Flagstaff is at 7k feet and the college there has one of the top running programs in the nation. The camp does not seem ridiculously expensive, but it is only for a week:

https://hypo2sport.com/2024-northern-arizona-lumberjack-cross-country-camp/


https://www.ussportscamps.com/cross-country/nike/cross-country-arizona-cross-country-camp

https://www.projectgoldrunning.com/

Anonymous wrote:Yeah all the fools from Colorado couldn’t handle the humidity in dc last year so I’m not sure what the benefit is

yes einstein training in humidity is exactly the same as training at altitude

Yeah all the fools from Colorado couldn’t handle the humidity in dc last year so I’m not sure what the benefit is

You know what they said last summer ... East Coast humidity = free altitude training!

Do it clown

Anonymous wrote:I think from the standpoint of being in the running world 24/7 it could be worth it.

this ^^ whether it is high up in the rockies, or on a dilapidated track in bethesda, if a kid eats breathes and lives running for a month before senior year, he’s gonna be a stud. Kid have too many distractions in real life - friends, girlfriends, partying, jobs, college essays, on and on. For a kid serious about laying his mark senior year, this is tremendous once in lifetime opportunity- if you can afford it, send him!

We live at 7k feet in a town with an Olympic training center. My kids swim and row, and they have short term benefits when they go to sea level, but it’s not as pronounced as you would think. I think the benefits for camps here are minimal to none unless you spend a month or so at altitude.

On a biological level, living at altitude increases your hematocrit over time, causing your blood to be able to carry more oxygen to your muscles. My hematocrit at sea level ranged from 38-39, and here is it in the 42-43 range. But the lifespan of a red blood cell is about 120 days, so that’s why the effects of altitude only last a week or two at most. After 2 weeks, enough of your red blood cells have died off and are not replaced because your body knows it doesn’t need them.

I think there is a psychological boost to being at altitude though - we all feel more confident about our fitness when we do things on vacation, whether it’s long hikes, bike rides etc.

If they have a big race right when they come back after 4 weeks at altitude, I would say they would get a boost. But that boost will fade after 2 weeks or fewer, and they will still have to attain those times without the benefit of altitude training in the future. Bottom line, the effects of altitude on visiting athletes are transient.

Anonymous wrote:my kid came to running later than most but has experienced good level pf success with very few miles of training under his belt. Feels more special in a way than my other two, who toiled on club teams, private coaches for years - one used the sport to get into a top college, other still plays club at a T20. His goal - not mine lol - is to win the state championship next year, so he’s asked if we can help put him in the best training environment for that to happen. Before you say train with the team, it’s a crappy situation with a crappy coach - but he luvs his friends and the school so not transferring. So looking for the best summer training $8k can buy lol

If that’s the goal, a training camp anywhere would give the same benefits as one at altitude as long as the coaches/staff/campers are at the same level. Training at altitude for a xc season at sea level is not magic.

I think from the standpoint of being in the running world 24/7 it could be worth it. He will learn just as much from the other campers as he will from the coaches. From the standpoint of altitude - that will be short-lived. I lived at 9500 feet for 4 years, it would take me 4-6 weeks to really acclimate and 3-5 days to lose it back at sea level. However, those first days at sea level I was unstoppable. I remember a friend asking me once the day I came back from Colorado if I was even breathing because I did it so little, lol. Ideally I would take him at least several days early to start the acclimation process. On the other hand it will give him a great base to start with, regardless of altitude, going into the xc season.

Anonymous wrote:Sure go ahead and spend $8k if you want to.

To me, it’s a ridiculous and privileged thing to do, and I would only do it if I was a millionaire, and my kid loved running, was already running 50 miles a week on their own, and wanted to spend a month away.

Also, have they had summer job yet? Have they gotten 1500+ on the SAT? Those are other good things to do during summer break.

wow what an angry dude - weirdo

Sure go ahead and spend $8k if you want to.

To me, it’s a ridiculous and privileged thing to do, and I would only do it if I was a millionaire, and my kid loved running, was already running 50 miles a week on their own, and wanted to spend a month away.

Also, have they had summer job yet? Have they gotten 1500+ on the SAT? Those are other good things to do during summer break.

my kid came to running later than most but has experienced good level pf success with very few miles of training under his belt. Feels more special in a way than my other two, who toiled on club teams, private coaches for years - one used the sport to get into a top college, other still plays club at a T20. His goal - not mine lol - is to win the state championship next year, so he’s asked if we can help put him in the best training environment for that to happen. Before you say train with the team, it’s a crappy situation with a crappy coach - but he luvs his friends and the school so not transferring. So looking for the best summer training $8k can buy lol

What’s the goal your athlete is hoping to achieve? These camps are full of excellent athletes so the level of competition can be high. The first couple of weeks are HARD as you get used to it. Do you want them to learn perseverance, grit? If so, it’s a good mental exercise.

There won’t be long term benefits as you’d have to train there longer. Short term, sure. And more than just athletic benefit.

I would love to know the proposed cost of this. is this a Nike or IMG camp?

I would bet three to $5000. Seems expensive. If you have that kind of money and you want to and more importantly, your kid wants to, do it go for it.

my kid’s distance coach is an advocate for altitude training camps over the summer. There are a couple that actually have month long options, and seem like a very cool experience for a hs kid - living in mountains, etc. Of course it’s ridiculously expensive, and would only consider if there was a real tangible benefit for my kiddo. i’ve heard conflicting sides - some say you need at least a month to even benefit, and that benefit will be short lived once you return to sea level. Anyone have any thoughts on this?