Altitude Adjustment Calculator
Calculate how altitude affects your running performance. Convert times between sea level and high altitude venues. Essential for track and field athletes competing at venues like Albuquerque, Flagstaff, Boulder, or Mexico City.
Race Venue
Race Distance
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How to Use
Select race venue
Choose a popular altitude venue from the presets (Denver, Boulder, Flagstaff, etc.) or enter a custom elevation.
Select race distance
Pick your event distance. Longer events are more affected by altitude than shorter ones.
Enter your altitude time
Type the time you ran (or expect to run) at the elevated venue in MM:SS or H:MM:SS format.
View your sea level equivalent
See what your performance translates to at sea level, plus the percentage impact of altitude.
How It Works
Sea Level Time = Altitude Time / Adjustment Factor
Key thresholds:
- Below 750m (2,460 ft): No adjustment needed
- 750-1500m: 1-3% performance impact
- 1500-2500m: 3-6% performance impact
- Above 2500m: 6%+ performance impact
The model uses polynomial regression based on empirical altitude studies. The adjustment factor accounts for both elevation and race distance, since longer aerobic events are more affected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does altitude affect running performance?
At higher altitudes, the air is thinner, meaning there's less oxygen available per breath. This reduces your body's ability to produce energy aerobically, leading to slower times in distance events. The effect becomes significant above 750-1000 meters (2,500-3,300 feet) and increases exponentially with elevation.
What is sea level equivalent time?
Sea level equivalent time is the estimated time you would run at sea level based on your actual performance at altitude. Because running at altitude is more difficult due to reduced oxygen, your sea level equivalent time is faster than your altitude time. This helps compare performances across different venues.
At what altitude do I need to make adjustments?
Most calculators start applying significant corrections above 750-1000 meters (2,500-3,300 feet). Venues like Denver (1,609m), Albuquerque (1,570m), Mexico City (2,250m), Boulder (1,655m), and Flagstaff (2,106m) all require altitude adjustments for accurate performance comparison.
Does altitude affect sprints the same as distance events?
No. Sprints (100m, 200m) are primarily anaerobic and may actually benefit from altitude due to reduced air resistance. The 400m is transitional. Events 800m and longer are progressively more affected by altitude, with longer distances seeing the largest time penalties.
How long does it take to acclimate to altitude?
Full acclimatization can take 3-4 weeks, with most adaptation occurring in the first 10-14 days. For races, athletes either compete within 24-48 hours of arrival (before the body reacts) or allow 2-3 weeks for partial adaptation. The 'danger zone' is 3-10 days at altitude when performance is most impaired.