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Training Bible Studies with Joe and Dirk Friel - Altitude prep' and Cardiac infection

By Joe Friel and Dirk Friel
Published: Feb. 16, 2004

Racing at altitude
Dear Dirk;
I've got a few questions about altitude training and just general living.First, if I'm planning on racing at about 6000 feet above sea level,how long do I have to live at a similar altitude to become acclimated? Second, should I were to be required to take a blood test, is it advisableto get a blood test before living at altitude, and some midpoint to showan increase in hematocrit level?  Do you have any general suggestionsfor adjusting to altitude?  Any information would be appreciated,
DevinDear Devin,
It can take about two weeks to get fully acclimated to an elevationover 5000 feet. Most likely the worst you'll feel is day three throughten. Your options are therefore to either arrive the day of or before theevent, or two weeks prior to the event.Racing at elevation places higher stress on all aspects of fitness.This is especially true with lactate tolerance and anaerobic enduranceability. Simply put, your fitness needs to be at it's absolute peak fora race at elevation. Not only do you need to place more emphasis on lactatetolerance and anaerobic endurance intervals, but you must also arrive atthe event very fresh and recovered for a maximum effort. Learn from anypeaks you've had in the past and analyze how many days of reduced volumeand intensity you can get away with in order to be rested, and yet alsoin peak fitness.It can be smart to get a blood test at your training elevation to testyour hematocrit. But realize hematocrit is also directed related to hydrationas I understand it and can change day to day. If you are a cyclist andclose to the UCI maximum hematocrit levels before you go to elevation beaware you might surpass the UCI limit if you spend time at elevation. Mostlikely this is a rare ocurrance, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.Good luck and I hope this helps,
DirkThe dangers of cardiac infection
Dear Joe;
I am directing this specifically to you, because I recently learnedthat several years back, you suffered from an infection of the lining aroundyour heart. This is of interest to me now, because I was recently diagnosedwith a similar problem.While I respect my doctor's opinion, I am not to sure if he understandsthe frustration advice like "take it easy" creates in a guy who has beenactive all his life. I am 58-years-old and have been involved with someform of endurance sport since my 20s. Now, I am supposed to "take it easy?!?"How did you approach the situation and how did you regain your fitnessafter a relatively long period of enforced inactivity?
Wens
Denver, Colorado
 Hi Wens,
Yes, you are right. In 1995 I was diagnosed with a Coxsackie viruswhich had apparently settled into my heart resulting in  myocarditis--aninflammation of the heart muscle. My doctors advised me not to exercisefor several months as they believed there was a risk of permanently scarringheart muscle tissue.Not wanting to take a risk I was extremely inactive for seven months.I walked slowly every day wearing a heart rate monitor to ensure that myheart rate did not exceed 80 beats per minute. I gave "inactive" a newand deeper meaning!By October I was starting to train again. I spent about 2 months inPrep period training as I discuss in my book. Then I gradually and cautiouslyprogressed through the Base periods for five months. With about two monthsto go until my first A-priority race I began to do high intensity training.In June the following year (15 months after the onset of symptoms) I wasthird in a national competition and in great shape. I have had no noticeablesigns of the heart condition since. It's difficult to become inactive fora period of months, but I'm glad I took the time off. It is far betterto lose a few months of training than to be inactive the rest of your life.
Joe Friel


Joe Friel is the author of "TheCyclist's Training bible." Dirk Friel is a co-founder of TrainingBible.comand coaches along with Joe at Ultrafit Associates. For more informationon coaching and training software please visit www.Ultrafit.comand www.TrainingBible.com.If you have questions for this column, please send them to veloquestions@ultrafit.com