Specialised Training

Altitude training and periodisation

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.

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

• 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

Physiology

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?

Phases of altitude training

• Acclimatisation

• Primary training

• Recovery

Phases of altitude training

• On return to sea level, there is:

• A positive phase

• Progressive return to sea-level training

• A fitness peak

Other methods• Live at altitude, train at sea level

• 'high altitude house'

Problems?• What are some of the problems with

altitude training?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Periodisation• Optimises performance

• 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?

Periodisation

• What do you think periodisation is?

• Split into macrocycles, mesocycles and microcycles

A microcycle

A mesocycle

A macrocycle

Tapering and peaking

• Reducing daily training loads prior to event to allow supercompensation

Wave-like periodisation

Exam questions