An interventional study of Fartlek training and Hill Circuit in Long Distance Running, sponsored by Debre Markos University. Not yet recruiting. Open to male participants aged 18 Years to 25 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-26.
Sponsored by Debre Markos University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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.
Long-distance running places substantial physiological and mechanical demands on athletes. Appropriate conditioning is therefore important for developing the capacity to tolerate training stress, recover effectively, and maintain or improve running performance. Different conditioning modalities may impose distinct physiological and mechanical demands, which may result in differences in immediate exercise responses, post-exercise recovery, training load, and longer-term adaptation.
This randomized controlled trial will compare three conditioning modalities. Fartlek training, hill circuit training, and roll-on training in well-trained long-distance runners. Twenty-one eligible runners will be randomly allocated to one of three parallel training groups: the Fartlek Training Group, Hill Circuit Training Group, or Roll-On Training Group. Each group will complete its assigned conditioning modality for 12 weeks, comprising 24 prescribed training sessions.
The study will examine three dimensions of response to conditioning. Immediate responses will include physiological and perceptual responses measured during or immediately after training. Residual responses will focus on recovery-related responses during the 24 hours following conditioning sessions. Cumulative responses will examine changes that develop over repeated exposure to the training intervention, including changes in running performance and aerobic fitness.
Repeated measurements will be collected throughout the intervention to characterize responses to the three conditioning modalities. Measures 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. Training-load measures will be derived from session rating of perceived exertion and session duration and will be used to characterize the training demands accumulated during the intervention.
The study will compare the response patterns among the three intervention groups to determine whether Fartlek, hill circuit, or roll-on training produces different immediate, residual, and cumulative responses in well-trained long-distance runners. The findings are intended to contribute evidence for the selection and progression of conditioning modalities while considering training stimulus, recovery, and performance-related responses.
Debre Markos University is the lead sponsor of 2 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
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 to participate in the study
Exclusion Criteria:
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 Any condition identified by the research team that makes continued participation unsafe
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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).
Time frame: Baseline week 6 and Week 12
VO₂max
Change in maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max), measured in mL/kg/min, from baseline to Week 6 and Week 12, comparing FTG, HCTG, and ROTG.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12
Blood Lactate Concentration
Change in blood lactate concentration, measured in mmol/L, immediately following prescribed conditioning sessions to characterize the acute physiological response to Fartlek, Hill Circuit, and Roll-On training.
Time frame: Immediately pre-training and post-training during intervention sessions in Weeks 1-12
Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
Session rating of perceived exertion will be measured using the OMNI perceived-exertion scale immediately following each conditioning session.
Time frame: Immediately after each training session during Weeks 1-12
Heart Rate Response
Change in average and maximum heart rate during prescribed conditioning sessions to characterize the acute cardiovascular response to Fartlek, Hill Circuit, and Roll-On training.
Time frame: During each training session during Weeks 1-12
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Change in selected hematological parameters, including hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count parameters.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12
5-km Performance Score
Change in performance score calculated using the applicable World Athletics scoring table based on 5-km time-trial performance from baseline to Week 12, comparing FTG, HCTG, and ROTG.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
Change in self-reported muscle soreness following each prescribed conditioning session to assess post-exercise muscular recovery.
Time frame: Immediately post-training and 24 hours after each conditioning session during Weeks 1-12
Recovery and Wellness
Change in recovery and wellness indicators, including sleep duration, sleep quality, fatigue, stress, mood, and overall wellness score, assessed following conditioning sessions.
Time frame: Before and 24 hours after each conditioning session during Weeks 1-12
Acute Training Load
Weekly acute internal training load calculated from accumulated session training loads, where session training load is calculated as session duration multiplied by session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE).
Time frame: Weeks 1-12
Chronic Training Load
Chronic internal training load calculated as the rolling 4-week average of weekly training load during the intervention.
Time frame: Weeks 4-12
Training Monotony
Weekly training monotony calculated as the mean daily training load divided by the standard deviation of daily training load within each training week.
Time frame: Weeks 1-12
Training Strain
Weekly training strain calculated as weekly training load multiplied by training monotony during the 12-week intervention.
Time frame: Weeks 1-12
Freshness Index
Weekly freshness index calculated as chronic training load minus acute training load to characterize changes in training readiness during the intervention.
Time frame: Weeks 1-12
Acute:Chronic Workload Ratio (ACWR)
Weekly acute:chronic workload ratio calculated as acute training load divided by chronic training load during the intervention.
Time frame: Weeks 4-12
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: Yes — State that de-identified individual participant data and supporting information will be available upon reasonable request, subject to ethical approval and protection of participant confidentiality.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan, Informed consent form, 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.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Debre Markos University