I have had a lot of reasons to learn about altitude, most of which revolve around my struggle to find good performances at elevation.  Over the years I have learned largely from trial and error out of necessity given the XTERRA tour culminates with an event in Utah that starts at 6,300 feet and going up to about 7,800 feet.  I will discuss the physiological effects of altitude on the body and in particular explore the consequence of altitude on athletic performance.  The use of altitude training to improve athletic performance is widely accepted, evidenced by the massive migration of superstar athletes to Boulder, Colorado.  Either by traveling to high altitude locations or by using hypoxic tents (which increase the concentration of nitrogen in the environment and thus simulate a lower partial pressure oxygen environment) athletes seek to reap the physiological benefits of altitude exposure.  (more…)