1. Altitude training and
periodisation
Specialised Training

2. Learning Goals
• To understand process, benefits and
drawbacks of altitude training (was on paper
last year as a 14 mark question)
* To understand the process of periodisation,
and recognise the importance of tapering to
peak for competition.

3. Altitude training
• Means to improve endurance performance
• Significant success of athletes who live at
altitude
• Aerobic performance increased due to
increase in red blood cell concentration

4. Physiology
• Over 8,000 feet above sea level pO2 is
reduced
• Body adapts by increasing red blood cells
and Hb. Therefore, what happens?
In addition hormone EPO increases

5. Altitude training
• On return to sea level, what happens to
performance?
• What else may happen that delays fatigue?
• Several weeks required to get these effects.
How does this impact on an athlete's life?

6. Phases of altitude
training
• Acclimatisation
• Primary training
• Recovery

7. Phases of altitude
training
• On return to sea level, there is:
• A positive phase
• Progressive return to sea-level training
• A fitness peak

8. Other methods
• Live at altitude, train at sea level
• 'high altitude house'

9. Problems?
• What are some of the problems with altitude
training?
•1
•2
•3
•4

10. • Optimises performance
Periodisation
• No point in training at the same level all of the
time - no fitness gains!
• What would an endurance performer need to
improve?
• What would a sprinter need to improve?

11. Periodisation
• What do you think periodisation is?
• Split into macrocycles, mesocycles and
microcycles

12. A microcycle

13. A mesocycle

14. A macrocycle

15. Tapering and peaking
• Reducing daily training loads prior to event to
allow supercompensation

16. Wave-like
periodisation

17. Exam questions