ABOUT THE ALTITUDE PROJECT
We are committed to seeing college runners
transformed by the love of Jesus
MEET THE ALTITUDE PROJECT
HISTORY
Located in Mammoth Lakes (7880’), in the Eastern Sierra, our two week summer cross-country camp takes place each year. The Altitude Project seeks to help develop collegiate athletes to excel in competitive running and Christian living.
We were founded in 2004 by Avery Blackwell and Greg Jimmerson. At the time they were both running for the Nike Farm Team in Palo Alto, CA. Training post collegiately with their experience as professional athletes, they looked back on their collegiate careers (at Cal Poly and Stanford) and thought about how beneficial it would have been if they would have had the opportunity to train at altitude just before the start of xc season each year. They shared their Christian faith and created a lifelong friendship through training and desired to share that with others.
Thus the vision for the Altitude Project was born. We are committed today to creating an environment where meaningful and lasting friendships are built among athletes and coaches nationwide.
VISION
We create an environment where athletes have the opportunity to not only train well, but live and be in community well. Each summer lifelong friendships are built. We seek to develop the mind, body, soul and spirit through Bible studies, worship times, personal mentoring and seminars.
This camp is for you if:
- You are on a college cross country team
- You desire to start the season out fit by training in the Eastern Sierras
- You want to learn how your faith and running go together
- You want to train with and make new friends
Over the years, many elite and olympic runners have lived and trained in Mammoth Lakes including Ryan Hall, Meb Keflezighi, Deena Kastor, etc. It contains hundreds of miles of soft training trails through the highest and most majestic mountain range in the continental USA.
OUR FOCUS
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Physically, we aim to train collegiate distance runners to excel at all levels of competition, through individual coaching, training and racing dialogue, sports physiology and psychology, and altitude acclimatization. We are not your coach, and we want to support your training with any knowledge or advice that will help to make you a faster runner!
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
Spiritually, we aim to train distance runners for Christian life and ministry on their teams, campuses, and communities through seminars, workshops, Bible studies, one-on-one discipleship, and personal devotions, setting a course for a lifetime of faith. All collegiate athletes are welcome and we encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about how to connect their faith with training and competing to come and join us.
SOCIAL CONNECTION
Socially, we aim to create lasting and meaningful friendships among distance runners and coaches nationwide! This happens naturally and is unavoidable through attending camp and training/eating/hanging out together: This is why all of our wonderful staff come back! For this reason alone you will be glad you came.
Founders
Avery Blackwell
Founder
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Greg Jimmerson
Founder
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Fun Facts About Avery
Resides in: Santa Barbara, California
Graduated from: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Civil Engineering
Running experience: Cal Poly SLO & Nike Farm Team. 6th in West Region Cross Country (2001). Top American at Bay to Breakers (2003). 23rd at US Cross Country Champion (2004). 8 time All-Conference. PRs – 5k 14:13, 10k 29:22.
What he does when he’s not at ALTITUDE: Hangs out with Katie, Selah, Daniel and Sebastian, Water Resource Engineering, searches for natural hot springs, cooks organic meals, plays ultimate frisbee
Favorite Mammoth hangout: Pulky’s Pool (natural hotsprings)
Fun Facts About Jimmers
Resides in: Seattle, Washington
Graduated from: Stanford University
Running experience: I ran at Stanford from 1993-1998, qualified for World Junior Championships in XC and Track in 1994, and finished 4th at the 1996 NCAA XC Championships. After college, I ran for the Nike Farm Team in Palo Alto, qualified for the World XC Championships in 2001 and 2002, and ran in 3 Olympic Trials events (Steeplechase in 2000, marathon and 10k in 2004). 4th at NCAA Cross Country Championship (1996). 2 time World Cross Country Qualifier. 3 time Olympic Trial Qualifier. Member of 2001 US Bronze medalist team at World Cross Country Championship. Nike Farm Team (1998 – 2004). 7:55 3K, 8:31 3K Steeple, 13:38 5K, 28:40 10K, 2:16:27 Marathon.
What he does when he’s not at ALTITUDE: I enjoy spending time with my wife, running with friends, and playing guitar.
Favorite ALTITUDE meal: burrito bar. Nothing’s better than that!
Favorite ALTITUDE activity: My favorite activity at the Altitude Project is the Saturday Long Run and Golgotha Hill. It brings me into the presence of God, and really helps me understand better the sacrifice that He made to redeem me!
Fun Facts About Bethany
Current Hometown: Glendora, CA
Graduated from: BA in Mathematics, Minor in Exercise and Sport Science from UC Santa Barbara, MA in Leadership from Azusa Pacific University
What she does when she is not at Altitude: Coach at Azusa Pacific University,
Running Experience: Fountain Valley HS, UC Santa Barbara (2 time XC National Qualifier, 2 time Track & Field National Qualifier in the Steeplechase), Post College (Asics Aggies, Legacy Run Racing, The Janes Elite, Team USA member @ BUPA Great Edinburgh XC 2012)
Altitude Favorites: Run–Long run to Hot Creek, Meal–Katie Blackwell’s famous pancakes
Why I keep coming back: Spending time in the mountains running in God’s creation with others who are pursuing a relationship with Christ is one of my favorite times of the year!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Avery Blackwell
Founder, Board of Directors
Fun Facts About Avery
Resides in: Santa Barbara, California
Graduated from: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Civil Engineering
Running experience: Cal Poly SLO & Nike Farm Team. 6th in West Region Cross Country (2001). Top American at Bay to Breakers (2003). 23rd at US Cross Country Champion (2004). 8 time All-Conference. PRs – 5k 14:13, 10k 29:22.
What he does when he’s not at ALTITUDE: Hangs out with Katie, Selah, Daniel and Sebastian, Water Resource Engineering, searches for natural hot springs, cooks organic meals, plays ultimate frisbee
Favorite Mammoth hangout: Pulky’s Pool (natural hotsprings)
Greg Jimmerson
Founder, Board of Directors
Fun Facts About Jimmers
Resides in: Seattle, Washington
Graduated from: Stanford University
Running experience: I ran at Stanford from 1993-1998, qualified for World Junior Championships in XC and Track in 1994, and finished 4th at the 1996 NCAA XC Championships. After college, I ran for the Nike Farm Team in Palo Alto, qualified for the World XC Championships in 2001 and 2002, and ran in 3 Olympic Trials events (Steeplechase in 2000, marathon and 10k in 2004). 4th at NCAA Cross Country Championship (1996). 2 time World Cross Country Qualifier. 3 time Olympic Trial Qualifier. Member of 2001 US Bronze medalist team at World Cross Country Championship. Nike Farm Team (1998 – 2004). 7:55 3K, 8:31 3K Steeple, 13:38 5K, 28:40 10K, 2:16:27 Marathon.
What he does when he’s not at ALTITUDE: I enjoy spending time with my wife, running with friends, and playing guitar.
Favorite ALTITUDE meal: burrito bar. Nothing’s better than that!
Favorite ALTITUDE activity: My favorite activity at the Altitude Project is the Saturday Long Run and Golgotha Hill. It brings me into the presence of God, and really helps me understand better the sacrifice that He made to redeem me!
Bethany Blomquist
Board of Directors
Fun Facts About Bethany
Current Hometown: Glendora, CA
Graduated from: BA in Mathematics, Minor in Exercise and Sport Science from UC Santa Barbara, MA in Leadership from Azusa Pacific University
What she does when she is not at Altitude: Coach at Azusa Pacific University,
Running Experience: Fountain Valley HS, UC Santa Barbara (2 time XC National Qualifier, 2 time Track & Field National Qualifier in the Steeplechase), Post College (Asics Aggies, Legacy Run Racing, The Janes Elite, Team USA member @ BUPA Great Edinburgh XC 2012)
Altitude Favorites: Run–Long run to Hot Creek, Meal–Katie Blackwell’s famous pancakes
Why I keep coming back: Spending time in the mountains running in God’s creation with others who are pursuing a relationship with Christ is one of my favorite times of the year!
STATEMENT OF FAITH
1 The Word
2 The Trinity
3 Jesus Christ is God
4 The Holy Spirit
5 Sin
6 Christ's Substitutionary Death
7 The Resurrection
8 Christ's Personal Return
9 Final Judgment
GET INVOLVED
ALTITUDE Project is a unique and awesome place to serve. There are multiple ways you can support and be involved with us. You can:
- Pray
- Invite friends, teammates, athletes to attend
- Promote ALTITUDE Project on social media and through word of mouth
- Donate financially to our scholarship fund
- Attend camp as a staff member
- More, contact us!
THE ALTITUDE PROJECT
The ALTITUDE Project is committed to developing collegiate distance runners to excel in competitive running and Christian living. Your donation will be used to elevate the camp experience for those who come and scholarship athletes who wouldn't be able to come otherwise.
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