at these altitudes (2784 metres). Taking your woolly hat to the South of France in August may seem bizarre, but runners came up against -4°C temperatures at the summit last year. And for those tending towards masochism, a separate ranking is run for those carrying

’s 10 toughest marathons. The course is 1650m above sea level, and it’s in a game reserve. I told him he was mad.He kept badgering me, until eventually I was converted to his way of thinking, much to my wife’s disapproval.Altitude was certainly going

rate monitor to get back to speed after illness and injury. Training In Heat Or At Altitude Avoid overstressing your body in the heat or at altitude by using your heart rate monitor to help you stay within your training limits. How To Use A Heart

.cardiosport.comCiclosport Hac 4 £154.99 Great cross-training tool as it’s also a bike computer that can provide readings such as speed, distance, temperature, gradients and altitude.Can store up to 64 hours of data, which can then be downloaded onto a PC. Graphical display

-mounted GPS unit, giving accurate altitude measurements and ascent and descent rates. Data can be reviewed on the watch, though you’ll need to purchase a separate Data Recorder 2 (£60) to download it on to your computer. On the downside, it took about 10

training plans. For the last three decades, exercise physiologist Jack Daniels has set the standard for designing such plans. Along the way he’s worked with dozens of elite athletes, ranging from Ryun (Daniels helped him prepare for the high altitude

. If that sounds too strenuous, there are also two shorter races: the two lakes trail is a 22K event starting at Plagne Bellecote and climbing up to Dou du Plaz to join the 6000D course, while the Randoplagne is an 11K race that links the various high-altitude

– on foot. The trek up to Gorak Shep will help you to acclimatise to the lack of oxygen in the air before you begin the marathon on rough mountain trails. Despite an overall drop in altitude, the going is tough but as you head down to Namche Bazaar

oils; wheatgerm; wholemeal bread; cereals; egg yolk; nuts; dark green, leafy vegetables May improve oxygen utilisation in the muscle cells Studies show supplements can have a beneficial effect on performance at high altitudesInformation obtained from

is rarer and, though the rays are more damaging, UVC is only a danger at high altitude. Sunglasses are graded one to four; category three – which the dark lenses on these glasses meet – is adequate for the UK. Some glasses come with interchangeable lenses