Some years ago I read a wonderful book, Running with the Buffaloes. Author, Chris Lear, chronicled a year with the University of Colorado's cross country team. The book is well written and interesting. Reoccurring themes include running at high altitude and workouts on a trying trail called “The Mags.” Since reading the book I have wanted to go to Boulder, CO, to run the path of these collegiate athletes. The Mags sounded like a difficult run on its own, and coupled with altitude it must be a bear.
Four years ago Shannan and I visited Mauna Kea in Hawaii. At 13,796 feet above sea level I felt much worse than woozy, but I managed to summit. Two years ago I endured a very unpleasant run in Flagstaff, AZ. Plagued by very strong winds and an elevation of 7000 feet, I worked hard to stay on the road for thirty minutes. Still, I longed to run with the Buffaloes.
This year our trip to Peru gave us several months to think about, more truthfully to worry about, spending a number of days at 11,000 feet above sea level and the imminent altitude sickness it would bring. I planned accordingly and Cusco didn't disappoint. Soon after our arrival I found myself with a headache and a tingling sensation in my fingertips. Rather than running, for the first two days I exercised in the hotel room using Power 90 DVDs (see P90X Confession). I drank lots of water and waited patiently. We visited Machu Picchu at eight thousand feet above sea level and I enjoyed a sensational run in the nearby city of Aguas Calientes.
Today back in Cusco I woke at 5:00 am and lit out for my daily exercise on the streets of Peru's sacred city. It took five minutes or so to get the rhythm of breathing. I maintained a cautious pace. Once I was acclimatized, I pushed and had a fantastic running tour of the plazas. Unfortunately, many of the streets in Cusco look the same. I set out for a three mile Streak preserver and ended up having jogged four glorious miles in the capitol city of the Inca Empire before returning to the hotel.
Prepare well. Run better.
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