Tennirife

[Scrap]

Just read an advert for training at altitude on Mt tidi whats your views

[Chris Nagel]

I never heard of the place.

I haven't seen any substantial evidence to support much benefit from training at higher altitude. I remember skiing in Colorodo for a week and I didn't see any noticable change when I got back down to sea level.

As for the altitude training I think there's some benifit if any, but a lot of it is just all in people's heads. It's just a more expensive placibo.

Anyways have you ever had any of your fighter's train at higher altitude Scrap?

[Scrap]

Like you Im not a beleiver. It doesnt do any good. You have to live up there it helps in competing at altitude not at sea level Mt Tidi is 18000 ft and on the eqautor in the Atlantic of Africa its a place where athletes go for training. The reason they go because they dont get tested for drugs, thats the truth.

[md]

I like the reef Scrap. Great place to live and train in the winter if you keep away from the tourist places in the South. It's very mountainous but only Teide (about 12000ft) national park is what you would call real altitude. The hotel there is called the Parador (about 7000 ft) and is a bit of a shit hole with no facilities whatsoever, although good enough for a certain Mr Armstrong - probably because the roads are very good and there are no UCI dope testers within a few thousand miles. Also, the weather's good and the sun's always out above the clouds.

They must be trying to promote it for athletes and take some of the business away from Lanzarote where a lot of triathletes and cyclists go - focusing on the altitude training on Teide because Lanzarote doesn't have high mountains. I think training at altitude does stress the system more but whether the effects last in to a competitive season at sea level I'm not sure. As you wrote Scrap probably only helps if your training to acclimatise and compete at altitude.

The Anaga national park in the North is a great place - very rugged, mountainous and rural. Cheap to live there too. Perfect for skint athletes with poor funding.

[Chris Nagel]

How many world records have been broken at high altitudes. I bet you there are none. The fact is, although your body acclimates, it can't produce the same intensity on less oxygen.

If you have a scheduled competition at a higher altitudes then it does make sense to get there a week or so early so that your body can adapt to those conditions. Otherwise there's more benefit in training at a higher intensity at sea level than the lower intensity at altitude.

I heard one idea that's supposed to be a win-win. Suppose the athlete trains at sea level, and sleeps at high altitudes. Then he will be able to have the benefits that come from the acclimation, and the intensity of training at low altitudes. I haven't heard of anyone carrying this idea out, but if it doesn't cause any bad side effects effects then it's worth investigating for those with the means.

[md]

It's called hypoxic training Chris. Specially designed tents in which athletes sleep simulate different oxygen concentration conditions.

[Chris Nagel]

And I've heard a lot of endurance athletes using them, particulary bicyclists. I don't see any reason a boxer shouldn't use it as long as their health checks out.

[Scrap]

There was alot of record times below 400 metres in the Mexico Olympics over that nothing

[Chris Nagel]

Maybe I was getting ahead of myself, but what if you went even higher elevations like 10,000ft+. I'm sure it would it would have an impact.

[md]

Very interesting Scrap. I wonder if the lesser effect of gravity at that altitude contributed to these times or if the drugs just got better.

[Chris Nagel]

it must've been the sparkling mexico city water.

[Scrap]

Md they put it down to gravity also all the throwing events records were broken Jessi Owens record went and remember Bob Beeman long jump I didnt think he was going to come down.

[Chris Nagel]

That's interesting. I didn't think that gravity would have had as large an impact.

[Scrap]

Whats Mexico City above sea level 8,ooo ft

[Chris Nagel]

I think it's closer to 7600 ft, but yeah I see it does help. Hey Scrap, do you recall any boxing matches that took place there, besides the '68 Olympics?