Altitude Training

Question 1

What is altitude training?

Answer 1

Endurance athletes will often train at altitude to achieve imrpovement in fitness. It takes up to 3 weeks to gain benefits from altitude training

Question 2

How does altitude training affect the body?

Answer 2

At high altitudes there is less oxygen present and reduces oxygen carrying capacity. As a result, haemoglobin is not fully saturated at altitude, and the body compensates by making more red blood cells to carry oxygen.

Question 3

What are the immediate effects of altitude training?

Answer 3

• Increase in breathing rate
• Decrease in VO2 max
• Increases heart rate
• Gravity is reduces which could aid jumping events
• Possible sickness, headaches, and fatigue

Question 4

What are the long term effects of altitude training?

(3 weeks +)

Answer 4

• Increases haemoglobin levels (oxygen in blood)
• Reduces stroke volume (volume of blood pumped in 1 pump)
• Increases blood thickness (can be negative as there is decrease in blood flow to muscles)
• Increased capiliarisation (increased no. of capillaries which = more blood flow)
• Reduces lactic acid tolerance

Question 5

Advantages of altitude training?

Answer 5

• Increase in red blood cell count
• Increased concentration of haemoglobin
• Better O2 transport
• Altitude training effect will last up to 2 weeks

Question 6

Disadvantages of altitude training

Answer 6

• Expensive to setup due to travel and accomodation costs
• Altitude sickness
• Training is tough and can disrupt later performance
• Benefits can be lost quickly so will not benefit competition all year round

Question 7

What events benefit from altitude training?

Answer 7

Endurance events like marathon running and long distance