There are still few top middle and long-distance athletes who have one altitude internship do not schedule in their annual program. Time for once a clear overview we thought at Altitude Dream. Australian athletes head for the thin air of Falls Creek, a popular altitude location Down Under. In Africa, altitude training is mainly done in the East of the continent, in America Boulder and Flagstaff are resounding names, and here in Europe the most suitable locations for altitude training are in the Alps and Pyrenees.
Africa
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Height: 2300m
When: October - May
Ideal for: Runners who want to experience the Ethiopian way of training
Advantages: Friendly people who understand running. Great cultural experience. Warm weather all year round. Lots to do between sessions, cheap once you're in Ethiopia.
Cons: noise, pollution, traffic and other dangers of city life, hard to find good meat.
Iten, Kenya
Height: 2400m
When: May - March
Ideal for: Solo travelers looking for the ultimate walking experience.
Advantages: Comfortable accommodation in places such as the High Altitude Training Camp (HATC) from Lornah Kilpagat; athlete-friendly food, cheap once you get to Kenya, great running experience, good choice of off-road trails.
Disadvantages: Children who constantly accost you during training, difficult to find completely flat training routes; The trails are particularly muddy when wet.
Ifrane, Morocco
Height: 1660 m
When: May to October
Ideal for: Marathon runners who want to experience Africa without too expensive flights.
Advantages: Flat, quiet asphalt roads that are suitable for walking, cheap and good choice of food. Easy to reach
Cons: Unpredictable weather conditions and a short season, most off-road routes are uneven and gravel
Dullstroom, South Africa
Height: 2100m
When: August - April
Ideal for: Runners who want to taste the South African culture. Want to experience the local nature and cuisine.
Advantages: Good choice of cheap and comfortable accommodation, beautiful scenery, very many off-road routes
Cons: You are never far from the poverty and inequality of South African society.
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Height: 1378 m
When: All year round
Ideal for: The track runner who likes to combine warm weather with a light variation of altitude training.
Advantages: Nice weather, great facilities, large choice of accommodation thanks to ATP sports.
Disadvantages: The altitude is probably not high enough for real altitude training; difficult to find off-road routes for longer endurance runs.
America
Albuquerque, USA
Height: 1619m
When: March - October
Ideal for: Those who like to be in the city.
Advantages: Lots to do between training sessions, good food, relatively cheap, good weather almost all year.
Cons: Car is really necessary.
St Louis Potosi, Mexico
Height: 1850m
When: All year round
Ideal for: Track athletes who want to escape the winter
Advantages: Good weather, beautiful city, cheap accommodation and food, good facilities La Loma Altitude Training Center.
Cons: Approximately 20-hour travel time from Europe
Mexico City, Mexico
Height: 2240m
When: October - May
Ideal for: Those looking for a cultural experience linked to an internship.
Advantages: Cheap once you get there, lots to do between training sessions; The birthplace of altitude training.
Cons: Traffic, crime and other dangers that are always present in a big city.
Mammoth Lakes, United States
Height: 2400m
When: April to September
Ideal for: Those who want to apply the 'Live High, Train Low' principle prior to some track competitions in California
Advantages: Ideal for the Live High, Train Low approach; beautiful nature, good choice of food
Cons: expensive compared to other American destinations; a car is recommended
Boulder, USA
Height: 1655 m
When: April to October
Ideal for: Those who wish to participate in the many famous American road races.
Advantages: Runner friendly city, wide variety of trails and trails
Cons: Some local knowledge required.
Flagstaff, USA
Height: 2106m
When: April to October
Ideal for: Runners who want to experience the village life in America and combine this with a trip to some of the most amazing natural phenomena. (Grand Canyon)
Advantages: Excellent choice of trails that just start right in the center of the city, relaxed atmosphere, close to some of the most spectacular places such as the Grand Canyon; option for Live High, Train Low
Cons: Can often be very windy; suitable accommodation can sometimes be difficult to find
Australia
Falls Creek, Australia
Height: 1600 m
When: December - April
Ideal for: Those who are looking for beautiful nature and want to visit the competition from the Australian circuit.
Advantages: Good choice of walking routes, very quiet, very cheap accommodation outside the tourist season, very friendly, casual atmosphere
Cons: Hard to reach, few shops and restaurants are open outside the tourist season, not much to do between training.
Europe
Sierra Nevada, Spain
Height: 2320 m
When: April to October
Ideal for: Track athletes who need warm weather and want to combine this with a Live High, Train Low approach
Advantages: Good Live High, Train Low options; good facilities
Cons: very poor choice of walking routes without having to travel; expensive
Font Romeu, France
Height: 1850m
When: May to October
Ideal for: Those looking for an average height close to home
Advantages: Good gym and track facilities; possibility to train at a lower altitude, beautiful nature, good variety of routes and terrains; good self-catering accommodation options
Cons: Snow can be present until April; Very busy during the summer months, most of the walking routes are hilly or hard to find
St Moritz, Switzerland
Height: 1856m
When: June to September
Ideal for: Those who want to experience altitude training for the first time
Advantages: Excellent choice of easy to find walking routes; access to facilities is easy, very beautiful city
Cons: Very expensive
And finally..
Altitude tent in your own bedroom
Height: adjustable
When: All year round
Ideal for: Live High, Train Low height training. Until today the most efficient form of altitude training.
Advantages: Immediately at heights, training in one's own environment and without adjustments, training without reducing the quality, no movements.
Disadvantages: For short sleepers it is necessary to stay in the tent for a long time (at least 8 hours). Which can feel like an assignment.
