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Most of the published literature around advises that you need to train at an altitude of at least 1500
to 2000m above sea level to get a genuine altitude effect.

However, there was a study conducted a few years ago comparing performance at the AIS in
Canberra (580m above sea level) to that at Sea Level ( Gore, et al : "Reduced performance of male
and female athletes at 580m altitude" European Journal of Applied Physiology 75: p136-43, 1997).
This involved a test involving trained individuals completing a 5 minute maximal effort on a cycle
ergometer at each location. The results showed an average reduction in VO2max at "altitude" of
5.9% for men and 3.7% for women. The total amount of work done during the 5 minute effort
decreased for 3.7% for both groups.

This indicates that while there isn't any significant research supporting the benefit of TRAINING at
this sort of altitude, there IS an effect on PERFORMANCE.

This is particularly relevant for Australians because while we have only a couple of popular training /
competition venues at 1500+ (Falls Ck, Thredbo), we have large areas ar 500m+, aspecially in NSW,
Victoria and the ACT.