Altitude Training From Australia: My Experiment
Because of the costs and time, I am forever trying to improve my ability to spend time at home around those I love while chasing big dreams. So when I got injured this year I used it as an opportunity to experiment with having an altitude generator at home thanks to High Altitude Training Australia. It has by no means a perfect experiment, with travel, life, and illness at times getting in the way. But despite that I have been excited by both the objective blood test results I have gotten, plus the subjective feel of my perception of effort at generated-altitude.
Race Report: Old Ghost Ultra 2023
“1km to go I got my worst cramp of the day but it feels so close then and Lauren was telling me that I did actually still have a chance of breaking 8hrs still. I ran with everything I could, looking chaotically for the bridge that everyone told me was just before the finish. The bounce of the swing bridge was a shocking feeling, but I surprised myself again by being able to bound up the stairs at the other side two at a time, and seeing 7:59 low on the clock as I rounded the corner for the last 30m was a HUGE relief and surprise. It reminded me once again of the value of doing what you can to keep pushing hard, even when a goal feels out of reach in that moment.”
Race Report: Sierre-Zinal
“So in true me style I turned it into a mental game. I imagined myself as a water droplet flowing down the trail, while keeping my breathing at a 4 steps in/4 steps out rhythm. I kept this mindful breathing going for the next 13km, happy to find myself still passing people on the downhill as I ‘flowed’ along. It seemed to be working, although my breathing sounded ragged I could control it and as long as I could control it I felt safe to continue. I told myself I would just continue this until the finish line to be safe…. Then, I saw the 3km to go marker.”
Zinal: Mission Accomplished
The view that I woke up to each morning out of my massive bedroom window was breath taking, and spending most mornings eating breakfast on the balcony of my little apartment became my time to just sit and reflect on anything and everything. Different thoughts always run through my head when enjoying mountain air, as the peace that comes from the view and the slow pace of true mountain life seeps in. The only downside of mountain life, especially in Switzerland, is the crazy price of everything. Good luck buying a simple meal out for less that $50 AUD, and $9 AUD for 500g of carrots anyone? Still, the price was worth it for the location and one of the races of my dreams.