MEDIUM ALTITUDE TRAINING AND SEA-LEVEL PERFORMANCE 741

Abstract

Despite a paucity of controlled studies with elite athletes and controversy surrounding its effectiveness, medium altitude training is widely used with a view to improving sea-level (SL) performance. We recruited 18 elite male distance runners of (mean±SD) age 26±5.0 yr and VO2max 73.2±3.8 ml/kg·min. Tests carried out at, or close to SL were: 3.2 k time trial; VO2max; steady-state heart-rate at 16 and 18 kph (HR 16, 18); short duration treadmill run (SDR) to exhaustion at 18kph and 10% gradient (mean time 170s); hemoglobin concentration (HC); and total body hemoglobin (TH, CO rebreathing technique). Two groups of 9 were selected based on pairs matched for previous and planned training, and the above test results. One group lived for 4 weeks at 1760m (ALT) and trained at 1700-2000m except for one track session/week at 610 m. The other group lived and trained at SL. At ALT, interval training was of similar speed to SL but longer recoveries were utilized. Retesting occurred at or close to SL in the week following the training camps. The effect of ALT, i.e. the difference between the (post-pre) ALT and (post-pre) SL means, was tested by ANOVA. Using p<0.05 to indicate significance, a 3% relative increase in VO2max at ALT was NS (p=0.1), but HR 16, 18 were both 5% lower after ALT than SL(p<0.01). TH was unchanged (p=0.3) and a 3% relative increase in mean HC in the ALT group was not significant (p=0.08). Mean improvement in SDR time was 10% greater in the SL group but also NS (p=0.09). The “bottom line” performance test was the 3.2k run which was 10s quicker in both ALT and SL groups but the difference between groups was NS (p=0.78). This emphasizes the importance of the control group. We conclude that 4 weeks of medium altitude training at 1760-2000m offers no advantages over SL in improving SL 3.2k running performance in already well-trained elite runners.