I was just wondering what elevation do you guys run at? I run at about 5500-6000ft at a 6:05 mile but when I go down to Las Vegas (Nellis AFB) which is around 2000ft I run a 5:30 mile. Does anybody know what elevation Lackland AFB is??? I know running at 5500ft is good run training for PJ INDOC so hopefully I should be good to go <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'd be interested in hearing about the duration of this benefit. From what I understand (little, I assure you) the body adjusts fairly rapidly to the oxygen surplus and most of that performance boost fades.

Is this true?

BTW, I'm at about 5-600 feet.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

It can't be that high, since guys coming from the Academy which is in CO who get there say how much more awesome their run is at Lackland from all the oxygen. I'm in CO right now and there is a HUGE difference in altitude and oxygen than San Antonio. So I'd imagine San Antonio's altitude isn't too high.

I lived in Colorado for 6 years and ran all the time. I did notice a huge benefit when I would go back down to sea-level, but it always went away after around a week or so. I've never heard of any lasting benefits from it. In fact, sometimes I would actually feel a bit sluggish at sea-level at first, but like I said, my run times for around a week were better.

jc

I ran at the Air Force Academy, while stationed at FT. Carson. I hated it! I became slower in my sprints! Altitude training sucks for 800m and below! Altitude training is good for INDOC. Do not any type of speed work at high altitudes! Long distance, slow twitch fiber, aerobic athletes train in altitude. Power, fast twitch, anaerobic athletes GENERALLY try to train at sea level. In combat sports, altitude training is a benefit.

I do not have the information in front of me; however, I believe the benefits of altitude training last around 14-22 days, at sea level.

The effects of training at altitude and then racing at sea level have been the subject of many studies. In general it is accepted that you can see improvements as much as about 2.5% by doing this. The benefit is derived from what could be described as natural "blood doping". Blood doping is a banned method of increasing oxygen carrying capacity by infusing red blood cells into yourself prior to competing. Red blood cells have the job of carrying oxygen to your tissues, they are like boxcars in a train. The more box cars you have the more you can carry. Since oxygen carrying capacity along with maximal oxygen uptake capacity (VO2 max) are two limiting factors in endurance events (greater than 800 meters for running or about 2 mins for whatever you are doing) in theory you should be able to boost your performance by increasing the number of oxygen carrying box cars (red blood cells). Your body does this naturally if you live at altitudes greater than about 4500 feet. The decreased oxygen pressure in the air induces a state of relative hypoxia which your body compensates for by increasing its production of erythropoietin which in turn causes your body to produce more red blood cells and inducing a state called polycythemia (translation: many cells in blood). This state does not last long once you return to sea level and while it is controversial it is generally accepted that the peak effect is appreciated at about 3 weeks after returning to sea level. The effect rapidly declines after that and by about 5 weeks the effect is negligible. For world class athletes a 2.5% increase in performance can be huge, for the average or even above average athlete it still is significant but it isn't going to improve you from being a 21 minute 5k runner to a 16 minute 5k runner. Using a 21 minute 5k runner as an example and just for kicks doubling the benefit to 5% we should see 21mins*60 seconds=1260 seconds multiplied by .05 (5%)=61 seconds or about 20 seconds per mile difference. Of course as stated earlier the actual benefit is estimated at about 2.5% so about 30 seconds instead of 61 seconds would be a more realistic expectation. Of course training at altitude probably means you will be doing a lot of hill running which by itself will probably make you a stronger runner than someone with the same potential training predominantly on a flat surface. To recieve the maximum benefit you would have to live at altitude 22 hours a day and then go to sea level to train where you are able to perform at a higher level (faster) and then return to altitude when you are finished...but who the hell can do that? At any rate the most important factor in performance by far, just to state the obvious, is that you do in fact train regardless of what altitude you are at...duh. The bottom line in regard to this specific situation (i.e. preparing for indoc) is that you can be born and raised in Leadville Colorado, elevation 10,000 ft and train like a mad man for years, but by the time you finish your 6 weeks of basic training and starting indoc you will be on an even playing ground with someone who was born and raised in Daytona Beach. Sometimes life's a beach...

As far as sprinting at altitude I'll have to respectfully disagree with Kenneth Rhodes on this one. If there is one place you want to compete at distances under 800 meters it is at altitude. These distances are predominantly anaerobic so the oxygen content of the air has no adverse effect on your performance. On the contrary you should expect to sprint faster and jump higher/farther at altitude due to decreased air resistance. The prototypical case on this point is the 1968 olympics held in Mexico City at around 6000 ft msl, where multiple world records were set in the sprinting and jumping events including Bob Beomon's 29+ ft long jump, and Lee Evan's 400 meter world record which each stood for over 20 years, in addition world records were smashed in the 100 and 200 meter events. Although the International Amature Athletic Federation (IAAF) which is the governing body for international track and field recognizes this advantage it still allows records set at altitude to stand, they just annotate the time with an "A" after it signifying it was set at altitude, many people think that they should be disallowed entirely as wind aided world records are. Anyway sorry for the long post, hopefully it was informative to someone...

Tman good information! I glad you disagree with me. You make me do some research. I am well aware of the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.

I will do some research. I will state this to you. I am not aware of any world class sprinters and jumpers that train at altitude.

As far as training at altitude and sea level. World Class athletes do it all the time. In Flagstaff AZ, there is an altitude training center. World Class athlete will train in Flagstaff, AZ(elevation 7,000 ft), then drive two hours to Phoenix, AZ.

This entire thread has gotten off topic...running at altitude is great...but you'll be running for 10 weeks at Indoc...so whatever benefit that was gained (at altitude) will be lost...get over it.

I think many guys are getting way too advanced for their level of training...the bottom line is get out there and run, do cals, lift, sprint, do HIIT, etc...for gods sake, PJs/CCT/CWX are NOT world class atheletes...the're men that use their training and MIND to overcome and do the mission...if you're worried about 02 levels, altitude training, blood doping, etc. you're in the wrong f*&king JOB...an Operator's job is to get the job done NO MATTER WHAT...so get off the scientific "if I train at altitude for a 6mph run then take a certain supplement, then relax and stretch, and plan my recovery with approximately 1.5 grams of protien per pound of body weight and only eat foods with at least 4 grams of fiber per serving making sure the calories per gram meet my specifications I'll be fine" mentality...

For Gods sake...JUST DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!

TE,
Sorry! My sentiments exactly! With your permission, I would like to add one more thing. I have suffered from altitude sickness, during military training. Acclimate(sp) your body! Headaches from altitude sickness are not fun.

The exercise science person was answering, not the NCO and strength coach. TE, I apologize, once again.

The original question was "What's the elevation at Lackland AFB?" The answer is: about 700 ft. MSL.

For you readers who are not Native Texans like me, note that San Antonio is about 150 miles from the coast, give or take, but the elevation hasonly increased 700 feet. What that means is that South Texas, where San Antonio is located, is Fuh-Lat.

Just a little more. I'm stationed at roughly 4.5K Above sea level when i went over to UAE, which is like a foot or two above sea level. I ran my 1.5m in roughly 13. BUt back here in NM i'm running it in 14.5. So there is a difference. BUt exactly Like TE is saying don't think about all that stuff. Get in your mind you are going to make it And the Elevation don't matter.