ELEVATE
Experience High Altitude Training in Tokyo
April 25 (Sunday)
1200 – 1600
¥7,700
(incl. tax, service charges)
max. 10 pax
min. 4 pax
Toyosu, Tokyo
Ever wondered what it’s like to workout at altitude? The ASICS Sports Complex TOKYO BAY offers the unique experience of training at high altitude – in the heart of Tokyo.
There’s no need to travel far and high to simulate the atmospheric pressure drop and decrease in the amount of oxygen available. During the ELEVATE experience, you’ll feel how altitude can affect one’s performance and gain a better understanding of why elite athletes and teams often opt to train in high altitude locations like Colorado Springs, Flagstaff, and Salt Lake City.
But altitude training is not just for elite athletes! With training areas at the ASICS Sports Complex TOKYO BAY simulating 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) or 3,000 meters (9,843 feet), you’ll get a taste of an estimated 20% to 27% less oxygen entering the body with each breath. Amidst a changed environment, experience how altitude affects performance and muscle fatigue sets in quicker – regardless of fitness level!
ELEVATE is a half-day trial at a specialty training facility originally designed for visiting athletes for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Unlike the standard trial, ELEVATE is extended from three hours to four hours; in addition, the facilities tour and altitude training brief will be held in English. ELEVATE is meant to be an informational opportunity and training experience for amateur athletes.
elevate trial
- ¥7,700
- 4 hours
- English facilities tour and altitude training brief led by certified IRONMAN U triathlon coach
- Swag bag
standard trial
- ¥4,950
- 3 hours
- Japanese facilities tour and altitude training brief
schedule
1200-1230…introductions; change as necessary
1230-1315…SpO2 checks; facility tour
1315-1415…Group A at training room; Group B at 50m pool
1415-1515…Group A at 50m pool, Group B at training room
1545-1600…closing comments; adjourn
highlights
- Spend 4 hours at a world-class training facility
- Experience altitude training in Tokyo
- Tour facilities and guidance in English by a certified triathlon coach
- Learn the basics of high altitude training
- State of the art facilities and equipment
- Conduct your own training menu
- Swim with all your pool toys
- All athletes get a swag bag
- Standard COVID-19 and infectious disease prevention measures implemented
facilities
- 25 meter pool at sea level
- 50 meter pool at 2,000m (6,560ft)
- Large training room at 2,000m
- Training room at 3,000m (9,843ft)
- State-of-the-art studio at altitude
- Sports lab for various athlete analysis
- Free weights and strength training machines
- Wide variety of training tools, including Swiss balls, TRX, kettle bells, etc.
- Large multi-purpose space with artificial turf
- Spacious locker-rooms with sauna and recovery baths
why high altitude training?
Research shows that when we train at high altitude under conditions with low oxygen concentration, human performance can improve by way of adaptation to reduced oxygen. Compared to training under normal oxygen concentration levels, training at altitude can effectively improve cardiorespiratory function and efficiently develop the stamina and endurance key to athlete performance.
The advantage of altitude training is that the muscles get a natural boost when more oxygen is available during lower-altitude competitions. The disadvantage is that athletes simply can’t train as hard at high altitude.
not your average gym
In recent years, specialized facilities like the ASC have successfully reproduce the low-oxygen conditions specific to high-altitude training. Effectively speaking, the ASC is an altitude chamber at sea level.
In the past, such facilities have been limited to top athletes but as health-conscious trends grow, high altitude training has gained attention and traction among the general population.
Closest Stations: Shijomae station or Shin-Toyosu station (Yurikamome Monorail; 3-min walk), Toyosu station (Yurakucho Line; 15-min walk)
Will I get a refund if the minimum number of registrants is not reached?
This experience requires a minimum of 4 registrants. If less than 4 register by April 18, the experience will be cancelled. All registrants will receive a full refund less 5% to account for online transaction fees.
I can’t go all of a sudden for whatever reason, can I transfer my entry?
Yes, you can transfer your entry to another individual, please use the self-edit function available here. Transfers are free and can be completed up until three days before departure (April 22).
Will I get a refund if I have to cancel my entry?
If you cancel your entry, you may be eligible for a partial refund depending on when you cancel. Please view the refund schedule below for details:
100% of your total amount (less 5% for processing fees) will be refunded if you notify us of cancellation in writing via email no later than 1200 on April 23
50% of your total amount (less 5% for processing fees) will be refunded if you notify us of cancellation no later than 1200 on April 24
0% of your total amount will be refunded if you notify us of cancellation after 1200 on April 24, do not notify us of cancellation, and/or are a no show
Subject to an official state of emergency declaration, the experience may need to be cancelled less than two weeks before departure. In such instances, all participants will receive a full refund (less 5% for online transaction fees).
What should I wear?
Come in your street clothes. Time to change in the locker room is allotted in the schedule. Each athlete is entitled to a secure locker.
What should I bring?
Bring a swimsuit set for the pool and another outfit set for the gym.
AT THE POOL
・Swim cap required
・Electronic devices, such as Garmin watches are permitted
・All pool toys, including hard paddles and fins are permitted
AT THE GYM
・Indoor shoes required (alternatively, a pair of clean outdoor shoes)
・Masks and/or face coverings are ALWAYS required, including on cardio machines, such as a treadmill.
What parts of the ASICS Sports Complex TOKYO BAY are available for use during this experience?
The 50m pool and Training Room 1 or Training 2 (TBA) will be available. Athletes will be split into two groups, rotating between the dryland gym and pool. The locker room and its facilities (such as the sauna and recovery baths) will also be available for use.
Will there be a set training program or menu?
No, we debated this and ultimately decided athletes would likely prefer to conduct their own menu without the pressure to conform to prescribed sets. Remember that training at altitude means training in a new environment – which can be intimidating and overwhelming. We encourage participating athletes to be smart about their training – this is not the time for super high intensity efforts. During this experience, you may want to try out a menu you might normally do and compare how your body performs and reacts at altitude.
Does Samurai Sports receive any kickbacks from this experience? Am I going to be cajoled into signing up for membership?
No, we are simply partnering with the Complex to offer what we believe is a unique opportunity in English. Participants are under no obligation to sign up for membership at the ASICS Sports Complex TOKYO BAY. Samurai Sports does not receive benefits or advantages from members who choose to sign up for membership.
What effects will I see from this experience?
You will not see any immediate effects from one-off training at altitude. As with any training program, the effects of high-altitude training takes time and can vary among athletes. Not everyone will benefit the same and consistent altitude training will affect different people in different ways. Altitude training is not a silver bullet solution to improve aerobic and/or anaerobic performance.
Scientific research shows that consistently training at altitude improves vascular oxygen transport capacity, higher anaerobic resistance, improved oxygen transport in the muscle fibers, and 1 to 5 percent performance improvement at lactic threshold among other effects. Again, please note that the various benefits of altitude training won’t be attained from this single experience.
What precautions should I take before the altitude training experience?
Athletes should have a solid fitness base and be in good health. Ideally, athletes will have several years of consistent training in a sport, such as trail running, cycling, triathlon, etc. Athletes should not have a medical history with iron deficiency and should not have experienced cold or flu-like symptoms in the past week. Avoid caffeine and alcohol before ELEVATE – these are diuretics and can depress the normal breathing response to altitude. Finally, athletes with an important competition (“A-Race”) scheduled within the next seven days should reconsider participating.