Effects of Two Endurance Training Programs on 5-km Running Performance in Recreational Runners (NCT07738640) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Effects of Two Endurance Training Programs on 5-km Running Performance in Recreational Runners
60 participantsStarted 2026-08
Plain-language summary
This study will examine the effects of two 8-week endurance training programs on 5-km running performance in recreational runners. Participants will be randomly assigned to a lactate threshold training group, a pyramidal-to-polarized endurance training group, or a control group that maintains usual physical activity without receiving the study training program.
Before and after the intervention, participants will complete assessments of 5-km running performance, aerobic fitness, lactate threshold, running economy, blood lactate responses, and brain activity recorded before and after maximal exercise. The study will compare changes among the three groups and examine whether physiological and post-exercise neural responses are associated with improvements in running performance.
The main purpose is to determine whether the two training programs produce different improvements in 5-km running performance and to better understand the physiological and neural adaptations associated with endurance training in recreational runners.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 25 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Men and women aged \[18-30\] years.
* Recreational runners with regular running or endurance-training experience for at least \[6 months\].
* Currently completing running training at least \[2-3 times per week\].
* Able to complete a continuous 5-km run.
* Willing and able to complete the 8-week training intervention and all study assessments.
* Able to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Current cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, neurological, or other medical conditions that may contraindicate maximal exercise or endurance training.
* Current musculoskeletal injury or pain that limits running or participation in maximal exercise testing.
* History of loss of consciousness, epilepsy, severe head injury, or other neurological conditions that may affect electroencephalographic recordings.
* Use of medications or substances known to substantially affect cardiovascular, metabolic, or central nervous system responses to exercise.
* Participation in another structured exercise intervention or clinical study during the study period.
* Inability or unwillingness to comply with the assigned training program, testing procedures, or study requirements.
* Any other condition judged by the investigators to make participation unsafe or to substantially affect the validity of the study outcomes.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in 5-km Running Performance
Timeframe: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention