The UBC Long-distance Triathlon Adaptation Study

NCT06467656 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: H24-00882
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of 12-months of individualized endurance-training (swimming, cycling and running) on physiological and psychological adaptations in exercise naïve individuals. Due to the potential seasonal changes that naturally occur in individuals across a year (even without training) the investigators will also compare the exercise-trained group to a time-aligned control group.

Conditions

Healthy Participants

Keywords

Exercise; Endurance training; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Cardiovascular; Respiratory; Vascular; Immune; Microbiome; Psychology; Performance; Biological Sex Differences

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max).

  The change in VO2max from baseline to 12 months of exercise training.

  12 Months

Secondary Outcomes (65)

• Time-course of change in VO2max.

  3, 6, and 12 months

• Time-course of change in resting left ventricular structure.

  1, 3, 6, and 12 months

• Time-course of change in left ventricular structure during exercise.

  1, 3, 6, and 12 months

• Time-course of change in left ventricular structure with volume loading.

  1, 3, 6, and 12 months

• Time-course of change in ventricular diameter to wall thickness

  1, 3, 6, and 12 months

Study Arms (2)

Exercise Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will engage in 12 months of individualized endurance-training (swimming, cycling and running) and 9 months of supplemental strengthening exercises. Exercise prescriptions will be provided to participants weekly via an app (TrainingPeaks). Sessions will vary in length from 30 min to 8 hours throughout the program.

Other: Individualized, periodized endurance training for ultra-endurance triathlon.

Time-Aligned Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in the control arm will continue to live their lives exactly as they would if they were not enrolled in a study to allow evaluation of natural biological changes that occur across 12-months of free-living.

Other: Time-Aligned Control

Interventions

Individualized, periodized endurance training for ultra-endurance triathlon. OTHER

Endurance exercise consisting of swimming, cycling and running training for a minimum of 3 hours /week up to a maximum of 20 hours/week with regular rest days and intensities being fluctuated throughout the program to optimize training stimulus and adaptation. Strengthening exercises to complement the aerobic training, enhance conditioning and prevent injury will also be performed 1-2 hours/week for the first 9-months of the program.

Exercise Intervention

Time-Aligned Control OTHER

Participants will receive no specific intervention and will continue to live their lives as if they were not in a study.

Time-Aligned Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years - 39 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 19-39 years
• Non-smoker (quit \>6 months)
• Able to swim \>100 meters without stopping
• Have access to, or willingness, to obtain a road bicycle
• Are willing to commit to the research assessments and prescribed training program
• Currently performing \<120 minutes of structured endurance training per week
• Premenopausal
• Aged 19-39 years
• Non-smoker (quit \>6 months)
• Are willing to commit to the research assessments
• Currently performing \<120 minutes of structured endurance training per week
• Premenopausal

You may not qualify if:

• History of heart disease
• History of lung disease (not including controlled asthma)
• History of metabolic disease
• History of cancer
• Chronic inflammatory conditions
• Blood pressure \> 140/90 mmHg
• Chronic antibiotic, antiviral, antimicrobial, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antihistamine use
• Are a regular (more than 1/week) cannabis user
• Consume alcohol regularly: more than 6 standard drinks per week (e.g.14-20 ounces of beer and 5-8 ounces of wine)
• Have previously completed structured endurance exercise training for an extended period of time (such as training for a triathlon or running race)
• Have previously participated in competitive team sports with an aerobic component (e.g. soccer, basketball, rugby, field hockey) and sport-specific training (e.g. hockey, football) \>3 times per week within the previous 5 years
• Have prior experience of heavy structured resistance training \>3x/week within the last 2 years
• BMI\>32 kg/m2 or \<20 kg/m2
• Pregnancy within 12 months, or planning to become pregnant within the next 12 months
• Currently breast feeding (or having stopped within 6 months)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of British Columbia: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of British Columbia

Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V1V7, Canada

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Robert Shave, PhD

  University of British Columbia

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Robert Shave, PhD

CONTACT

250-317-7226; rob.shave@ubc.ca

Neil Eves, PhD

CONTACT

250-807-9676; neil.eves@ubc.ca

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: This will be a parallel group, non-randomized study.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 22, 2024
• First Posted: June 21, 2024
• Study Start: June 20, 2024
• Primary Completion: December 30, 2025
• Study Completion: January 30, 2026
• Last Updated: April 4, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Time Frame: Ongoing from 6 months after publication

Locations

CA (1)