Abstract
There can be little doubt that training at altitude is fundamental to preparing an
athlete for competition at altitude. However the value of training at altitude for
competition at sea level appears on the one hand to lack total acceptance amongst
sports scientists; and on the other to hold some cloak of mystery for coaches who
have yet to enjoy first hand experience. The fact is that very few endurance athletes
will ignore the critical edge which altitude training affords. Each fraction of a
percentage of performance advantage gained through methods which are within the rules
of fair play in sport, may shift the balance between failure and achievement. Moreover,
there is growing support for application of training at altitude for speed-related
disciplines. This paper aims to demystify the subject by dealing with practical aspects
of training at altitude. Such aspects include a checklist of what should and should
not be done at altitude, when to use altitude relative to target competitions, and
specific training examples.
Key words
High altitude training - planning - effectivity - pitfalls
