So the Nike Project house, pressurized to ~12,000 ft. and stepping out the door to sea-level, cheating or not? What do people think? In my opinion it's a bunch of crap, like that commercial says, "that's not natural."
So the Nike Project house, pressurized to ~12,000 ft. and stepping out the door to sea-level, cheating or not? What do people think? In my opinion it's a bunch of crap, like that commercial says, "that's not natural."
I would think that the instant transition from 12K ft. to sea level would be really tough, if not downright dangerous for the body. Any thoughts on this.
dnixon wrote:
I would think that the instant transition from 12K ft. to sea level would be really tough, if not downright dangerous for the body. Any thoughts on this.
I agree with the above copied, but do not think it is cheating.
If it is not against the rules of the governing body under which you compete, it isn't cheating. So as it stands now, altitude rooms are not cheating.
I don't believe it is cheating. When you are at that level of competition people are trying to do everything they can to be the best. It is no different than living at a high altitude and driving someplace at a lower altitude to train. Obviously the altitude house makes it easier than having to do lots of traveling between living and training areas, but it is still not cheating. And secondly I don't think they sleep at altitudes as high as 12,000 feet, and some of the runners have not even seen a benefit yet when they are tested in a lab, so if it is cheating, it has yet to do that much to help yet. The intent of the house is to have a good place to live and train, not to cheat. They have a couple altitude tents, but that is not what the house is about, it's about training really hard in a good location where Alberto Salazar can oversee them.
Actually, Lt. Dan likes to sleep at 12k so certain guys can't share a room with him as not everyone in the house can handle that altitude. but hey, it works for him. regardless of what you think of big al or the guys or the project in general, its been great to see them getting results that no other group has been getting. i like all the hanson guys, talk to a lot of them when we do common races but, of the true "groups" (because usa cali doesn't live together year round) they are putting out the best results. obviously not many marathons yet, but that will come. and don't whine about "oh sure, to come, yeah right, when, in twenty years?" some of the hanson guys plan for the 2008 games. doesn't work for me but i support them, thats what works for them. just cheer for each and every one of these guys when you see them, okay.