Elite Athlete Centre and Hotel

There is a new hotel, that has opened in Loughborough in the grounds of the University, that does more than just provide food and a bed. It also helps athletes to train and perform better.

How?

By providing and teaching them incredible healthy recipes to help their bodies to be in tip top condition and by allowing them to sleep at altitude...

It’s an incredible option for athletes who want to compete at the highest level...to sleep as if at Everest basecamp – a very high level! The hotel was part funded by Sport England and athletes were consulted. There are 44 bedrooms. 20 can be set at altitude and 8 are accessible.

So how do you sleep at altitude?

The levels need to be set in the office...the individuals sleeping in the rooms don’t have access to the controls.

There is a void above 20 of the rooms which is also set at altitude. The Air conditioning then circulates the oxygen through the vents and around the bedroom. The rooms can be set between 0-5000m and the air is filtered to 99.9% to 0.01 micron for bacteria, viruses, odours etc. This is the most advanced altitude system anywhere in the world!

To find out more, Hannah Wallace who works at the hotel has done a blog on ‘Live High Train Low’ which she has allowed us to give you a link to.

The beds have loads of space underneath them for kit bags. The wardrobes are missing their doors to reduce time for the athletes putting their things away. The altitude can be set in the morning as you leave to train so that it’s all ready for your return.

There is a players’ lounge that has an Astroturf sofa that looks straight out over the Paula Radcliffe Stadium.

Loughborough University is the most famous sports university in the country and known around the world for its sports-related courses. So it makes sense to have a hotel for sports men and women based there.

This is a sample breakfast menu from the hotel. It splits the food into fuel, repair, support/protect and extras. The idea is to educate the athletes about food as well as simply feeding them the right recipes.

FUELLING YOUR PERFORMANCE - SAMPLE BREAKFAST MENU

Vegetarian

Grilled vegan breakfast – EAC Kitchen baked beans, mushroom, spinach, avocado, vine tomato and asparagus (GF)

Fuel

Breads: selection of fresh breads, wraps and bagels including sour dough, seeded, rye and plain (GF available)

Porridge: EAC Kitchen porridge made with semi-skimmed milk (GF)

Bircher pots: individual bircher muesli pots (dairy free) (GF)

Athlete Focused Cereal Selection: specially selected athlete focussed breakfast cereals and granola (GF available)

Kitchen Kedgeree: homemade smoked mackerel and rice kedgeree (GF)

EAC beans: EAC Kitchen baked beans (GF)

Repair

Eggs to order: omelettes, poached or scrambled eggs with selection of fillings

EAC protein pancake / waffle: made to order by our Performance Chef (GF)

Poultry: chicken sausages (GF)

Meat: grilled bacon medallions

Fish: Smoked salmon slices

Continental platters: sliced continental meat platter (sliced ham, turkey slices, bresaola, cheese slices, cottage cheese)

Dairy: individual Greek yoghurt fruit and granola pots, plain Greek yoghurt; selection of skimmed and semi skimmed milks available

Support / Protect

EAC Probiotic shot: EAC Keffir Probiotic shot (cultured daily in-house)

Avocado: smashed avocado with chilli and lime and avocado slices

Mushrooms: grilled mushrooms

Tomatoes: roasted tomatoes

Spinach: wilted spinach

Berry selection: selection of berries and berry compote

Fruit: fresh fruit (mixed fruit salad platter and individual portions of fruit)

Juice: cold pressed immune boost shooter of the day

Extras

Dairy Free: almond, soya and rice milk available plus dairy free yoghurts available

Dried fruit: selection of dried goji berries, apricots, cranberries, raisins and prunes

Mixed nuts & seeds: selection of nuts, chia, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, milled linseed and flaxseed toppers

Nut butter / preserves: selection of high-quality nut butters, local honey and locally sourced preserves

Condiments: extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed oil, selection of spreads, dressings and sauces

Jelly: homemade “REGEN” fruit jelly pots

So you can choose foods that your body needs depending on your training.