Ran today and elevation got me, any tips (newcomer) (hotel, living)

[mcdwg76]

My wife and I have been here for two weeks for a military move with the Marines, I'm still on leave until later this week. We have been walking as much as we can at cherry creek park (really nice by the way) and we had not felt elevation sickness that we can tell until today that I think I did.

I decided to run three miles at a comfortable pace, after about a few minutes I started feeling tightness in my chest and I didn't even think it was because of the elevation, I actually thought that I'm out of shape so I ignored it. I didn't do as good as I wanted, I felt extremely tired and I finished walking.

I went to the hotel and ate. After a while my wife and I went to eat and I started feeling out of breath and very sluggish. I felt like I was doing everything in slow motion and had to constantly yawn to get oxygen, I actually worried because I had never felt that way before.

I do want to continue running for the next few days but should I take it easy, reduce the miles, or will I just adjust after a few days, or it will it take longer?

I will ask medical when I check in but I'm curious as to what some your experiences might be.

Thank you

[Katarina Witt]

It takes ~ 3 wks for your body to make more red blood cells, to accomodate the lower oxygen content in the atmosphere. The general recommendations for altitude sickness (which is rare at 5000 feet) is to drink more liquids and rest more.

Altitude Sickness-Topic Overview

[80skeys]

Most people acclimate to the elevation within three or four days. The fact that you're having issues after two weeks of light exercise may indicate that physically (genetically) you are less capable of adapting to a high elevation than the average person.

If that's the case, there's not much you can do about that, it's a built-in limitation. Some people never adapt. I've got a coworker who still gets headaches and lightheaded after two years living at 4500 feet. Part of the issue is the oxygenation of your blood, some people's blood oxygenates at a higher percentage than others.

I would not continue running until you get checked out at medical and ask them to check the oxygenation of your blood.

[80skeys]

HEre's a link that explain blood oxygenation: Hypoxemia (low blood oxygen) - MayoClinic.com

An unrecognized (undiagnosed) heart condition is one of the causes of low blood oxygen.