by Larry Eder
Meb Keflizighi winning 2011 RNR San Jose Half, photo by PhotoRun.net
Arthur Lydiard suggested the value of high altitude training in the sixties. Ron Daws, a 1968 U.S. Olympian wrote about the value of high altitude training in his book, Self-Made Olympian (1974). Frank Shorter once quipped, ” Not sure why it works, but I am training at altitude.” Seemed like the guy might know when something worked, with four wins at Fukuoka and gold and silver on the Olympic marathon courses.
Dr. Joe Vigil, with his Adams State teams, showed anecdotally, and with the precision of a scientist, that high altitude training works for many distance runners. Bob Larsen embraced high altitude training with Meb, as did Dr. Joe with Deena and Terrance Mahon with Deena and his Mammoth TC in Mammoth Lakes, California.
The following story, about one of our most liked marathoners, Meb Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist and 2009 ING NYCM champion, coming down from high altitude, at the right time (under 72 hours or 14-21 days), in order to be successful racing at sea level.
Special thanks to alert twitter reader Peter Abraham for finding this gem: http://online.wsj.com/article/
For more on the ING New York City Marathon, please click on:
