workout partner in Valley Division....

[uoplax13]

Anyone want a running/workout partner in the Truckee/Donner Summit area? At the applicant seminar they held at the Academy last night one of the recruiters invited us all to workout as a group with her, but Sac is too far for me to drive a couple times of week with my work schedule.....

[uoplax13]

So it looks like I'm the only applicant in the area....at least that's on this forum- oh well. Since I'm willing to bet some of you on here have far more physical fitness knowledge than myself, I'm looking for some advice. I just moved up here to work and live with family while I go through the hiring process after spending about five years in the central valley. Running has never been my strong point, but I've been increasing distance everyday up here so far... is there anything I can do to transition into training at this altitude other than just suck it up? I'm not looking for some miracle here, just wondering if there something I don't know about that will help me increase my endurance more, and quicker, than what I'm doing now.

[AirborneLEO]

I'm not one who possesses great physical fitness knowledge but I have discovered a few things that improved my running. I am an applicant and should have my final BI interview early next week.

I read under another thread (perhaps on officer.com) that you should try to increase your running distance by 10% each week. If you're running two miles, or 8 laps on a standard track, that would amount to a little less than one extra lap. I know it doesn't seem like much, but it does help. Personally I try to just push for the extra lap each week. As you run further, that 10% will be more than an extra lap.

I have done some running on a treadmill. I don't feel that it represents real running conditions that we'd encounter in the academy, but it is great for avoiding street traffic and being able to hit the weights right away after running. It also helps to keep track of your stats (ie. pace, calories burned, heart rate, distance, time).

Also, the one thing I have not mastered yet, proper breathing. I have been told that proper breathing while running will help you relax and get into a zone that will increase your endurance. I have found that zone and it is great, but it takes concentration. Aim for controlled, medium breathing. Sometimes I'll breath too shallow and then have to take a deep breath that will throw off my rythym.

Finally, I remember another poster on here mentioned sprinting the straights and jogging the curves at the track will help with speed. I have not tried the technique enough to provide any valuable input.

Good luck with the rest of the process.

[uoplax13]

Thanks, good advice. I probably should have mentioned that I went from running at fairly close to sea level to between 6 and 7 thousand feet depending on which way I run on the road in front of my house. Aside from what Airborne mentioned, does anyone have any other thoughts at training at higher altitudes?