Training tips
Valuable tips on the race at 1800 meters above sea level
Start: Promulins in Samedan over the Ox Bridge and on along the Flaz to Punt Muragl. Here the morning sun shimmers through the trees and is also reflected in the Inn and Flaz. A real winter dream. You can walk back via Celerina. Here, a large part of the route is very easy to walk, often even cleared, and thus offers the opportunity for a final burst of speed to wake up completely!
Length: 8km
Level of difficulty: very easy
- Start
your preparation now. The longer you prepare for the Engadiner Sommerlauf,
the greater the chance of running with a good feeling and a new best time.
- Whoever
runs his standard lap at the same pace doesn't get faster. Train with a
system and incorporate different types of training into your training.
- Gently
increase the training volume. Your body will slowly get used to the increased
stress. First you should increase the frequency, then increase the
duration and only then think about the intensity.
- Even
running: Do your intensive units from time to time on a reversal route.
After half of the specified time, change direction and try to run back
just as quickly. If you are at the start again at the end of the interval,
you have done everything correctly.
- Exit your flat standard round and search for altitude. In August, the more you run in the terrain, the easier it will be for you to master the topographical obstacles and keep the speed high at the end of the race.
- Get to
grips with your running shoes early on. You should feel comfortable in it
and be able to walk in them for at least two hours.
- Rest is
also training. Treat yourself to a day off regularly.
- Make an
appointment with a running partner. Many things are easier together. A
running date creates commitment and motivates you to train regularly.
- Be sure
to practice keeping refreshed during your preparation. Especially if you
are traveling intensively, i.e. at a competitive pace or for a
particularly long time. Because without additional energy (e.g. gels) you
will struggle to achieve your performance goal.
- Don't try to make up for anything you've missed in the last week or two of preparation. Doing so will cause you to be tired at the start line.
How long, how high, how intense? A sensible altitude training raises many questions - especially among hobby athletes. An overview of how altitude training affects body and performance and what needs to be considered.
Copytext: Anne-Marie Flammersfeld / all mountain fitness
On the day of arrival, you shouldn't be surprised if your breathing becomes labored when carrying your suitcase. The reason for this: The air pressure decreases with increasing altitude and at 2000 meters above sea level falls from 760 mm Hg to 600 mm Hg. As a result of the reduced oxygen content in the air, the respiratory rate and volume increases both during exercise and at rest. Our body is looking for ways to get more oxygen. So-called "gasping" on the day of arrival is quite normal.
Another important factor with increasing altitude is the cool and dry air. The mucous membranes need more fluid. Because of the increased respiratory rate during the first two days, the body also loses more fluid. With the loss of fluid, minerals and electrolytes are lost. This can quickly lead to corresponding deficient conditions and thus to a decrease in resilience. A dry mouth, a scratchy voice or a feeling of tension in the facial skin are noticeable signs of this dryness.
The motto here is to drink a lot. In addition, sleep is not as relaxing during the settling-in period as at sea level, so that you can feel tired and exhausted. But the body gradually adapts to the stress caused by altitude exposure. The acclimatization phase in St. Moritz at around 1,800 meters takes about two to four days. In this situation, the body should be given time to get used to it, so that the above symptoms can subside. Time to get used to it means: indulge in the necessary relaxation and rest and do little and, above all, only very casual sporting activities.
Altitude training
Training at altitude must be well planned. A distinction is made between three forms of altitude training, which are continuously discussed and further refined b science. The methodology is divided into: "Sleep high - train high", “Sleep low - train high" and “Sleep high - train low”.
- Sleep
high - train high: In this classic variant, the athlete lives and trains
at the same height level between 1800 m and 2500 m. In preparation for a
competition at altitude, this concept proves to be very effective in terms
of increasing performance. On the other hand, there are controversial
study results and no clear opinion for an improvement in performance at
lower altitudes.
- Sleep
low - train high: The athlete only goes for the training sessions at an
altitude of 2500 - 3200 m, the rest of the time they spends at lower altitudes. The concept
was based on the assumption that a short stay in altitude of 90 minutes
can lead to the appearance of adjustment (distribution of EPO). The
athlete trains under hypoxic conditions and can then relax in the «flat
land». This training, under oxygen-poor conditions (hypoxia training),
represents a high physical strain and can cause fatigue symptoms. Adequate regeneration is
therefore important.
- Sleep high - train low: This method is designed so that the athlete spends most of the time at a certain height (between 2000 - 2500 m) and trains in the flatlands or at heights of 1300 - 1800 m. The advantage here is that acclimatization takes place under rest conditions and that there should be no negative side effects such as overtraining or an increased susceptibility to infections. Important: The athlete should stay at this height for at least 400 to 600 hours, which corresponds to about 2.5 - 4 weeks. A one-week high-altitude stay in the Engadin can therefore offer a nice holiday experience, but at least two weeks, or better three or even four, are necessary with regard to a desired increase in athletic performance.
A guarantee of success?
Statements regarding the effectiveness of altitude training must be considered individually. To put it simply, one could say that if an athlete stays at a certain height for a certain amount of time and trains with the same level of performance as in the lowlands, this could lead to an improvement in performance in the lowlands. The subjunctive “could” is mentioned because, despite almost 40 years of research, science has not been able to clearly demonstrate the benefits and efficiency of altitude training. The many studies are too different in methodology, structure and sequence of the investigations to be able to compare the results. In addition, acclimatization affects everyone differently and the effect of altitude training is difficult to predict without individual experience.
It is therefore important for every athlete to have their own experience with
altitude training, to test different methods and to document individual
reactions. Athletes for whom altitude training is an integral part of the
training calendar have many years of experience and can assess how their body
reacts to various stimuli. There are simple diagnostic procedures to determine
a physiological response. The performance can be checked, for example, using
spiroergometry with lactate diagnostics before and after altitude training.
What is also to be considered:
-
Nutrition
is important: A high-quality diet is a prerequisite for altitude training
- regardless of which method. In the immediate recovery phase after a
training session, a carbohydrate and protein-rich diet can positively
influence the adaptation processes. During the stay at height, the water
bottle becomes a constant companion to take into account the increased
fluid requirements. For every 1000 meters of difference in altitude,
athletes should consume an additional liter.
- Caution
overtraining: A careful approach to the appropriate training intensity and
the tolerable scope of training at altitude is crucial. An increased
susceptibility to infections should not be underestimated. Due to the
height-related increased training intensity, an overtraining condition can
easily occur. This can weaken the immune system and lead to general
malaise, sleep disorders, poor mental health and the lack of an increase
in performance, as symptoms of too intensive training. For longer stays in
the mountains, it therefore makes sense at least in the first few days to
go to lower locations during training (e.g. on a bike) and to avoid
strenuous mountain passes.
- Correct timing: How much time should elapse from altitude training until the competition? Again, there are no clear recommendations, but two predominantly practiced tendencies: Either the competition takes place in the first two days after returning to the lowlands or only after a waiting period of up to 30 days after altitude training. In days four to nine, one speaks of a critical phase or transformation phase, in which the performance can drop and the body changes again. The competition should therefore not take place in this time frame. According to the prevailing opinion, the optimum is in the third week after returning to the lowlands. In this regard, the following also applies: Ultimately, individual experience values are more meaningful than general scientific recipes.
The proof is in the pudding
For those who are going to an altitude training
camp for the first time, it is advisable to start the training slowly. Intact
health and a generally good and injury-free state of training are essential.
For the duration of the altitude training, athletes should plan at least two
weeks (ideally between three and four weeks). In the first week of training,
athletes should train with a reduced scope and intensity, about 20% less than
in the lowlands, with a focus on basic training. More intensive units can be instated
from week two onwards. At the end of a three-week stay, for example, athletes
can complete the training with almost full intensity.
How to master the mountain air:
Tips for the competition at altitude.
For all athletes who arrive from the lowlands at short notice, the most important requirement is to be healthy and in as good a condition as possible. The best time to arrive is four to seven days before the run. This leaves enough time to get used to the altitude and to carry out light training sessions, for example on the competition track. Make sure you have enough sleep, a healthy diet, an increased need for drinking and a longer regeneration time. However, if you do not have so much time, you should plan the run so that the load takes place in the first 24 hours after arrival. Studies have shown that performance is reduced in this phase, but significantly better than on the second day after arrival in the mountain air.
In order to integrate the summer run into a longer planned altitude training, the competition should take place between week two and three. It is not advisable to start the run in the beginning of the week (acclimatization) or in the end phase of the stay at high altitude because the effort is too high.
All those who spend their lives at high altitudes (from approx. 1500 m) certainly have advantages over the “flat lands”. Their bodies have gotten used to the altitude and has responded with corresponding signs of adaptation. Whether a trained athlete from the lowlands or a “mountain dweller” will decide the summer run remains an exciting and interesting matter for everyone involved.
St. Moritz high-altitude training mecca
For years, the Engadin has been an ideal "playground" for athletes from all over the world. The altitude exposure of 1856 m in St. Moritz offers the best conditions for all three methods presented. “Sleep high train low”, for example, can be excellently implemented in the mountain hotel “Mouttas Muragl”, which is at 2456 m. If you are looking for even more peace and quiet, you can spend the night in the secluded silence of the mountain hotel «Diavolezza» at almost 3000 m. The training units can be completed in St. Moritz or in the neighboring towns. Running athletes should note that they can mainly run on natural roads and forest paths. Anyone preparing for a competition on asphalt should have trained this in advance. The Upper Engadin is not just an Eldorado for running enthusiasts. All cyclists and mountain bikers can also let off steam on the paths and roads, but must expect a significant wind (Maloja wind) from the south from midday on in summer.
Anne-Marie Flammersfeld is a graduate sports scientist, personal trainer extreme athlete and OK president of the Engadiner Sommerlauf. She lives and works in St. Moritz, where she and her company encourage the Engadin’s to perform at their best. allmountainfitness.ch
Nutrition tips
Valuable tips on the race at 1800 meters above sea level
Tips from runningcoach.ch
- Make
sure you have a normal, high-quality diet consisting of 50-60%
carbohydrates, 20-30% fats and 12-15% proteins.
- Eat
regularly, colorfully and varied. There
are no prohibited foods, but high quality is important.
- Food
eaten before training or competition is only useful after it has been
digested and the nutrients it contains have been absorbed. This means that
food intake should be timed so that nutrients are available during
exercise.
- Foods that are high in fat, protein or nutritional fiber extend the digestion time and can increase the risk of indigestion during exercise.
This is how you take care of yourself after an exercise
- The
loss of fluid should be fully compensated for as early as three to six
hours after exercise. As a rule of thumb, for every 500 gr of body weight lost
you should consume 500 ml of liquid. Note: Every quarter of an hour our
body is able to absorb no more than 250 ml of liquid.
- Alcohol
should be avoided in the first hours after an intensive exercise because
it not only removes fluid from the body, but also inhibits the release of
the hormones testosterone and HGH (growth hormone), which are so important
for regeneration.
- Proteins
help repair damaged muscle tissue and build new muscle tissue. They should
be consumed in the form of shakes or bars within 30 minutes of the end of
exercise.
- After exercise, the body needs carbohydrates to replenish the glycogen stores. Ideally in combination with proteins, because this way the reserves fill up even faster. For a person weighing 70 kg the following applies: Within the first half hour after a competition, 70 to 100 gr of carbohydrates and 70 gr of protein should be consumed (e.g. bars or carbohydrate electrolyte drink). For the first 6 hours, the same amount should follow as a small meal every 2 hours (e.g. pasta and easily digestible proteins such as cooked chicken).
3 tips from runningcoach.ch
-
Run
your longest unit while fasting to optimize fat burning. Fill yourself
with water, a sports drink and gels on the go. Promote your regeneration
with a recovery drink in the first 5-10 minutes after finishing the long
jog.
- Accelerate
recovery after intense sessions such as intervals by consuming a gel and
drinking just after the last interval and before cooldown.
- During training at a fast pace, practice consuming refreshments during exercise: gel with water and a sports drink. This is how to prepare for the 25 kilometers from August.
Very often it is not the lack of performance that makes a runner miss the target. Improper drinking behavior can also lead to failure despite good preparation. Drinking in time and sufficiently often decides on success and failure. Adequate drinking volume can compensate for the loss caused by sweat and thus maintain the mileage for several hours. But not only is the loss of fluids a performance-limiting factor, excessive drinking should also be avoided when exercising endurance. It can lead to severe sodium deficiency symptoms. Not only the liquid balance, but also the electrolyte balance must be correct. The nature of the liquid replacement drink is of crucial importance for absorption and distribution in the body. The best fluid replacement contains water, electrolytes and carbohydrates.
The following tips on drinking behavior will bring you to your goal:
- At the
beginning, drink small amounts (200-300ml) at every refreshment post, even
if you are not thirsty, but do not overdo it! In training, you can already
practice this with your own drinking bottle. Because: You can and must
train drinking!
- A 6%
carbohydrate drink (6% = sports drink with 6g carbohydrates per 100ml or
60g per liter) is isotonic and is therefore ideally absorbed by the body. It
quenches thirst and provides the necessary energy. See examples below.
- The
addition of 1g salt per liter (approximately one knife tip) of liquid
improves carbohydrate absorption. In addition, this makes an ideal drink
for sodium replacement in hot weather. Salty snacks during the run can
also help maintain sodium balance in the body. Pretzel sticks have proven
their worth in a cramp: let three pretzel sticks melt in your mouth!
- Instead
of drinking a large amount once an hour, it is better to drink smaller
"servings" every 15 to 20 minutes.
- Usually
400-800 ml of liquid per hour are required.
- Caution!
The maximum possible fluid intake is around 1000ml per hour. Larger
amounts of liquid are not absorbed and can cause stomach problems!
- Slower runners and smaller women need less fluid per hour! If you are aiming for a target time of 2-3 hours, you do not need to drink more than 400-500ml per hour.
- The ideal beverage temperature: slightly warmed in winter, but not too hot
Most of these guidelines apply to all healthy runners! So it applies e.g. scientifically proven that a 6% carbohydrate drink with electrolytes is ideally suited to "fill up" both liquid and energy. Here everyone needs different amounts because each individual's fluid needs are unique, like a fingerprint. Running speed, body weight, gender, climate and sweat rate are just a few factors that influence your personal needs. After all, it makes a difference whether you weigh 50 or 90 kg!