Chiefs not practicing at altitude pre-Mexico City

[Merlin]

In Peter King's FMIA article there was mention of the Chiefs electing not to practice at altitude, that they had looked at data or whatever. I find this to be an under-the-radar type thing where I wonder if it's going to affect them.

With Mexico City being over 7.3k feet elevation I have to think this might be a decision that influences the outcome of the game.

 

[socalrams90]

They play in Denver every year.

With altitude, you either arrive a week early so you acclimate or you arrive within 24 hours of game time and it won’t affect you as much. There have been plenty of studies on this and it sounds like it’s 50/50 on what the better approach is.

 

[Q729]

Isn't there some data that says it takes more than a few days to get acclimated to elevation changes? Something I read around here anyway...

 

[Merlin]

Denver is just over 5k elevation. Mexico City at 2k higher seems like a significant difference.

 

[bomebadeeda]

Aren't they going to the Air Force academy? Colorado Springs is 6000' in elevation.

 

[hotanez]

They play in Denver every year.

With altitude, you either arrive a week early so you acclimate or you arrive within 24 hours of game time and it won’t affect you as much. There have been plenty of studies on this and it sounds like it’s 50/50 on what the better approach is.

very interesting, sounds like it won't effect KC.

 

[XXXIVwin]

Yet another reason why we love McVay.

Right choices re. Preparation

 

[Karate61]

I recall a post back in the Denver week where somebody said it takes months to acclimate to high altitudes. So, maybe KC understands that as well.

 

[Ellard80]

Yeah two different approaches by both teams.

Didn't look very much but one opinion

https://www.livestrong.com/article/...o-acclimate-to-elevation-when-running-a-race/

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/la-sp-rams-chiefs-altitude-20181112-story.html

 

[wmc540]

The Chiefs were busy at Monday Night Raw today.

 

[TSFH Fan]

From Last Year:
One doctor's opinion is that the extra time at altitude won't make medical difference BUT speculates there can be other benefits, such as increasing the possibility for team bonding (they can all get to know Fowler and vice versa), the military aspect of practicing at the Air Force Academy and to acclimate the team to what a Super Bowl week is like in spending the week on the road before the game.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.co...-raiders-mexico-city-altitude-1115-story.html

 

[XXXIVwin]

Yeah two different approaches by both teams.

Didn't look very much but one opinion

https://www.livestrong.com/article/...o-acclimate-to-elevation-when-running-a-race/

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/la-sp-rams-chiefs-altitude-20181112-story.html

I dunno, common sense would seem to argue for the Rams approach as opposed to the KC approach.

Generally speaking, the body adapts better to gradual changes as opposed to sudden ones.

Rams will have a week to acclimatize to higher elevation... then 2 weeks to acclimatize back to normal... sounds good to me.

The clincher: last year, before Azteca game, Pats practiced for a week in CO Springs, and Raiders did not. The pats blew out da raiders.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Well who do you believe? I hope that the people that McVay believes are right, and Andy Reid ends up looking foolish here. Maybe we will find out on Monday.

My take on this is that if the Rams are practicing at altitude all week, then they will have less affective practices. Also, if they don't bring oxygen, their recovery from practice won't be as complete. I hope I'm wrong.

A friend of mine asked why the Rams don't just use altitude masks while practicing. Good question. It would likely be cheaper.

 

[Steve808]

If the refs don't call offensive holding or allow the chefs to grab our receivers, it might be a long day.

I'm amazed that the Rams are 9-1 with the imbalance of bad officiating going against us.

I can live with bad calls if the thing evens out but I can't name many bad calls this season that went in out favor so far.

 

[shaunpinney]

I think this is an error on the part of KC - however, really don't mind if Hill & Hunt are gassed by the 2nd quarter

 

[shaunpinney]

I know it can take weeks to acclimatise to higher altitudes - it really does depend on the person, there is no hard and fast rule, however, altitude sickness can kick in after 12 to 48 hours, I think the last thing we need is to have one of our guys sidelined with this, they wouldn't be able to suit up and play.

Denver is at 5,500' Colorado Springs at 6,320' Mexico city around 7,000'.

Also, giving the players a gradual increase in altitude reduces the risk of altitudes sickness occurring, but if it does it gives the players time to get over it. Another thing they may be trying also is increasing their intake of iron rich foods to boost the iron content in their blood to take on board more oxygen - I know this is a trick used by high altitude runners and something I used to do before going skiing or climbing the highest I've been is around 15,500' and I can't remember any effects of altitude sickness, but like I said at the start every person is different.

The argument about driving within a day of playing I guess doesn't give you time to acclimatise to the altitude but means you may miss the altitude sickness before it kicks in.

I'm not a professional when it comes to these things by far, but I sure hope everyone, especially the big guys have their own personal oxygen tanks with them!

 

[shaunpinney]

friend of mine asked why the Rams don't just use altitude masks while practicing. Good question. It would likely be cheaper.

Who knows, they may already have been...

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

This will be the highest point total in NFL history, and the league and media will celebrate it. It will be the big story before and afterwards. It will be the precursor to the Superbowl. The way offense is being pushed we will see the Rams play the Saints in the playoffs and it will be 50-45. Then the winner will play the Chiefs and it will be 70-65. The NFL will be mentioning the word fantasy at every turn. Vegas will be happier than a kid with a new toy.

 

[Selassie I]

Well... both the Rams and the KC mullets asked the NFL to schedule their games against Denver this year for the week before this Mexico City game. The NFL denied them both because they didn't want to give an unfair advantage to just one team. Wow... not like the NFL to make decisions with fair balance in mind lol.

So KC was, and is, concerned about acclimating to the altitude.

The difference I see here is that WE decided that it was in our best interest to find a way to get acclimated anyway... and the mullets either couldn't come up with an alternate solution, or they didn't want to invest the extra resources ($) and commentment required to spend a week in Colorado.

It also turned out to be a small blessing that we were able to get our team, employees, and their families out of the terrible fires that are burning out of control right now. This trip will help our team in MANY ways... not just the acclimation process.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

So, are the Chiefs cheap, or did Andy Reid suddenly get lazy?