a challenging course, which doesn't bother me much. The elevation, however, does. From the race information, it varies between 5k and almost 7k through out the course. Is this higher altitude going to be crippling? I'd love to do the full marathon, but I'm not going to drive to Flagstaff every weekend to train at altitudes to train.

Opinions and comments welcome.

 

[Megatomic]

You have 2 things going against you in this race:

1. Hills. OMG that's a hilly run

2. Altitude. What's the altitude where you do most of your training? I've read that even elite athletes who are untrained at altitude bonk early in races that place in thinner air.

This is going to be a challenge for you Bateluer.

 

[SWScorch]

Yup, you're going to run at a much slower pace for a given effort and will likely feel like you can't catch your breath as easily. Start out very conservatively so you don't put yourself into oxygen debt too quickly, and then run by effort, not pace. As long as you don't hold to a certain goal or pace that you can run at lower altitudes, it shouldn't be crippling, but it will be challenging.

 

[Bateluer]

I love a challenge.

Megatomic, most of my training has been in the west valley of Phoenix, so pretty low elevation. I could run South Mountain or in the White Tanks, those are good hill training at least.

 

[Megatomic]

All my previous training was in low elevations with very few hills. Now I live in upstate NY and the hills are great. I can't wait for springtime so I can enjoy riding and running outside.

I wonder if there is anything you could do to prepare for the thin atmosphere that doesn't involve doping or hyperbaric chambers?