Boy, it's hard to breathe here (Denver: school, camp, military)

[BarryK123]

Just a little humor post.

I'm a local, but been at sea level for the last 3 weeks. Just got back and did some moving of furniture today, which caused some fast breathing. Looking forward to getting my Denver lungs (and red blood cell count) back.

[Mezter]

I’ve never experienced this for some reason. Whenever I’m gone for a bit and comeback, I always try to see if there’s a difference but I breathe the same lol

[NorthDenverGirl]

I find it way easier to run at sea level, it always kills me to come back and run outside!

[skins_fan82]

Originally Posted by NorthDenverGirl

I find it way easier to run at sea level, it always kills me to come back and run outside!

Yeah, it's like your supercharged for 24 hours or so until you're acclimated to sea level.

[headingtoDenver]

Originally Posted by NorthDenverGirl

I find it way easier to run at sea level, it always kills me to come back and run outside!

While in the military, I was stationed in 29 palms which has an elevation of 1900'. We ran a PFT and for my 3 mile run, it was 21 minutes and 30 seconds (roughly). The next day, I finished school and was sent to Camp Pendleton which is at sea level. I had to run another PFT after I checked in (few days later) and my run time was 20 minutes and 15 seconds. It truly was mind boggling how I shaved over a minute off my run time. Of course after a month or so at sea level, I was back up to the 21 minute timeframe.

[ADogNamedSam]

I've been here 6 weeks and I still feel like someone is sitting on my chest - at times.

I have a 6 minute brisk walk to work, hoping I'm getting close to getting acclimated !

[Quietude]

After a lifetime at more or less sea level, altitude problems were my biggest worry, since I have some history of oxygenation issues. But other than feeling a little tired the first two weeks (which could have been for MANY reasons), I haven't had any trouble with breathing, stamina, etc. - at least, for normal life activities. If I were a jock I might be having a different experience.

I've been checked for O2 level many times in the last three months, and always near 100%.

It was a nice surprise.

[lvmensch]

I always had the problem with high altitude that I had to get in and get out or get there a week end in advance. Weak as a kitten and at higher altitude a fever for 36 hours. Actually was more of a nuisance particularly at 10K feet. Nowadays I am a lot older so I avoid it.

[10-23]

I was a runner and it took everything two weeks to get acclimated.

[Zeppelin0129]

When I first moved here I tried to bike at my normal pace for several miles. After 20 minutes I was seeing black spots and had to pull over on the side of the Cherry Creek Trail and catch my breath for 10 minutes.