“Living high-training low”: effect of moderate-altitude acclimatization with low-altitude training on performance

TLDR

Moderate‑altitude acclimatization combined with low‑altitude training has been proposed to enhance sea‑level endurance performance. The study tested whether living high‑training low improves sea‑level performance in well‑trained runners compared to sea‑level or altitude controls. Thirty‑nine competitive runners completed a 2‑week lead‑in, 4‑week sea‑level training, then 4 weeks of randomized field camps (high‑low, high‑high, low‑low) with 5,000‑m time trials and laboratory measures of VO₂max, anaerobic capacity, maximal steady state, running economy, velocity at VO₂max, and blood volumes. High‑altitude groups increased VO₂max by 5% and red cell mass by 9%, while only the high‑low group improved 5‑km time, velocity at VO₂max, and maximal steady state, indicating that living high‑training low enhances sea‑level performance through increased red cell mass and VO₂max. Published in J.

Abstract

Levine, Benjamin D., and James Stray-Gundersen.“Living high-training low”: effect of moderate-altitude acclimatization with low-altitude training on performance. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(1): 102–112, 1997.—The principal objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that acclimatization to moderate altitude (2,500 m) plus training at low altitude (1,250 m), “living high-training low,” improves sea-level performance in well-trained runners more than an equivalent sea-level or altitude control. Thirty-nine competitive runners (27 men, 12 women) completed 1) a 2-wk lead-in phase, followed by 2) 4 wk of supervised training at sea level; and 3) 4 wk of field training camp randomized to three groups: “high-low” ( n = 13), living at moderate altitude (2,500 m) and training at low altitude (1,250 m); “high-high” ( n = 13), living and training at moderate altitude (2,500 m); or “low-low” ( n = 13), living and training in a mountain environment at sea level (150 m). A 5,000-m time trial was the primary measure of performance; laboratory outcomes included maximal O 2 uptake (V˙o 2 max ), anaerobic capacity (accumulated O 2 deficit), maximal steady state (MSS; ventilatory threshold), running economy, velocity at V˙o 2 max , and blood compartment volumes. Both altitude groups significantly increased V˙o 2 max (5%) in direct proportion to an increase in red cell mass volume (9%; r = 0.37, P < 0.05), neither of which changed in the control. Five-kilometer time was improved by the field training camp only in the high-low group (13.4 ± 10 s), in direct proportion to the increase inV˙o 2 max ( r = 0.65, P < 0.01). Velocity atV˙o 2 max and MSS also improved only in the high-low group. Four weeks of living high-training low improves sea-level running performance in trained runners due to altitude acclimatization (increase in red cell mass volume and V˙o 2 max ) and maintenance of sea-level training velocities, most likely accounting for the increase in velocity atV˙o 2 max and MSS.