Immediate, Residual, and Cumulative Effects of Fartlek, Hill Circuit, and Roll-On Training in Long-Distance Runners

NCT07784140 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: IRERC-19-2025bdu1500226
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 21
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial will compare Fartlek, hill circuit, and roll-on training in well-trained long-distance runners. Twenty-one eligible runners will be randomly assigned to one of three training groups and will complete a 12-week intervention comprising 24 prescribed training sessions. The study will evaluate immediate responses to conditioning, 24-hour recovery responses, and cumulative changes in running performance, aerobic fitness, and training-related responses. Outcomes will include heart rate, blood lactate concentration, rating of perceived exertion, delayed-onset muscle soreness, recovery and wellness indicators, internal training load, 5-km time-trial performance, and VO₂max. The findings will provide evidence regarding the comparative responses to these three conditioning modalities in well-trained long-distance runners.

Conditions

Long Distance Running

Keywords

Fartlek Training; Hill Circuit Training; Roll-On Training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• 5-km Time-Trial Performance

  Change in 5-km time-trial completion time from baseline to Week 6 and Week 12, comparing the Fartlek Training Group (FTG), Hill Circuit Training Group (HCTG), and Roll-On Training Group (ROTG).

  Baseline week 6 and Week 12

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• VO₂max

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

• Blood Lactate Concentration

  Immediately pre-training and post-training during intervention sessions in Weeks 1-12

• Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)

  Immediately after each training session during Weeks 1-12

• Heart Rate Response

  During each training session during Weeks 1-12

• Complete Blood Count (CBC)

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

Other Outcomes (8)

• Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)

  Immediately post-training and 24 hours after each conditioning session during Weeks 1-12

• Recovery and Wellness

  Before and 24 hours after each conditioning session during Weeks 1-12

• Acute Training Load

  Weeks 1-12

Study Arms (3)

Fartlek Training Group (FTG)

EXPERIMENTAL

A structured Fartlek running training intervention administered for 12 weeks to trained long-distance runners. The intervention consists of planned variable-intensity running bouts with prescribed duration, repetitions, running intensity, recovery periods, and progressive workload according to the study protocol. Training sessions will be supervised and standardized across participants.

Behavioral: Fartlek training

Hill Circuit Training Group (HCTG)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to the Hill Circuit Training Group (HCTG) will receive the prescribed Hill Circuit training intervention during the 12-week randomized controlled trial. The intervention consists of structured hill-running and circuit-based training designed for trained long-distance runners. Training intensity, duration, repetitions, recovery periods, and progression will be prescribed according to the study protocol.

Behavioral: Hill Circuit

Roll-On Training Group (ROTG)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to the Roll-On Training Group (ROTG) will receive the prescribed Roll-On training intervention during the 12-week randomized controlled trial. The intervention consists of structured progressive running sessions designed for trained long-distance runners. Training intensity, duration, repetitions, recovery periods, and progression will be prescribed according to the study protocol.

Behavioral: Roll-On

Interventions

Fartlek training BEHAVIORAL

A structured variable-intensity running intervention administered for 12 weeks to trained long-distance runners. Each prescribed session includes standardized warm-up and cool-down periods, alternating faster and slower running at prescribed intensities, and prescribed recovery periods. Running duration, intensity, repetitions, recovery intervals, and workload progression are standardized according to the study protocol. Training sessions are supervised, and exercise intensity is monitored using heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, running pace, and prescribed workload.

Fartlek Training Group (FTG)

Hill Circuit BEHAVIORAL

A structured hill-running and circuit-based training intervention administered for 12 weeks to trained long-distance runners. Each prescribed session includes standardized warm-up and cool-down periods, repeated uphill running bouts, running-based circuit exercises, and prescribed recovery intervals. Hill gradient, running duration, repetitions, exercise intensity, recovery intervals, and workload progression are standardized according to the study protocol. Exercise intensity is monitored using heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, running pace, and prescribed workload.

Hill Circuit Training Group (HCTG)

Roll-On BEHAVIORAL

A structured progressive running intervention administered for 12 weeks to trained long-distance runners. Each prescribed session includes standardized warm-up and cool-down periods, controlled running with planned gradual increases and decreases in running speed, and prescribed recovery periods where applicable. Running duration, speed progression, intensity, repetitions, recovery intervals, and workload progression are standardized according to the study protocol. Exercise intensity is monitored using heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, running pace, and prescribed workload.

Roll-On Training Group (ROTG)

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Male long-distance runners aged 18-25 years VO₂max greater than 60 mL/kg/min Weekly training volume of at least 60 km Training experience of at least 4 years Mercier score greater than 600 Currently engaged in regular long-distance running training Willing to participate in the 12-week training intervention Able to complete all required testing and monitoring procedures Provides written informed consent to participate in the study

You may not qualify if:

• Current musculoskeletal injury that prevents participation in training or testing Known cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, or other medical condition that limits strenuous exercise Current illness or condition that prevents participation in the intervention Use of medication or other treatment that may substantially affect exercise performance or physiological responses Failure to meet the required training or eligibility criteria Planned absence that would prevent adequate participation in the intervention Withdrawal of informed consent Any condition identified by the research team that makes continued participation unsafe

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Debre Markos University: lead
• Bahir Dar University: collaborator

Study Officials

• Alemayehu, PHd

  University of Gonder

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Gashaw, PHd

  Bahir Dar University

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

Awoke Tibebu, MSc.

CONTACT

+251912073305; awoket27@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Outcome assessors are blinded to participants' intervention group assignments during outcome assessment.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer, Department of Sport Science

Model Details: Participants are randomly allocated to one of three parallel training groups: Fartlek Training Group (FTG), Hill Circuit Training Group (HCTG), or Roll-On Training Group (ROTG). Each group receives its assigned training modality for 12 weeks, with outcomes assessed at baseline, Week 6, and Week 12.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 17, 2026
• First Posted: August 25, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): September 21, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 24, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 26, 2026
• Last Updated: August 26, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: After publication of the primary results.
• Access Criteria: Access to individual participant data (IPD) and supporting information will be provided to qualified researchers whose proposed use is scientifically sound and consistent with the informed consent and ethical approvals of the study. Researchers may request access to de-identified IPD, the study protocol, statistical analysis plan (SAP), informed consent form (ICF), clinical study report (CSR), and analytic code, as applicable. Requests will be reviewed by the study investigators and/or the responsible institutional research ethics authority. Approved data will be shared through a secure data-sharing mechanism following execution of an appropriate data-use agreement. Data will not include direct participant identifiers.