Investigating the effects of a year-long endurance training program on healthy individuals
The UBC Long-distance Triathlon Adaptation Study
This study is testing how a year of personalized endurance training, like swimming, cycling, and running, affects the body and mind of people who haven't exercised before.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 19 Years to 39 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of British Columbia Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Kelowna, British Columbia) |
| Trial ID | NCT06467656 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to explore the physiological and psychological changes that occur in exercise-naïve individuals over a 12-month period of individualized endurance training, which includes swimming, cycling, and running. Participants will be divided into an exercise group and a time-aligned control group to account for seasonal variations. The study will assess various physiological systems such as cardiac, vascular, metabolic, respiratory, immune, and microbiome, as well as psychological measures. The focus is on understanding the time-course of adaptations and any potential sex-specific differences in response to training.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy, premenopausal individuals aged 19-39 who are exercise-naïve and willing to commit to a structured training program.
Not a fit: Patients with a history of heart, lung, metabolic diseases, or chronic inflammatory conditions may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide insights into how endurance training benefits overall health and fitness in previously inactive individuals.
How similar studies have performed: While endurance training has been widely studied, this specific approach focusing on exercise-naïve individuals and long-term adaptations is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Exercise Intervention Group * 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 Inclusion Criteria: Control Group * 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 Exclusion Criteria: Exercise Intervention Group and Control Group: * 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) * Planning to be away from the Okanagan area for an extended period over the duration of the study
Where this trial is running
Kelowna, British Columbia
- University of British Columbia — Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Robert Shave, PhD — University of British Columbia
- Study coordinator: Robert Shave, PhD
- Email: rob.shave@ubc.ca
- Phone: 250-317-7226
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.