High Altitude Ultra Advice Anyone?

Outside

Hi All,

As it turns out I will be in the locality of this race in July: http://www.icetrailtarentaise.fr/

I ended up booking on as soon as I watched the video, 65km Mountain run didn't seem too bad on first look.

But...it starts at 1800m and goes up to over 3600m with 5000m altitude gain in all.

I will be at sea level the week leading up to it and can only travel to the race the day before the event, up to 1800m.

Just wondering if anyway has any experience on what I can expect to happen to my body (if anything) from the altitude. Is this altitude high enough to significantly affect performance without proper acclimatization?

Any help greatly appreciated.

MrCreosote

You'll definitely notice the altitude at those heights. Possibly not so much at 1800m, but over 2500m you will for sure. Probably you'll just notice it by getting puffed more easily, but there'd be a slight risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (headache, nausea, vomiting) at the higher altitudes.

Not much you can do about it if you haven't got time to acclimatise, apart from being as fit as you can beforehand, and expecting the effort to be harder than at sea level. And run to effort or HR, not to time!

Enduro

I've run the UTMB twice now, which has similar start height and maximium altitude. Both times I arrived at the start town the day before the race began. I didn't particularly notice the altitude on either occasion (although it undoubtedly would have had an effect). It's hard work anyway, so you're going to feel the same effects no matter what. You'll just be slower than if you were aclimatised. MrCreosote's advice is perfect... Run to effort and don't worry about speed.

It takes about 2 weeks to get properly acclimatised, so most people in the race will be in the same boat as you. It doesn't matter as long as you're not aiming for a podium position


5000m of altitude gain in 65km is very climby indeed. More than likely you'll be spending a large proportion of the race walking up steep tracks. Bring walking poles for that!

MrCreosote

Meant to say- the route looks freaky-deaky awesome!

Outside

Thanks folks,

My main concern was Acute Mountain Sickness as MrCreosote mentioned, fingers crossed that it is only a slight chance. Route looks pretty nice so looking forward to it!

More re-assuring knowing that UTMB is similar and you only travelled out the day before the event Enduro. I think your level of fitness is slightly different though so I may have other problems to worry about!

I don't mind too much being tired but its the altitude sickness you can't really struggle through/avoid.

Signing up for this race is now a great excuse to get out to Connemara as much as possible to wake up those hiking muscles! I'd class this as more of an Ultra-hike rather than Ultra-run.

Enduro, do you really think poles are necessary?

Enduro

Poles aren't necessary, but they are very likely to be benificial. In the UTMB (and the other associated races) about 90% of people use poles from my observation. Give them a go hiking up the steeper sections in the Bens. If possible, get someone to show how to use them nordic-walking style.

There's very little you can do about preparing for AMS (As far as I know), but the main thing to remember is that the cure is to get back down ASAP. You're extremely unlikely to get it in that race. My own experience is that the only time I've suffered symptoms other than the faster onset of fatigue was above 5500m (on kilimanjaro many years ago). But everyone is different, and even individuals vary over time (I was at a talk by Chris Bonnington a few years ago where he said that he can't climb above 6000m any more... which show that everyone is subject to changes in tolerance).

nerraw1111

I’ve hiked at altitude before doing the Annapurna circuit and you definitely feel it. From around 2500metres you may start noticing that everything takes a bit more effort.
3600metres you can get out of puff walking up stairs. Depends on the person. I saw fit people turning around with symptoms at 3600 while a man in his 70s was in fine form having a fag at 5500 metres.

Most of the top guys in the video for the event look to be using trekking poles. Definitely something worth considering giving the altitude gain.

Altitude Centre IRL

MrCreosote wrote: »

You'll definitely notice the altitude at those heights. Possibly not so much at 1800m, but over 2500m you will for sure. Probably you'll just notice it by getting puffed more easily, but there'd be a slight risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (headache, nausea, vomiting) at the higher altitudes.

Not much you can do about it if you haven't got time to acclimatise, apart from being as fit as you can beforehand, and expecting the effort to be harder than at sea level. And run to effort or HR, not to time!

Hope some info here may help make your challenge more successful and enjoyable!

Just be aware of the main physiological reactions to altitude such as increase in HR, ventilation, fluid loss, glucose metabolism etc.

Acute exposure to altitude of 2500m or greater will pose potential risk for developing AMS. There's a lot you can do to prepare in advance. You can get an AMS screening to determine your body's individual response to altitude (drop in blood oxygen saturation levels) and pre-acclimatise in advance of your travel.

Outside

A great event, perfect weather, tough going for myself but well worth it. Highly recommended! http://johnnycronin.blogspot.ie/2013/07/ice-trail-tarentaise-2013.html