Originally Posted by
IdiotAbroad
Regarding your original question, these home acclimatisation systems have mixed reviews to say the least. Personally, I've never used them, although many of our clients have. Our day job is organising adventures all over the world, and many of our clients are time poor, which means using helicopters to get in/ out more quickly. So any acclimatisation they can arrive with is beneficial. Some have used the home mask system, and didn't like the feeling at all. Others have used the sleeping tent. I'd imagine doing a couple of one hour sessions in some sort of chamber would have zero benefit to acclimatisation as it's just too short an exposure to the lower pressure. The sleeping tent, on paper at least, has the best chance of being useful.
Sounds like you've been up the Aiguille du Midi at 3,800m, and coincidentally I'm looking at it at the moment! I would disregard how you felt there as it's a whizz up/ down.
I can't seem to see the course map online, but hitting 6,000m is pretty high. My wife ran the Everest Marathon (the one that starts at Base Camp) in 2017, and has looked at doing the race you're signed up for, and also the one in the Annapurna's. I've spent a couple of hundred days in Nepal and you've chosen a blinder of a destination. If you haven't been before, the people and the scenery will blow you away. It's a very very special place. We're going back next year for a Base Camp trek (with a TZ-er in fact!) and for a few folks to run the Everest Marathon and Ultra.
If it is at 6,000m, then you're going to be walking. My wife ran from about 4,400m and down, and we were very well acclimatised. Above that it's walking with poles. The Death Zone doesn't start until 8,000m but over 5,000m is classed as "extreme" altitude. It's high enough to feel pretty peaky if you rush it.
In general I'd echo what Gerard said- altitude is a funny old thing. Like him, I've spent quite a bit of time above 7,000m and once above 8,000m, but on one trip I had to turn back (on Mount Toubkal in Morocco) at 3,500m, despite having done it a half dozen times before without issue!
If you have the time, getting up the trail for a week before would be a huge benefit. The higher you can sleep, the better. Welcome to PM me for more info or to chat to my wife (about the running at altitude!).
Good luck and enjoy!