Altitude Adjustment

This blogger finds that running at a mile high altitude is not harder than running in high Houston humidity. Throw in some high temperatures and Houston is harder. But Boulder has altitude and some rolling hills. What difference does it make?

Monday's weather was perfect and reminded me of this year's Park to Park 5 miler. Let's assume that Flicka and Crosstrains performance in the two events were equivalent as was the weather. That leaves altitude and the hillier course to account for any difference. Using the WAVA standard calculator at this link:

Flicka

Park to Park 5mi 36:55 for an age graded result of 67.11%
Predicted sea level, flat 10k result at 67.11% would be 46:16
Bolder Boulder 10k 48:26 for an age graded result of 64.12%

Flicka was 2 minutes and 10 seconds slower than her predicted sea level, flat 10k

Crosstrain

Park to Park 5mi 37:14 for an age graded result of 66.58%
Predicted sea level, flat 10k result at 66.58% would be 46:52
Bolder Boulder 10k 48:53 for an age graded result of 63.82%

Crosstrain was 2 minutes and 1 second slower than his predicted sea level, flat 10k

Conclusion - The Boulder course is about 2 minutes slower than a flat Houston course in similar conditions for 45 to 50 minute 10k runners.