Use this protocol starting at least two weeks before you go to high altitude. The basis of the protocol is to utilize primarily exertion at simulated altitude with lower oxygen pressure to stimulate the body to adapt to high altitude. Periodic exposure to hypoxic training triggers the body to adapt with various mechanisms.
The body generally adapts by:
- Creating more Red Blood Cells
- Improving lung function
- Exercise Dilation of vascular system to brain and other regions in response to hypoxic stress.
If you are overly sensitive to altitude, this training, absent oxygen, can produce altitude related symptoms. The oxygen cool-down creates an oxygen tide which repairs the altitude stress — but only after stimulating the body to prepare for high altitude.
- Set the system to high altitude (-O2)
- Exercise at moderate/strong pace for 15 minutes
- At the end of the 15 minutes increase to sprint for 30 seconds
- Switch to rich oxygen until recovered (+O2)
- Sprint on rich oxygen for 30 seconds
- Recover
- Sprint on rich oxygen for 30 seconds
- Recover and cool down on oxygen for 5 min