Commentaries on Viewpoint: Physiology and fast marathons

Joyner et al. (4) analyze the main factors contributing to the improvement in marathon races emphasizing V̇o2max, lactate threshold, and running economy (RE). We consider it important to foreground the role of high altitude. There is evidence that four weeks of training periods at simulated 2,000–3,100 m can decrease the V̇o2 for a given velocity (5). Also, there are interesting investigations not only in African but also in Amerindian athletes. The latter living between 2,000 m and more than 4,000 m of altitude are not such good marathon runners as East-Africans, but successful on longer distances. Interestingly they do not train only on mountain planes but also on steep ascents.