Effect of an Eleven-Day Altitude Training Program on Aerobic and Anaerobic Performance in Adolescent Runners
Abstract
Weevaluatedtheeffectofaneleven-dayaltitudetrainingcampon aerobicandanaerobicfitnessintrainedadolescentrunners. MaterialsandMethods: Twentyadolescent (14-18 yrs) middle- and long-distance runners (11 males and 9 females; 16.7+-0.8 yrs), with at least two years of self-reported consistent run training, participated in this study.
Eight of the subjects (4 females/4 males) constituted the control group, whereas twelve subjects (5 females/7 males) took part in a structured eleven-day altitude training camp, and training load was matched between groups. Primary variables of interest included changes in aerobic (VO2max) and anaerobic (30 s Wingate test) power.
We also explored the relationships between running velocity and blood lactate levels before and after the altitude training camp. Results: Following 11 days of altitude training, desirable changes (p 0.05).
Conclusions: Short duration altitude appears to yield meaningful improvements in aerobic but not anaerobic power in trained adolescent endurance runners.