Effects of Two Endurance Training Programs on 5-km Running Performance in Recreational Runners

NCT07738640 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: SUS-5KM-RCT-2026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief 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.

Conditions

Endurance Running Performance; Exercise Training Adaptation

Keywords

5-km Running Performance; Endurance Training; Pyramidal Training; Running Economy; Polarized Training; Recreational Runners

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in 5-km Running Performance

  5-km running performance will be assessed using a maximal-effort self-paced 5-km run conducted on a standard 400-m outdoor athletics track. Completion time will be recorded in seconds. The primary outcome will be the change in 5-km completion time from baseline to the end of the 8-week intervention. A lower completion time indicates better running performance.

  Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Change in Maximal Oxygen Uptake

  Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

• Change in Lactate Threshold

  Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

• Change in Running Economy

  Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

• Change in Post-exercise Blood Lactate Concentration

  Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention, with measurements before exercise and at 5 and 20 minutes after exercise

• Change in Post-exercise Electroencephalographic Activity

  Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention, with electroencephalographic recordings before exercise and at 5 and 20 minutes after exercise

Other Outcomes (1)

• Change in Event-Related Potential Responses During Cognitive Tasks

  Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention, with recordings before exercise and at 5 and 20 minutes after maximal exercise

Study Arms (3)

Lactate Threshold Training Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this group will complete an 8-week endurance training program primarily prescribed around their individually determined lactate threshold intensity. Training intensity will be individualized using baseline physiological testing and adjusted according to the study protocol. Participants will complete the prescribed training sessions throughout the intervention period and will undergo the same pre- and post-intervention assessments as the other study groups.

Behavioral: Lactate Threshold Training

Pyramidal-to-Polarized Endurance Training Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this group will complete an 8-week periodized endurance training program in which the training-intensity distribution progresses from a pyramidal pattern during the initial phase to a polarized pattern during the later phase. Exercise intensity will be individualized using baseline physiological testing and adjusted according to the study protocol. Participants will undergo the same pre- and post-intervention assessments as the other study groups.

Behavioral: Pyramidal-to-Polarized Endurance Training

Usual Activity Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants assigned to this group will continue their usual physical activity and running habits during the 8-week study period and will not receive either of the structured training programs administered by the research team. Participants will be asked not to begin any new structured endurance training program during the intervention period and will undergo the same pre- and post-intervention assessments as the training groups.

Interventions

Lactate Threshold Training BEHAVIORAL

Participants will complete an 8-week individualized endurance training program prescribed primarily around the lactate threshold. Training intensity will be determined from baseline physiological testing. The program will specify the frequency, duration, and intensity of each training session and will be adjusted according to the study protocol.

Lactate Threshold Training Group

Pyramidal-to-Polarized Endurance Training BEHAVIORAL

Participants will complete an 8-week individualized endurance training program in which the training-intensity distribution progresses from a pyramidal pattern during the initial phase to a polarized pattern during the later phase. Training intensity will be prescribed using individually determined physiological thresholds obtained from baseline testing. The program will include low-, moderate-, and high-intensity running sessions, with the relative distribution of training time across intensity zones adjusted according to the planned periodization. Training frequency, session duration, and intensity will be standardized according to the study protocol and monitored throughout the intervention.

Pyramidal-to-Polarized Endurance Training Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Shuqi Jia: lead

Central Study Contacts

Shuqi Jia

CONTACT

+8613327732991; jsq2221111006@163.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participants will be informed of their assigned training schedule but will not be informed of the formal training model, study arm label, or the investigators' hypotheses regarding the comparative effectiveness of the interventions. Outcome assessors will remain blinded to group allocation. Because the exercise content may differ between groups, complete concealment of allocation cannot be guaranteed.
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Doctoral Student

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned in parallel to one of three groups: lactate threshold training, pyramidal-to-polarized endurance training, or a control group. Each participant will remain in the assigned group throughout the 8-week intervention period.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 28, 2026
• First Posted: July 31, 2026
• Study Start: August 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 8, 2026
• Last Updated: July 31, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07