question for the scientists among us:

[mmohican29]

How much is the altitude in Denver a factor for a professional football player? Be honest. The Cowboys haven't played there in years and I do remember the 90's Cowboys performing well in Denver... but that was decades ago.

Thanks.

 

[Hoofbite]

As much as it effects every other team that has to go there.

 

[Rampage]

As much as it effects every other team that has to go there.

:laugh2: seriously. I think people are putting too much stock into the altitude in Denver.

 

[CliffnDallas]

How much is the altitude in Denver a factor for a professional football player? Be honest. The Cowboys haven't played there in years and I do remember the 90's Cowboys performing well in Denver... but that was decades ago.

Thanks.

There is less O2 in the air. The less O2 in the air the less in the lungs. The less in the lungs the less in the blood. The less in the blood the less in the muscels. That means the muscel weakens faster due to lack of energy. That means players will get tired faster. WE ARE DOOMED!

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

Depending on where you are from it does make a substantial difference. If you live at sea level and go there than yeah your gonna feel it and its going to hurt you. If your not that far removed from it altitude wise then it won't hurt you as bad. For those that don't know I live in Albuquerque NM which is at a higher elevation then Denver. When i used to travel and play soccer i would notice a considerable advantage when I would play out at lower elevation places. So using personal experience and reverse science yes its a big advantage.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Look, compare these.

Imagine you are running up two flights of stairs.
When you reach the top, you are a bit out of breath.
(That would be Dallas)

Noe imagine you running up 3 flights of stairs. (That would be Denver)
You do feel the difference. And if you think about it too much, the psychological pull is greater and more of a burden.

I would jog in northern NM and it took some time to get used to it, having flatlander DNA.
That is the same elevation that Denver is, a mile high.

Yes, both teams have to play but one of them will be a bit more acclimated to it and certainly not psychologically afraid of it.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

For those that don't know I live in Albuquerque NM which is at a higher elevation then Denver.

An Indian School Road jogger myself.
Red or green?

 

[UnoDallas]

guess he has never been to the mountains i

 

[Benny Blue Boy]

It's true and it's a reality, but I think it will be ok...As far as professional athletes go I don't think it's anything more than a sidenote...

 

[FCBarca]

Absolutely makes a difference...How much is hard to predict.

It would make less of a difference, of course, depending on when the Cowboys were to get into Denver...The more time they have to acclimate to the altitude, the less of an issue or difference it would be.

Listening to athletes who go there, it's huge...Particularly if you're doing a lot of running (In other words, not baseball).

Anyone know if they got into Denver early or are they still in Dallas?

 

[SaltwaterServr]

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163636

My experiences with altitude somewhere in there and echoed by a few others.

Going up 4800' isn't as bad as you might think. 7500' is noticeable, 10,000' will whip your butt if you're not ready for it.

 

[Big D]

An Indian School Road jogger myself.
Red or green?

I do Tramway myself.

Green! I love the red too but it tears my stomach up.

 

[Doomsday101]

:laugh2: seriously. I think people are putting too much stock into the altitude in Denver.

I agree. Those who have respiratory problems can experience difficulty but these athletes are in good shape and should be able to deal with the thinner air. We are not talking Mt. Everest

 

[YosemiteSam]

:laugh2: seriously. I think people are putting too much stock into the altitude in Denver.

Actually the level of affect can be different for different people. People with respiratory problems, or people who spend most of their time in coastal areas (ie sea level) can see a much more dramatic difference in how they respond to it. Denver's elevation isn't actually that high in the grand scheme of things, but it definitely does have a noticeable affect. Especially when that person is physically active.

 

[jimmy40]

Denver is the worst 3-0 team in the history of sports. Altitude won't matter. Dallas in a blowout.

 

[tomson75]

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163636

My experiences with altitude somewhere in there and echoed by a few others.

Going up 4800' isn't as bad as you might think. 7500' is noticeable, 10,000' will whip your butt if you're not ready for it.

My thoughts as well.

I have some experience with this being a snowboarder. Hiking through four feet of fresh at 10,000-13,000 feet is very taxing. 4,800 feet....still taxing, but not nearly as bad as far as cardio.

My uncle lives in Telluride. I've slept at over 9,000 feet. That's interesting. Waking up short of breath is no fun.

I would think it is noticeable to professional athletes, but by no means should it be too much of a hindrance...especially if they've had two or three days to acclimate themselves.

 

[aikemirv]

Oxygen on the sidelines will make up for most of the difference I would think.

They will be fine.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Not a scientist... But we practiced them in preseason just a couple years ago. Remember when John Lynch and some other Broncos accused Wade of running too many blitzes?

It shouldn't be a problem... It's more mental than anything. If you think it's going to bother you, then it might. Football is basically an anaerobic sport anyway.

I've run hill sprints at 7600 feet and yeah, I did breathe harder afterwards, but it didn't actually hinder performance. JMO.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

body adapts to altitude by producing more red blood cells--it's the advantage athletes get by blood doping--no matter what the altitude, Orton is still Orton

 

[YosemiteSam]

One thing is clear. This should help Spencer NOT get to the QB in this game. :laugh2:

You know, since he doesn't appear to be in football shape anyhow since he can't stay in the game in the 4th Q