The Inside Scoop

Weather; blizzard, temps in high 20’s, gusts 80mph+, blowing snow.

The last few days have been a blizzard, at least a foot of fresh snow, although it is hard to determine as the 80+ mph winds have deposited it haphazardly.  The horses have hunkered down in the barn, the cats are staying in the greenhouse and the snowmobilers have managed to close the road.

This is the day to reflect on what is happening with Gary’s body, what is the training doing, what is the high elevation’s effect?  That is where we turn to my boss, Hank Harlow.

Hank is a physiologist.  I walk by a number of lectures at the University of Wyoming but always smile at his.  His are distinguished by a number of things; first the riveted faces of the students and second is the multi-presentation of the material. Hank runs a PowerPoint, slides and writes frenzied notes on the board.  The student’s responses to the class are ‘The best and the hardest’.  His passion is contagious.

Asking Hank about the inner workings of a human is a precarious undertaking.  I think he views the human body as something between an aircraft carrier and a Rube Goldberg invention; a bazillion unique parts working in harmony.  We must all look like walking, high dollar watches to him.  I am usually good for a few sentences then he begins to sail right over my head with cycles and compounds and interactions.  But to stop him would be as cruel as to stop a racehorse mid stride.  I just enjoy watching that much enthusiasm manifest itself. 

He is following Gary’s progress with interest so he had ready answers for my question; if Gary can’t exercise regularly, is there any advantage to training at 8,200 feet elevation?  ‘Ah’ he says, chomping at the bit.  Come to find out there are a number of good things; Gary’s lungs and heart work at a greater capacity due to the elevation, and his blood both absorbs and releases oxygen quicker as well which will help keep the body well oxygenated.  Additionally he as more red blood cells than his counterparts training at lower elevations.  ‘But’ Hank warns, ‘the heat will work against him.’  Training here, where we seldom see weather above high 80’s will not prepare him for the dehydration of the heat.  ‘Water, plenty of water’ is Hank’s advice.  I suspect there was far more to that conversation but my brain, like my eyes, probably glossed over and dropped the specifics.  Enough to know Gary does have some perks with training, even if the blizzards are keeping him in a few days.