We investigated the effects of nightly intermittent exposure to hypoxia and of training during intermittent hypoxia on both erythropoiesis and running economy (RE), which is indicated by the oxygen cost during running at submaximal speeds. Twnty-five college long- and middle-distance runners {maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) 60.3±4.7 ml/kg/min} were randomly assigned to one of three groups: hypoxic residential group (HypR, 11 h/night at 3000m simulated altitude), hypoxic training group (HypT) or control group (CON), for an intervention of 29 nights. All subjects trained in Tokyo (altitude of 60m) but HypT had additional high intensity treadmill running for 30 min at 3000 m simulated altitude on 12 days during the night-intervention. VO₂ was measured at standing rest during four submaximal speeds (12, 14, 16 and 18 km/h) and during a maximal stage to volitional exhaustion on a treadmill. Total hemoglobin mass (THb) was measured by carbon monoxide rebreathing. There were no significant changes in VO_2max, THb and the time to exhaustion in all three groups after the intervention. Nevertheless, HypR showed ~5% improvement of RE in normoxia (p<0.01) after the intervention, reflected by reduced VO₂ at 18 km/h and the decreased regression slope fitted to VO₂ measured during rest position and the four submaximal speeds (p<0.05), while no significant corresponding changes were found in HypT and CON. We concluded that our dose of intermittent hypoxia (3000 m for ~11 h/night for 29 nights) was insufficient to enhance erythropoiesis or VO_2max, but improved the RE at race speed of college runners.