An Altitude Adjustment
Many of the adventure racers who traveled to Mammoth Mountain for this year’s USARA National Championship race are having to deal with the added complication of racing at extreme altitude. The race starts around 9,000 feet and quickly smashes through 12,000 feet as teams find themselves at the summit of Mammoth. The effects of altitude sickness can be shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, and problems with sleep, although these symptoms are generally mild for leisure travelers to higher elevations. Adventure athletes, however….
Some of the toughest people in the country are here for the USARA National Championship. They are elite athletes, but they too may struggle, especially those who have not properly acclimatized. Adventure athletes will feel As they’re starting their 30 hour journey, some of the teams from lower elevations will certainly start to feel a difference right from the beginning of the race. Most adventure races do not take place at such high elevations so this will be a new wrinkle in an already challenging and complicated journey.
Bill Donohue caught a gondola ride up with several teams at the summit of Mammoth Mountain before the race to watch them stage their bikes and check in on their feelings about the elevation.
