High Altitude Training

[Guest guest]

For those of you who are interested in high altitude training, these websites

may be useful. The swimming site below correctly points out that opinion on

the benefits of high altitude training is very divided. Respected scientists,

physiologists, coaches and athletes respectfully/disrespectfully

agree/disagree on altitude training usefulness, physiological effects and

individual response. Considerable research, countless papers and hundreds of

thousands of observation hours by the brightest coaching minds in the world

come to different conclusions.

Some authorities feel that living at altitude and training at sea level is

more effective, while others believe that the use of special hypoxic (limited

oxygen) breathing devices is even better. Opinion also differs regarding

whether altitude training is more useful for sprint or long distance athletes.

Any comments on this topic would be appreciated.

ALTITUDE TRAINING SITES

<http://www.sportsci.org/traintech/altitude/wgh.html>

<http://www.runningonline.com/zine/Training/133.sht>

<http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/coachsci/vol24/table.htm>

<http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/coachsci/vol54/table.htm>

<http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/altitude.html>

<http://www4.nau.edu/hastc/>

<http://home.sprynet.com/~holtrun/altitude.htm>

<http://www.sportsmedicine.about.com/health/sportsmedicine/cs/altitude/>

<http://www.swiminfo.com/articles/swimtechnique/articles/200001-01st_art.asp>

(Swimming & Altitude)

<http://www.hypoxico.com/12.html> (Hypoxic vs Altitude Training)

<http://spot.colorado.edu/~gamow/research/rats.html> (Living at Altitude)

<http://www.hypoxic-training.com/history.html>

Dr Mel C Siff

Denver, USA

mcsiff@...

[Guest guest]

Mel Siff<Mcsiff@a... >wrote:

<For those of you who are interested in high altitude training,

these websites may be useful. The swimming site below correctly points out that

opinion on the benefits of high altitude training is very divided. Respected

scientists, physiologists, coaches and athletes respectfully/disrespectfully

agree/disagree on altitude training usefulness, physiological

effects and individual response. Considerable research, countless papers and

hundreds of thousands of observation hours by the brightest coaching minds in

the world come to different conclusions.

Some authorities feel that living at altitude and training at sea

level is more effective, while others believe that the use of special

hypoxic (limited oxygen) breathing devices is even better. Opinion also differs

regarding whether altitude training is more useful for sprint or long

distance athletes.

Any comments on this topic would be appreciated.

ALTITUDE TRAINING SITES

<http://www.sportsci.org/traintech/altitude/wgh.html>

<http://www.runningonline.com/zine/Training/133.sht>

<http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/coachsci/vol24/table.htm>

<http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/coachsci/vol54/table.htm>

<http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/altitude.html>

<http://www4.nau.edu/hastc/>

<http://home.sprynet.com/~holtrun/altitude.htm>

<http://www.sportsmedicine.about.com/health/sportsmedicine/cs/altitude/>

<http://www.swiminfo.com/articles/swimtechnique/articles/200001-01st_art.asp>

(Swimming & Altitude)

<http://www.hypoxico.com/12.html> (Hypoxic vs Altitude Training)

<http://spot.colorado.edu/~gamow/research/rats.html> (Living at Altitude)

<http://www.hypoxic-training.com/history.html>

Dr Mel C Siff>

Research done by Levine and Stray-Gundersen in 1997 has

demonstrated the effectiveness of a training program aimed at

improving 5000m times which includes training at medium altitudes

(1250m) and training at high altitudes (2500m). The goal here was to

permit certain adaptations to occur when living at high altitudes for

a period of 4 weeks (increasing number of red blood cells, of muscle

capillaristation, of myoglobine, of mitochondrial density and

modification of enzymes) but at the same time, to allow high

intensity training to continue since the latter is still done at sea

level (as opposed to high-level training which forces the athlete to

reduce intensity). Gains in VO2 max and lactic threshold were both

significant and higher than in the two control groups (1- High-

altitude living and training; 2- and sea level training and living).

So what are we to conclude then? From this research, that high-

altitude living combined to sea level training will give the best

results and so, all the hypoxic devices (tents, tarped beds and even

trailers!!!) that we are seeing many runners and X-country skiiers

use might have some substance to it. But of course, that's

according to this study... As Dr. Siff has noted, others have come

up with the same results, while others have concluded quite

differently...

Lepine

Ottawa, Canada