Today I am linking up with My No Guilt Life, MCM MamaRuns & RunThe Great Wide Somewhere for the weekly, Tuesdays on the run, so please make sure to visit their sites as well.
I was in Aspen all last week and happened to notice there would be a Race For the Cure 10k and 5k going on my last day there. How could I not sign up? The race start was 2 blocks from my hotel.
If you’ve never been to Aspen, CO, it is about 12,000 feet above sea level. If you are not used to it, altitude can really impact not only your cardiovascular performance but also cause numerous other effects. Some people get altitude sickness with headaches and nausea. Hydration is really important. The body is forced to adapt to thinner, less oxygenated air which is believed to take about 7-10 days.
I thought well, “I’ve been here 5 days-I’m in good shape. I run 6 miles all the time”. Ha! Plus it’s for a great cause.
So here I am ready to go
As you can see it was a perfect weather day -the sun was shining and it was a breezy 55 degrees. There was bike event heading out right before the race and they were off.
I’ve never seen these pink “Porta Jane’s” before.
The Aspen race was much smaller and more low key than their races in other cities. The 10k had less than 50 people running. As I lined up the start and chatted up some of the other runners, I learned that the course was not through the town of Aspen as I thought, but rather on the Rio Grande Trail. I started to get a little nervous about it but at that point I was kind of all in. It is always very moving to see so many cancer survivors volunteering to help out and also to walk the 5k course. I met a man at the start who had part of his lung removed due to cancer and was about to run beside me. Then hearing some survivors sing the National Anthem almost had me in tears.
As you can see the scenery is absolutely gorgeous and makes for quite a distraction while running. Crossing the start line and beginning to run, I could immediately feel how different the altitude felt. My breathing quickly became labored and I could feel my heart beating so fast. I slowed down quite a bit and tried to regulate my breath. About 3/4 mile into the race, I came to a rocky trail going downhill for about 1/2 mile. This was pretty steep and not what I was used to at all. I rounded a corner and then things got tough with a mountainous road going strait up on the Rio Grande Trail. By that point, most of the other runners had passed me, including the guy with a partial lung! I trekked up hill for the next few miles taking a few walk breaks as well.
Views like this made it more bearable. I also saw 2 deer dart in front of me. I ended up having to walk up one of the hills and I seriously thought someone might need to give me CPR at some point. Well not that bad of course but it was probably the toughest 6.2 miles I have ever run. The altitude and hills together were a pretty brutal combo for me. I ended up finishing about 10 minutes slower than my usual 10k time. Not too bad I guess? I knew it would be tougher to run here, but I had no idea how tough. I figure it was great training and definitely for a good cause. I understand why so many professional athletes train here and how they must feel like rock stars when they then compete back at sea level. I don’t think I will end up with that feeling on tomorrow’s run back at home but who knows? Maybe!
Post race enjoying my Tex Mex meal with lots of guacamole-my favorite!
Have you ever run in high altitude? Have you done a Race for The Cure?
Wow! Congratulations on a job well done! I know when I was running in Vermont, I had a hard time handling those hills. I went slower and it was exhausting. I think you are amazing 🙂
Ha I don’t know about that but it was tough more so the altitude than the hills. It’s just hard to regulate your breathing there.
Knowing about the high election and not knowing how my breathing/body would re-act, I probably would have signed up for the 5K instead…lol. wow that guy running with one lung is such an inspiration. I will be thinking of him next time I run and I feel that I can’t go any further! -M
yup probably should have done the 5k myself-don’t know what I was thinking!
Congrats! I have never run at altitude but heard it is really hard stuff. Great job on finishing a race for such a great cause!
It was a tough one but glad I did it. It was beautiful and I like a challenge 🙂
Great job! I’ve never done a race that small. It’s surprising that it was less than 50 people for the 10k. I’ve done the Race for the Cure 5k in DC years ago. It was exciting and moving and huge numbers of people.
I think it’s their smallest race. It was a great experience and a lot harder than I thought.
Whenever I think about whining while running, I’ll think of that guy with one lung. That’s amazing!
I know seriously don’t know how he did it! It was a tough one but a real blast to do.
I can’t imagine how much more difficult running in high altitude is! I haven’t done it before but I bet it is crazy different! Great job on the race – the pics you took are just gorgeous!
It was beautiful my pics don’t do it justice but since I was running so slow I figured, why not take some!?
First, love your race outfit. 🙂
Second, yikes! My training plan calls for a six-mile run the day after I get to Colorado. I’ve already decided that I’m going to go out and see how I do and that I may just have to take a lot of walking breaks. The scenery looks amazing, though, so I’m looking forward to running where it’s so pretty…even if I have to do a lot of walking too!
Well all I can say is be prepared to run a little slower. Also Aspen is much higher up than other parts so maybe it won’t be as bad. Let me know how it goes. And I loved the outfit too!
Those are quite possibly the prettiest port-o-potties ever! I hope they all smelled like roses, because it looks like that’s what they should smell like! AH AH AH!
They were really clean in fact!
Oh I hear ya! I’m in the mountains right now and I know my pace has slowed considerably. It’s a huge difference. Not 12,000 ft huge, but big enough. Hills are a definite game changer. That scenery is worth it though!
The scenery is worth it you just have to accept that you will be slower.
Congratulations on your 10K at 12,000 feet! What a beautiful course.
I tried to run a 10K here in Mexico City last weekend, but registration was closed and full – boo! I ran 6 miles on my own a while ago and I had the same pace I had as a beginning runner two years ago!
It happens to all of us!
I was in Colorado earlier this month and running was NOT easy!!! I can definitely see how it would be great to train there and then run races at sea level!
It was not easy but so beautiful!
Yikes, I know when we visited Arizona, I was a little worried about the altitude but that was when I wasn’t running. Great job tackling a race at that altitude! Thanks for linking up with us today!
It wasn’t pretty but it was fun! Enjoyed the link up 🙂
I’ve run in Boulder – but not in a race. My hardest run reawakened my asthma that had been dormant for years – altitude is no joke. Combine that with a trail run you weren’t expecting? Wow!
Altitude is no joke indeed! I can see how it would aggravate asthma. It wasn’t pretty but it was fun and beautiful!
Beautiful scenery! Colorado is on my bucket list. I live in western NC right at the base of the blue ridge mountains and running the trails can get me winded. Nothing like 12,000 though I imagine! I’ve ran a tata trot held by the American Cancer Society and it’s a very emotional event to see and hear the survivors and even watch them participate in the run!! Strong women.
It is very emotional to see survivors participating in the events. Really puts things into perspective huh? thanks for stopping by hope to see you again!
Looks like a beautiful race! The altitude doesn’t sound fun though 🙂
It did add quite a challenge!
What a pretty run and congrats! It had to be tough- that is why only 50 people signed up! I have not run at that altitude either. We have a Susan G Coleman 5K run every January here and it is always a huge turnout- we don’t get the pink potties though! I will have to find out about that!
Usually they are bigger races so that was a change too. Tough going but for a good cause.
I didn’t realize you ran a race on your trip too! What a beautiful place to run!
I did! It was a tough one but for a good cause and lots of fun
I dont know if it’s your theme or the great picture qualities, but you always have the best running routes or something! It always looks exciting.
ha ha thanks! Those are unfortunately not my regular routes. I was on vacation all of last week but thanks for that. It was a fun race but a killer one!
Altitude changes on your body is not joke. I applaud you for running, I would have run/walked it LOL. I was in Aspen when I did a “Meet the Wilderness” trip with my church when I was 20. It is so beautiful there. #wowlinkup
Altitude is no joke-it wasn’t pretty!! LOL The scenery makes it worth it though
You are a rock star in my book for trying this race and not giving up :0)
It was a tough one for sure but a beautiful view!
Wow good on you for signing up for such a challenging spur of the moment race! You definitely ARE a rock star 🙂 #wowlinkup
I don’t know about that but it was lots of fun!
How absolutely gorgeous!!! Ive always wanted to visit Colorado – friend of mine lived there for 2 months in summer and did a ton of biking!
It was so gorgeous! The altitude was a challenge. I’d love to bike there too-super hilly
I’ve never run high altitudes but I have skiied them and it is something to get used to. You are a rock star to me for just jumping out there and signing up and doing it. Aspen is gorgeous. CO period is just awesome. Congrats on your 10K!!! #wowlinkup
Well thanks friend! I had a blast and it was gorgeous
I lived in CO for 4 years and didn’t run much at all. Despite the 7-10 day adjustment period, my body just could not take the altitude!!
Altitude is no joke! This was the first time that I didn’t get headaches either.
Haha the Porta Janes are adorable! Never guessed I would comment on a PP in a positive way! Thanks for sharing the altitude/acclimation facts – I may try to get a CO trip/run in 2015
It’s so beautiful there but the altitude is a running killer!