For residents of Southwest Colorado, thin air is the norm. For long distance runners however, thin air is a cherished commodity.

Hoping to capitalize on that commodity, the Mancos Project, a high-altitude training center, has recently opened near Mancos. Catering to high school, college and professional runners, the center allows athletes to push their running to the next level by training at about 8,000 feet above sea level.

Along with offering a unique training opportunity, The Mancos Project enables runners to live a sustainable lifestyle and participate in local community events. While The Mancos Project is still in its infancy, it seems possible that the center could eventually evolve into a major training hub that could bring economic and social benefits to the entire Four Corners.

The seeds for the project were sewn about 18 months ago when Project president Ben Hahn first visited Mancos. Hahn, a state-champion runner in high school and a two time all-American at Edinburgh College in Pennsylvania, who had always been interested in high-altitude training, immediately saw potential in the area.

"I was trying to improve on the status quo," said Hahn. "There weren't a lot of great places for emerging athletes to train. I wanted to create something that would give those athletes a chance."

Hahn decided to set up his training center on the Lost Canyon Ranch, an 1,100-acre facility northwest of Mancos. Capable of housing up to 30 athletes at one time, the Ranch has three individual cabins, a bunkhouse, a commercial kitchen and showers. All the buildings have running water and electricity.

"[The facility] is rustic, but you have everything that you need," said Hahn. "It's very comfortable, and athletes seem to enjoy it."

Runners currently training at the facility include the co-captains of the Lehigh University track team as well as a group of college graduates. A group of high school athletes from Texas plan to visit the facility later this month, as well as a professional marathon runner from France. Marathon runners from Kenya have also shown interest in the facility for to the advantages that high-altitude training can provide.

"One of the draws of our facility is that it is 8,000 feet above sea level," said Hahn. "High-altitude training is very advantageous for endurance athletes. At altitude, your body has to produce more red blood cells, and when you return to sea level, an increased red blood cell count can be advantageous."

"The altitude was tough at first," said Pennsylvania marathon runner Ryan McGuire. "I have been running about 18 miles every day, and I hope to increase my training to over 100 miles a week during the last month that I'm here. I'm hoping that training in this area will help me take my running to the next level."

Although The Mancos Project currently caters primarily to distance runners, there are plans to eventually incorporate triathletes and cyclists.

"Once we get up and running, we would like to bring athletes from [other sports] into our program," said Hahn. "High altitude is not just beneficial for runners. It can be beneficial for all endurance athletes."

In addition to offering high-altitude training, The Mancos Project promotes healthy and sustainable living habits among its athletes. All of the food consumed at the center is catered by Zuma Natural Foods, a natural grocery store in Mancos. Providing organic food and locally grown produce, Zuma fits perfectly with The Mancos Project's vision.

"A theme of our project is getting back to the basics," said Hahn. "A lot of our athletes come from the city and are amazed by the mountains and the slower pace of life. Sustainability is a big part of our project and definitely something that we are trying to promote."

Along with serving the training needs of high-level competitive runners, The Mancos Project is working to give back to the community. The Mancos Project sponsors a running group called "Run Mancos." The group meets at Zuma Natural Foods every Saturday at 9 a.m. to participate in a community run. Walkers, joggers and local high school athletes are welcome to join.

In the future, The Mancos Project will also sponsor a series of races called The San Juan Series. Races will occur in Mancos, Dolores, Cortez and Durango and will include road-racing and trail-running events.

"The Mancos community has been so supportive," said Hahn. "We are trying hard to give back by exposing local athletes to running, creating new jobs and bringing money into this area."

For more about the high-altitude training center or the "Run Mancos" running group, visit www.themancosproject.org.

imaclaren@cortezjournal.com