Specialised Training Altitude training and periodisation
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