UKA/London Marathon Altitude Programme ... - Fidal Lombardia

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INTrOdUCTION
UKA/London MARAthon (LM) ALtItUde tRAInIng CAMP AnnUAL RePoRt | 3
Altitude training - in the modern era – is used by the majority
of the world’s best endurance athletes from 800m to Marathon.
UK endurance athlete and coach pairings need to be exposed to the
benefits of training at altitude if they are to challenge the best in
the world, and this is especially true in the long endurance events.
Group training at altitude is a philosophy that is a key element of
the UKA Endurance Strategy.
Over the past twelve months UKA and London Marathon have worked in partnership to deliver
an extensive endurance altitude programme. London Marathon’s investment has enabled UKA
to create, for the first time ever, a centrally coordinated and supported approach to altitude
training for athletes and coaches in Font Romeu, France and Iten, Kenya.
The opportunity for athletes to train at altitude is promoted widely through a UKA/LM
advertisement, the UKA website, England Athletics and through direct contact with
athletes and coaches. The advert invites athletes and coaches to apply for a place on each
of the camps. Athlete selection for each of the altitude camps involves UKA endurance
staff Ian Stewart, Spencer Barden, George Gandy and John Nuttall; Mick Woods and
Craig Winrow at St.Mary’s College have also been part of the identification and selection
process, with approval from Dave Bedford at London Marathon on all selected athletes.
The UKA/London Marathon altitude programme delivers access to altitude training for UK
athletes and coaches in a managed, supported, and sustainable environment rather than
resourcing athletes to fund their own camps.
This is to ensure the following benefits:
a) It is essential that athletes and coaches using altitude for the first time are correctly
educated and prepared to ensure they maximise the benefits and avoid the potential pitfalls.
b) A centrally coordinated programme enables UKA to provide appropriate and expert
support personnel – pre, during and post camp;
c) The UKA endurance team firmly believe that group training offers greater benefit than
individual training;
d) It is important to ensure that coaches as well as athletes benefit from the provision.
UKA National Event Coach George Gandy is a big believer in the benefits athletes gain from
training and preparing at altitude:
“In my opinion the UKA and London Marathon altitude programme is the most significant
advance I have seen in UK endurance running for thirty years,” he said.