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From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
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Some notes on altitude training and the effects of altitude
* At altitude there is lower air pressure. This lower pressure means that each lung full of air has less oxygen (lower partial pressure of O2). This results in lower oxygen saturation in the blood (Hypoxia).
* The human body adjusts to lower blood oxygen saturation by producing more red blood cellsin many ways. The extra One adaption is an increase in red blood cells offsets some of , but the lower performance at altitude, as well as providing better performance at low improvements from altitudetraining may come from other sources<ref name="Nonhematological"/><ref name="Counterpoint"/>. Other adaptations also occur, especially with [[Intermittent Hypoxic Training]]
* There is great individual variability in the response to altitude. Some studies have classified subjects as 'responders' and 'non-responders' due to the significance of this variability. This variability can change over time within an individual. I met someone in Tanzania who had been a porter on Kilimanjaro (19,334 ft) until he lost his ability to cope with the altitude.
* Some variability may be due to differences in iron intake/availability. Low blood iron (serum ferritin < 20 ng/ml female, < 30 ng/ml male) may limit the body's ability to generate new red blood cells, which is part of the altitude adaptation. Studies in the USSR and CIS have shown genetic factors as well.
<ref name="crowther">http://www.running-blogs.com/crowther/2007/08/racing_at_high_altitude_a_myth.html Racing at high altitude: a myth exposed</ref>
<ref name="Everest">http://www.zuniv.net/pub/Everest2.pdf Facts that Prove that Adaptation to Life at Extreme Altitude</ref>
<ref name="Nonhematological">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17805094?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum Nonhematological mechanisms of improved sea-level performance after hypoxic exposure</ref>
<ref name="Counterpoint">http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/99/5/2055 Counterpoint: Positive effects of intermittent hypoxia (live high:train low) on exercise performance are not mediated primarily by augmented red cell volume</ref>
</references>
