Endurance Challenge: Can sedentary adults complete extreme endurance training
Official title: The Extraordinary Endurance of the Human Species
Run by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne · NCT07626593 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A group of previously inactive adults will try an 18-month intensive endurance program to see if a very ambitious training goal can help them start and stick with gradual, strenuous exercise.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 25 Years to 50 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Saint-Etienne) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 3, 2026 |
| Main results expected | September 28, 2027 |
| Study ends | November 2027 |
| Registry record updated | June 4, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07626593 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are physically healthy adults aged 25-50 who are sedentary and not regularly training.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with chronic joint or cardiac diseases, neurological disorders, pregnancy, or other listed exclusions may not benefit from this program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study aims to test whether an intensive, extended endurance training program can motivate sedentary adults to begin training and adhere to a progressive regimen. Eligible participants are healthy adults aged 25-50 who sit most of the day and do not regularly exercise. The program progresses over 18 months, focusing on endurance milestones and increasing training load. The trial does not have published results yet and is conducted at CHU de Saint-Etienne.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience improved fitness and health markers associated with long-term, sustained endurance training.
How similar studies have gone: Prior endurance training studies suggest that structured programs can improve fitness in sedentary individuals, though the extreme 18-month plan is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Affiliation to social security. * Informed consent signed. * Male or female, aged 25-50. * Sedentary (\>6h/day sitting) and inactive (no regular training), assessed by GPAQ questionnaire. Exclusion Criteria: * Chronic joint or cardiac diseases. * Neurological disorders. * Legal protection status. * Moderate to severe depression (BDI-13 \> 7) or use of antidepressants/anxiolytics. * Use of banned substances. * Excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption. * Pregnancy. * Inability to understand or consent.
Where it's running
-
CHU de Saint-Etienne
Saint-Etienne, France Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Leonard FEASSON, MD Phd
- Email: leonard.feasson@chu-st-etienne.fr
- Phone: (0)4 77 82 83 00
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.