Altitude exposure for distance running March 25 2015

Historically Intermittent Hypoxic Training (IHT) and altitude training has long been used for distance running since the 1960's. Traditional altitude training with the - live high, train high - method requires a minimum of 3 weeks of living at high altitude to get acclimated. Thereafter, when you relocate to a low altitude racing venue to compete the benefits of altitude exposure begin to disappear about 2 weeks later and the athletes have to return to altitude for a top up exposure.

With AltoLab you can get your altitude exposure at home, anywhere in the world, and it only requires 15 days to get acclimated. How, because AltoLab employs a progressive, IHT program where you only use short, 6 min intervals at altitudes that progress from 10,000 up to 20,000 ft + equivalent. The benefits of this type of IHT last for 2 weeks and thereafter you can top-up by using the AltoLab for just 5 days with a 15 day break afterwards. The more top-ups you complete the greater your altitude acclimation becomes. The notable distance runners we have using the AltoLab system include USA Champions Shannon Rowbury and Leonel Manzano.

Besides helping endurance athletes, this kind of structured route is also pretty useful for cyclists, triathletes, mountaineers and fitness enthusiasts who want better aerobic efficiency. Unlike the whole idea of prolonged mountain living, this protocol keeps daily schedules mostly intact while still causing real physiological changes you can measure. It’s basically a trusted option for people searching for reliable altitude training equipment in the USA, and AltoLab offers a straightforward way to keep hypoxic exposure steady, not just sometimes. If you follow the recommended timetable regularly, it helps lock in the training improvements. It also backs recovery between competition seasons, and it lets athletes tune themselves well for events that happen at different elevations.