|
|
Article: Higher ground: training at higher altitudes gives athletes a competitive edge.
- Article from:
- American Fitness
- Article date:
- January 1, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Did you ever wonder where Olympic athletes train to get the edge they need to win old medals? Finn Borchgrevink, an assistant coach with the Norwegian kayak team, brings his athletes to the High Altitude Sports Training Complex in Flagstaff, Arizona. The basic concept behind high altitude training is that as you go higher above sea level there is less oxygen in the atmosphere. This places additional stress on the body because less oxygen is being carried to the muscles, and the body has to produce more red blood cells to carry the oxygen.
Flagstaff, two hours north of Phoenix, is 7,000 feet above sea level. This is close to the optimal height for high altitude ...