Description

Prompt – (Altitude Training Selected)

A fundamental skill for any exercise physiologist is to be able to critique scientific literature and take an evidence-based approach toward your practice. With this in mind, you will be provided with 3 topics of interest in Performance Physiology. It will be your task to choose 1 of these topics and write a 1500-word Critical Analysis, synthesising relevant scientific literature to help construct a well-balanced, evidence-based argument before ultimately concluding with your own opinion and future areas of research focus (if applicable). The three topics to choose from are:

1. Performance in Hot Environments: friend or foe?

2. Performance in the Extremes: Which is best – altitude, Heat or the Cold?

3. Training and Performance at Altitude?

Tasks:

Altitude Training for Long-Distance Runners: Potential, Pitfalls, and Performance

Table of Contents

Altitude Training for Long-Distance Runners: Potential, Pitfalls, and Performance. 3

How Altitude Affects Endurance Performance and Physiology. 3

Scientific Evidence Supporting Altitude Training Benefits. 4

Comparing Altitude Training Methods: LHTH, LHTL, LLTH, and LLTL. 4

Do Male and Female Runners Respond Differently to Altitude Training?. 6

Negative Effects and Risks of Altitude Training. 7

Recommendations: Need for Scientific Innovation. 7

Conclusion: The Future of Altitude Training in Long-Distance Running. 8

References. 9

Introduction 

The value of altitude training remains debated, but applying its principles precisely to meet each long-distance runner’s needs is essential to achieve performance gains. Altitude training involves training at elevations of at least 1,500 meters and/or training in real or simulated high-altitude conditions (Mujika et al., 2019). Within a week, Robach and Lundby (2020) observed that the body begins adapting to reduced oxygen availability when in such conditions, which enhances erythrocyte production, aerobic capacity, and endurance performance vital to long-distance running.

However, experts have not reached a consensus on its effectiveness, as some studies argue that high altitudes force athletes to lower training intensity, potentially limiting benefits (Chapman, 2013; Girard et al., 2023). Although many long-distance runners pursue altitude training to gain a competitive advantage, incorporating scientific guidance is crucial to maximize results, as improvements occur only within a narrow and carefully managed training window. Altitude training offers physiological benefits that can enhance long-distance running performance, but its effectiveness remains inconsistent because of conflicting research findings, underdeveloped training frameworks, and individual variability, which raise the need for more scientifically guided and personalized approaches.

How Altitude Affects Endurance Performance and Physiology

Experts in performance physiology have identified key facts that support the credibility of altitude training. Zelenovic et al. (2021) observed that high altitudes cause hypoxia, a condition marked by reduced oxygen saturation in the blood. The lower barometric pressure at high elevations induces hypobaric hypoxia, which prompts the body to adapt by increasing erythrocyte capacity to carry more oxygen for enhanced energy production (Zelenovic et al., 2021). Mujika et al. (2019) further supported this view by explaining that greater oxygen availability helps delay muscle fatigue, enabling long-distance runners to sustain their pace during competition.

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