What Competing in Colombia Taught Me About Fitness and Preparation

Colombia. What a trip. I didn’t really know what to expect when I flew across the world to compete at Fitland in Bogotá. But I can tell you now, it was one of the most memorable and humbling experiences I’ve had in the sport so far.

The energy that defines South American CrossFit

The South American CrossFit community is something else. Passionate is an understatement. From the volunteers to the spectators to the athletes themselves, the energy and commitment in the room were unreal. It felt like every person in the building genuinely loved CrossFit. It reminded me why I do this. The people there made the event feel special, and I walked away more grateful than ever to be part of this global community.

Learning the hard way about altitude

What I wasn’t prepared for was the elevation. Bogotá sits at over 2600 metres above sea level. I didn’t train for that. I didn’t even register how much of a factor it would be. But it absolutely played a role. From the minute I landed, I could feel something was off. My sleep was broken. My recovery didn’t feel like it usually does. I felt heavy in my training. Once the competition started, it was clear that the air wasn’t hitting the same. My breathing was laboured. The intensity was high, but the oxygen just wasn’t there. I couldn’t get the air in like I usually would, and it was a strange feeling. Headaches and dizziness were a big part of the experience, too. On average, I was moving about 30 percent slower. Some workouts were even worse. That’s the reality of competing at altitude when you’re not ready for it, I guess.

Lessons I’m taking forward

If I had my time again or were to prepare for an event like this in future, I’d approach it differently. Ideally, I’d use an altitude machine and build up a strong aerobic base with a focus on zone 2. But even without technology, there are ways to improve your ability to deal with limited oxygen. I’d implement hypoxic training like underwater breath holds and on-land breath holds inside workouts. I’d do a lot more nose-only breathing, especially in zone 2 work to start, then I’d build into nose-only through entire metcons to practice staying calm when breathing is limited. I’d also blend high-intensity lactic work with movements that make breathing hard. Things like fan bike sprints, into heavy front rack carries or heavy sandbag carries. The goal would be to get used to managing stress when your breathing is restricted.

Breathing and not getting what you expect is a wild feeling. It doesn’t matter how fit you are. If you’re not prepared for that stimulus, it’ll expose you. This trip taught me that in a big way. I walked away from Bogotá with a new respect for elevation, a deeper appreciation for the global CrossFit scene, and a fire to make sure I'm never not prepared again.

Colombia gave me more than I expected. It challenged me, stretched me, and showed me what I need to work on. But it also gave me memories I’ll never forget and a community I’ll always admire.

If you ever get the chance to go, GO.