I’m starting to think about MdS as a restful vacation with a bit running thrown in. I’m not underestimating the desert...
9 miles on Turquoise Lake and mountain morning
LizaHello from Leadville! I wanted to get up super early this morning to have time to run and e-mail before class, but the bed wouldn’t let me up. I struggled free around 6, showered and got ready for class, and then realized that I hadn’t changed my watch to mountain time and it was only 5:15. Score! So no run yet, but a little blogging and some class prep.
I’m on the campus of the High Mountain Institute just past the Mount Massive Golf Course heading toward the Fish Hatchery (for those of you familiar with Lead-vegas).
It’s a wonderful place with some pretty fortunate students wandering around.
Anyway! I got to town around 4pm yesterday and headed directly to Turquoise Lake for a run before the effects of the altitude could smack me down. I realize this doesn’t make much physiological sense, but it seems like it takes my body about 5 hours to realize the air is thin. I ran 9 miles reveling in the smell of pine trees and soft footing the entire way. I think the temperatures were in the 60s, which probably did a lot to offset the effects of 10,000 feet. We always joke in San Antonio that the heat and humidity has to have some training benefits for running at altitude and I think it does. Heat index of 100 = less suffering at 10,000 feet?
I only saw four other people on the trail, which surprised me. Where was everybody? I mean, sure it was a Tuesday afternoon and all, but it’s the end of May. I expected more vacationing families soaking in the gorgeousness.
The altitude finally did smack me down around 8pm and I crawled into bed with a fine headache, feeling pretty nauseated. My appetite is still down this morning, but I’m not nauseated and my head is fine. We’ll see how the run feels this afternoon. Time to teach some wilderness medicine now. 🙂
PS. Here’s the view from my room. That’s Mount Massive in the background.
I love my job.
Kelly Agnew
Very jealous! Leadville is my favorite place to run. I’ll be out in July for the 50 and back in August for the 100. I can’t wait. Have fun and we’ll see you in August!
Liza Howard
Yeah! I will take lots of Leadville pictures for you these next 10 days Kelly and eat a few slices of pizza from High Mountain Pies for you. I love it here too. I almost bought a Leadville coffee mug and shot glass at the Safeway yesterday. Pathetic. 😉
Brickett54
Jealous!!!
ATAlvarado
Beautiful! Wow! Looks so peaceful! I am sure no cicada bug sounds at night over there! Lol!
Liza
Just geese honking sounds over the lake in the early morning.
Brett
You are correct – look up Density Altitude:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Density_altitude
At 90F+ heat index it can often ‘feel’ like you’re quite a few thousand feet higher than you are…
Liza
Cool!!
Larry
Finally!!! Someone besides me talking about the impact of density altitude for us sea level runners!
http://livingalifefully.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-altitude-is-it.html
Pommers
So jealous Liza! Have a great time with the course. Interesting about the altitude / temperature thing – I was aware, but always surprised it makes such a difference.
Liza
I never really realized how big an affect the cooler temps really do mitigate some of the altitude effects.
Liza
Effect
Stacey
You do have a great job!!
Liza
So true!