How To Maintain Your Fitness Levels At Altitude

December 14, 2023

The benefits of altitude go beyond just bettering your workout; they can help you maintain your fitness level during an injury as well.

Team USA Para Cyclist David Rose stayed in the Mammoth Lakes Endurance Crib this summer while taking care of some bone spurs on his foot that were causing him pain during his workouts. The 29-year-old was using his time at altitude to try to retain his fitness level while injured.

One-On-One with Para Cyclist David Rose

“It’s hard to get red blood cell stimulation without working out really hard, but that is tough when you are injured,” Rose explained. “At altitude you don’t have to work as hard to receive the benefits.” According to Rose, 8,000 feet is the optimum altitude for red blood stimulation. Lucky for him Mammoth Lakes just happens to sit at that height. In addition to the optimum altitude, Rose said Mammoth Lakes is the complete package for endurance athletes in training. “I’ve trained at the best facilities in the world and this place has all you need,” he said. “You can train hard and then rest. It’s easy to get here and it’s beautiful. What’s not to love?"

“I’ve trained at the best facilities in the world and this place has all you need,” he said. “You can train hard and then rest. It’s easy to get here and it’s beautiful. What’s not to love?” While training at these lofty heights, Rose mainly sticks to his go-to diet of quinoa and veggies, but will also add some steak into the mix.

“I don’t usually eat steak, but at altitude you need extra iron,” Rose, who said he’s big on eating just food, not supplements, explained.

Other than that it’s plant fats such as avocado, as well as hardboiled eggs, raisins, sweet potatoes and anything colorful and green. He also makes sure to keep his caloric intake super low in sugar.

So what else does a professional athlete do while in Mammoth Lakes nursing an injury? Fish of course!

“Fishing here is my favorite,” Rose, who had been up to Twin Lakes during his last visit, said.

During this trip, Rose and friends also headed to Rainbow Falls for an ice bath (photo above).

Sponsored by Team USA, Giant Bicycles, and Wheel World (with a special shout-out to General Manager Steve Dozer and mechanic Andres Cuesta), Rose said that once he gets the bone spurs shaved from his foot and is completely healthy, his next goal is to be chosen by Team USA to represent his country and his sport in the 2016 Paralympics.

Rose competes on the road as well as on the track, or velodrome. Rose has hemiparesis on his right side, a leg length discrepancy and Scoliosis.

Author

Lara Kaylor

Lara Kaylor is an outdoor enthusiast who gets her thrills from big time recreation in Mammoth Lakes where she resides with her husband and daughter. An award-winning journalist, Lara has been writing about all things Eastern Sierra since 2003. Lara currently works as a freelance writer and the Director of Communications and Community Engagement for Mammoth Lakes Tourism.