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... 0 Introduction
When devising a training programme, many considerations need to be made, which are of paramount importance in today’s developing sports science industry. ...
An excellent example of one of these environmental/atmospheric conditions (to which this assignment is relevant) is high altitude.
The use of altitude training to augment sea level endurance performance is widely practiced by athletes and coaches (Burke, 2001). Over the last decade, several carefully controlled studies have shown that altitude training can improve sea level performance above and beyond good sea level training, when certain conditions are met (Burke, 2001). If potential pitfalls are avoided (provided, also, that the athlete does not suffer from altitude sickness) and the athlete lives high for long enough, they will have benefits which include increased erythropoientin (EPO) levels, increased haematocrit, an increase in the volume of the mitochondria in the cells of the body as well as many others (Baker, 1998).
A common phrase in relation to altitude training is the ‘live high, train low’ strategy. ... This ‘high-low’ altitude training leads to the enhancement of sea level VO2 max and endurance performance (Burke, 2001). ... Distance running has always been a medium which has interested this athlete and has spurred him on to reach the level he is currently at. ...
The athlete’s performance history centre’s typically marathon races. ... Last year he competed in the London marathon and finished in the top 25 and his aim is, with the assistance of altitude training and a well structured training programme to increase his aerobic fitness by such a level than he can obtain a higher position and a faster time in this year’s race.
The athlete is already following a training programme in order to improve his performance and maintain his current fitness level (an example period if this programme is shown in table 1. ... 0 – An extract from the athlete’s current training programme (the number e. ... 1 Fitness Testing
Prior to the commencement of the training programme the athlete was tested on several components of his fitness and general body composition (i. ... The objective was to take these measurements prior to the training programme and once again after the training programme in order to observe the outcome of the programme and the effects of altitude training. ... 0 – Fitness test results for the athlete prior to high altitude training (please see appendices for explanation of the techniques used to obtain these results).
It is obvious that some of these components are going to remain unchanged after the training programme as they are not being trained as they are not seen as a vital component of the athlete’s fitness. ... 1 Short Term Responses
These responses are simply the way in which the body adapts to be able to cope with exercise during a training session, and at the end off the session the body will return to its normal resting state (Wesson et al, 2000). ...
The aerobic adaptations that take place during exercise, particularly during long term training for a sport or activity that is largely aerobic are vitally important. ...
Hypertrophy of slow twitch fibres also occurs in making the athlete more suited to running longer distances and working aerobically as opposed to anaerobically. An additional adaptation to aerobic training is an increase of the myoglobin content within the muscles of up to 80% (Wesson et al, 2000). ... 0 Physiological Adaptations to Altitude
4.1 Cardiovascular System
One of the major adaptations that occurs at high altitude in order for the body to maximise its performance potential occurs due to the response of a hormone known as Erythropoietin (EPO) (McArdle, et al, 2000)
At high altitude, the saturation of oxygen in the atmosphere is less than at sea level. ... There is also an increase in myoglobin concentration within the muscles so that the efficiency of gaseous exchange is increased even at the lower partial pressure of oxygen experienced at altitude. ... 2 Respiratory System
At altitude, the respiratory rate of an unacclimatised athlete will be higher than at sea level. ... 0 Altitude Training Risks
As with any significantly different atmospheric conditions, there are risks which must be understood and acknowledged. Altitude sickness is a common ailment suffered by many at altitude (; up to 75% at 8000 feet [Anon, no date]).
Approximate Word count = 3472
Approximate Pages = 13.9
(250 words per page double spaced)
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