Altitude Training:
I’m going to post my powerpoint presentation on Altitude Training I did for class. I think it’s relevant, especially after I read a recent blog by Greg McMillan basically saying that altitude is a must. I don’t believe that’s so. I think it can be very useful, but to think it’s some sort of cure all is wrong. My one pet peeve with altitude training is when people quote some statistic that everyone except for Bob Kennedy whose run under 13min for 5k trained at altitude. The problem with that kind of logic? There are other factors, such as maybe the fact that all those athletes under 13 are African who were BORN at altitude. So is it the altitude? Or the fact they are African or what?

Taken to the extreme the logic looks something like this, the vast majority of the athletes who have run sub 13 ate ugali. Ugali is a requirement to run sub 13. Everyone eat ugali….Of course this is rediculous.

Lastly, keep in mind that runners BORN at altitude whose ancestors have lived at high altitude for generations respond very differently to altitude than sea level dwelling runners.

If there are questions about the presentation, ask away, and I’ll do my best to answer thing that might not be clear.

Lastly, an interview with Maria Mutola and Kelly Holmes coach that could be interesting:
http://www.athleticscoaching.ca/?pid=2&nid=201

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    4 Comments

    1. Anonymous on May 12, 2009 at 4:35 am

      fantanstic-very interesting. Thanks Steve.

    2. Nate Jenkins on May 14, 2009 at 12:11 am

      Steve, nice power point, very good summary of the info out there, very helpful. thanks
      nate

    3. Adam on May 26, 2009 at 3:42 pm

      Cool man. I’m actually doing an internship with Dr. Benjamin Levine this summer. I’ll have to let you know how it goes. Hope training and school is going well for you.

    4. David McMillan on February 7, 2014 at 4:34 pm

      Steve, any thoughts on usefulness of altitude tents for racing at higher altitudes such as the Leadville 100? It seems from the presentation that intermittent use may suggest little in the way of performance gains, but what about just prevention of AMS and being more comfortable throughout the day. I'd be very curious if you had any thoughts on this. Thanks

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