Training at altitude?

[captdave51]

I live high up in the Andes at 8,300' (about 2,500 meters). I am wondering if my training for the Camino would be enhanced(greatly?, mildly?) by my altitude. Probably couldn't hurt but I'm hoping for a nice edge over sea level training. Any thoughts?

 

[jsalt]

Hi, if you were heading for Kilimanjaro, sure, your training would make a huge difference. For the camino? Nah, your altitude lifestyle wouldn’t have much effect. I’ve never heard of altitude sickness problems going over the Col de Lepoeder or O’Cebreiro. Jill

 

[Deleted member 43985]

Sure, there will be benefits to training up at that altitude. Olympians wouldn't do it if there weren't. As @jsalt notes, you are going to a place where it isn't critical/necessary to have this type of training but since it's where you live anyway, Hakuna Matata.

Just a note on training though, even with that altitude I would still make sure I used my pack filled to Camino weight as part of my training so your joints and muscles get used to carrying it for long periods.

Good luck and Buen Camino,
Jordon

 

[Gillean]

Your cardio system should be in great shape for the camino which will help on some of the climbs for sure. Toughening your feet against blisters and strengthening your joints and ligaments against repetitive stress type injuries is another matter and should also be a goal of your training program.

 

[Wokabaut_Meri]

I live at sea level and have trekked at high altitudes many times 6500m in Tibet being the highest.

I can certainly attest to the advantages of training at altitude. Every time I have returned home the benefit has been extraordinary - higher bike gears on climbs, more endurance and barely changing stride on hills (our highest here is ~727m).

You'll be supercharged! but do start off steadily Pole! Pole!

Good advice here on toughening your feet and training with a pack at peak weight occasionally.

Something to consider as well is the climate depending on what time you walk your Camino. The hotter months present a completely different set of issues if you are used to trekking in colder conditions.

 

[Phoenix]

I, too, live at altitude (in Colorado 7,200 ft) and train often between 6,500 - 14,000 ft amsl. In addition, since @jsalt mentioned it, I have climbed/summited Kilimanjaro. Before moving to Colorado four years ago, I lived most of my life in the 800-4,000 ft range. Living/training at altitude, I can tell a positive difference in performance not only at higher altitude, but also at lower altitude. Further, at sea level it feels like I am "supercharged."

Google the term "benefits of training at high altitude." There are countless articles and web sites that explain the benefits of live high/train high and athletic performance at lower altitudes. The body adapts (acclimatizes). Specifically, the hormone EPO triggers red blood cell production to help get oxygen to the body. Many athletes refer to it as "legal doping."

Since you live in the Andes, it's seems safe to assume, in addition to altitude, your training regimen includes access to many hills. As others have stated, if you train at/above 8,300 ft with the gear and pack weight that you will be using on the Camino, you will most likely have a very pleasant go of it physically.

Buen Camino!

 

[JohnMcM]

I live high up in the Andes at 8,300' (about 2,500 meters). I am wondering if my training for the Camino would be enhanced(greatly?, mildly?) by my altitude. Probably couldn't hurt but I'm hoping for a nice edge over sea level training. Any thoughts?

Hello captdave51,
Your living at a high altitude could be a double-edged sword for you during your Camino.

Firstly, the good news. You may in all probababilty find the challenge presented by the even the highest points on any of the Caminos to be somewhat easier for you than people such as myself.

Secondly, the perhaps not so good news. It seems to me you may find the overall challenge less demanding than perhaps you anticipate judging by your original question and description. There may be a threat to your enjoyment of your Camino though. It is possible you may feel so good in the early days that you inadvertently over-do it.

I guess you already know you could be walking multiple days back-to-back, perhaps for weeks.

There are some people on this forum who thrive upon walking 30-40 Kms each day, and as far I can see they train for and do those distances regularly. Do you? If yes, then I suspect a Camino will bring you much joy, if not, then caution in the first few days may be the wise decision.

Buen (sea-level and higher level walking) Camino

 

[JillGat]

Absolutely training at altitude will help you when you go to sea level. Mostly it will improve the blood oxygen carrying capacity. I live in Albuquerque, NM at about 6000 feet, and African runners often come here to train.

 

[Kanga]

I envy those of you who live at high altitude. Not only do you get fit but I've heard from people who lived in La Paz that all the expats, all of them, lose weight when they arrive. Sounds marvellous to me!

 

[Wokabaut_Meri]

I envy those of you who live at high altitude. Not only do you get fit but I've heard from people who lived in La Paz that all the expats, all of them, lose weight when they arrive. Sounds marvellous to me!

Kanga, it's a girl's/woman's paradise! In all my treks at altitude I have eaten up to 3 times more than normal, drank about 6 litres of fluid, alas, NO alcohol except for one tot of the Himalayan home-brew orujo equivalent and the weight has literally just fallen off me! The walking pace suited me just fine as well - plenty of time to stop and look.

 

[vlebe]

I was waiting to come back home from the weekend climbing shenanigans to answer this but I guess people already wrote what I wanted to.

It doesnt matter if you are Training for a seal level adventure or not. Training at altitude WILL most definitely give you a boost....

I've been climbing at high altitude mountains for quite a while ( including Kilimanjaro a couple of times, Denali, Mont Blanc, Aconcagua, Cordilera Blanca, ELbrus, etc) and that does prepare you to carry more oxygen on your blood.

Carry on with your training at high altitute... You will have a stroll when you go for the Camino at sea level...

And, no... None of the Caminos ( none at all) are high enough to cause people any sickness related to altitude!

Happy trainning and Ultreia!