Discussion: 1000-day prep

I’m reasonably sure that I’ll be attending the 1000-day this year. Since this will constitute most (all?) of my A-meet racing this year, I’d like to put in some decent performances. My question is how to best prepare?

Moderate altitude has never given me problems in the past as long as I stay hydrated. I expect I’ll get some nosebleeds, but I’ve gone from sea level to racing at altitude with no acclimation before and done fine up to around 11,000 feet. I understand all the courses will be below that.

I also understand that the terrain puts an emphasis on speed in the terrain. That is the heart of my question. Would it make more sense to prepare similar to the buildup for a half-marathon (focusing on running speed), or should I be doing a lot more hill training to build strength? Of course, I’ll do both, but I’m looking for the proper emphasis.

Oxygen tank.

Visit the Pikes Peak!

Attach a wagon to z-man.

Encourage the competition to do lots of ice creaming!

1) Find a culvert (soiled).
2) Remove excess clothing.
3) Traverse rapidly.
4) Lather, rinse, repeat.

You hucksters sure are a lot of help.

Nothing can substitute for the altitude training :)

BAOC's A-meet at Lake Tahoe in June is a great place to get some high altitude O-training. Early registration deadline has been extended till May 30th.

IT's flat enough that I would focus on speed. Not half marathon speed, but 10k speed. There are lots of short events, and you always have to slow down here and there to read the map, so that allows for higher speed in between, hence the 10k rather than the 1/2 thon.
My 2 cents, but I'm just a Barbie girl, living in a Barbie world.

True for some of the Wyoming maps, but the last weekend in Buena Vista ain't going to be especially flat. And it's even higher. To tell the truth, some of the Laramie areas (like Plutonic) aren't so flat, either. Depending on how the course is set, there can be a lot of trudging up hills on a map like that. I'll agree with MC about the 10K speed instead of 1/2 marathon, though. When the going gets fast, you really want to be able to take advantage of it, and still have a clear head when you reach the complex rocks at the end of the leg.

My trick for getting in shape before the Colorado 5-day last year was to train for the Jukola and peak 2.5 months late.

Like Sergey said, attitude training is the best.

And how do you suggest Eric does that from St-Louis? OR did you really mean Attitude training?

Eric has the attitude of a winner, so there's nothing wrong there. Just do lots of O' specific training in the forest--wherever you are, whoever you are--and you'll be maximizing your chances for 1000 Day success. Badger on!

Also practice running in parks when owners walk with their dogs to immitate badger attack conditions :)

And since we're at it, drink lots of wine everynight to practice running with a hangover at high altitude.

Also see this thread.

I like the wine idea - might have an unwanted effect on the G value, though.

You get back some of the G when you barf early in the race.

To G or not to G? This is the question!

Yeah, Jeff must remember my own personal tactic: open up map bag, barf in it, close real tight and carry out. Not very smart because you still carry the weight. Since then I've gotten smarter and puke *before* the start. I'm just a Barbie girl in a Barbie world, never said I was smart.